FORUM FORBECH – MITOCHONDRIAL STRESS IN CANCER
APRIL 3, 2025 – APRIL 6, 2025 – SMITHVILLE, TN
The Foundation’s Past Forums showcases a rich history of specialized, high-impact cancer research meetings spanning over 35 years. These forums have brought together leading scientists and clinicians to foster deep dialogue and collaboration through expert-led sessions, with distinguished chairs and top-tier participants driving innovative insights in oncology.
https://www.forbeckforums.org/forums/mitochondrial-stress-in-cancer
FORUM DESCRIPTION
Malignant cells are under increased mitochondrial stress through mechanisms such as hypoxia, oxidative damage, altered metabolism, and mitochondrial protein damage and misfolding. Using evolutionary conserved pathways including anti-oxidants, anti-apoptotic pathways, proteases, and protein chaperones, mitochondria have developed mechanisms to survive and proliferate amidst these stressors. Studies in model organisms such as worms have provided important biologic insights into these mitochondrial stress pathways, including how they regulate longevity. Fundamental and preclinical studies in malignancy have shown that disrupting mitochondrial stress pathways selectively kill subsets of malignant cells over normal cells. Finally, strategies that target mitochondrial stress have advanced to clinical trials for patients with cancer and show promising clinical efficacy.
Yet, important questions remain unanswered. For example:
- How do mitochondrial stress pathways influence longevity in model organisms?
- What are the functions of components of mitochondrial stress pathways in cancer cells?
- Why and how does targeting mitochondrial stress pathways selectively eradicate malignant cells over normal cells?
- Which cancer patients are most and least dependent on which mitochondrial stress pathways?
This meeting broughttogether a multidisciplinary group of researchers to discuss mitochondrial stress in cancer and spark collaborations from investigators in diverse fields who would likely not otherwise interact.
