Targeting Immunometabolism for Cancer Therapy
Forum Chairs
Forum Description
Targeting immunometabolism for cancer therapy represents a promising and emerging approach in the field of oncology. Immunometabolism encompasses the intricate relationship between cellular metabolism and the functions of immune cells. Within the tumor microenvironment, a complex milieu exists, consisting of various immune cells such as T cells, natural killer cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells, alongside cancer-associated fibroblasts and endothelial cells. These immune cells play crucial roles in immune surveillance, regulation of tumor growth, and modulation of immune responses. Unfortunately, cancer cells have developed multiple strategies to establish an immunosuppressive microenvironment that impairs the function of immune cells.
Metabolic reprogramming in immune cells located within the tumor microenvironment is influenced by factors like nutrient availability, oxygen levels, and signaling pathways. The objective of targeting immunometabolism in cancer therapy is to restore immune cell function and augment anti-tumor immune responses. Moreover, various immunotherapeutic approaches, including immune checkpoint inhibitors and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy, can impact immunometabolism. Immune checkpoint inhibitors, such as antibodies targeting PD-1 or CTLA-4, can remove the brakes on immune cells, enabling them to exert their anti-tumor effects.
While the potential of targeting immunometabolism is promising, it is vital to address several challenges and considerations. The heterogeneity of the tumor microenvironment, the metabolic plasticity of cancer cells, and the possibility of off-target effects on normal tissues are complex factors that require careful evaluation in the development of immunometabolism-based therapies. The primary focus of this meeting is to discuss the potential benefits and pitfalls associated with targeting immunometabolism for cancer therapy by having a diverse set of leaders in field as well as the next generation of investigators that are providing key insights into the critical issues in the field.
Targeting cancer metabolism has faced obstacles and limitations, resulting in its lack of success. Challenges associated with targeting the intrinsic metabolism of cancer cells include metabolic heterogeneity, compensatory pathways, redundancy in metabolic pathways, resistance development, and potential toxicity. As an alternative approach, metabolism focused researchers are now exploring the targeting of the metabolism of the adaptive and innate immune systems in combination with standard-of-care therapies, including immunotherapy. To overcome these challenges, current investigations concentrate on combination therapies that aim to target multiple metabolic pathways within both adaptive and innate immune cells present in the tumor microenvironment.
GOALS OF THIS FORUM
- To define the metabolism of adaptive and innate immune cells
- To elucidate viable therapeutic targets within adaptive and innate immune cell metabolism to boost efficacy of existing standard of care therapy.
- To bridge ideas from different investigators but importantly to have interactions of assistant/associate professors with senior leaders. Naturally, we would like to have some new scholars present as well.
Forum Summary
Venue & Travel Information
Campos Eliseos 252, Chapultepec, Polanco
Mexico City, Mexico, 11560
Travel Policy
Please familiarize yourself with our policies and procedures for travel. We truly appreciate you taking the time to participate in this forum. As you make your plans, please remember that we are a nonprofit organization dependent on donations and volunteers. We do NOT pay for upgrades, change fees, incurred costs resulting from a flight change, transportation to or from your local (home side) airport, meals or other incidentals.
- Travel Confirmation will be sent out within 1 week of the forum. This will include a hotel confirmation number, if there is one, and airport transfer details. We have to wait until we receive almost everyone’s travel to book airport transfer. Due to frequent airline changes, we wait until the week of the forum to send this out.
- Airport transfer is provided by Foundation staff, volunteers or arranged shuttle at specific times. If you opt to utilize Foundation airport transportation on your travel form, please be patient in receiving this information. We will send it to the week of the forum.
- Speaker agenda is not sent out prior to the forum. It will be provided upon arrival in the forum packet. We do not tell people when they are speaking because we expect everyone to attend all sessions. Sessions are all day Friday and Saturday.
- REMINDER: We do not reimburse for home side airport transfer or incidentals while traveling. We will not honor miscellaneous receipts sent for these expenses.
- Spouses are welcome to come with you at their own cost but are not allowed to attend the forum. Please no children.
What the Foundation Pays
Accommodations and meals are provided by the foundation during the forum. Airfare will be covered only if booked in accordance with our policy and only up to the amount in which you were approved for. The Foundation will also cover airport transportation on the forum side at the designated shuttle times. You can select not to utilize Foundation arranged transportation at your own expense when completing the travel form. Once your travel form is received your accommodations and airport transfer will be confirmed. Please let us know of any food allergies or other information we should be aware of on the travel forms.
- Note we do not cover upgrades, changes, late bookings, etc.
- Flights must be booked at least 30 days prior to the forum to confirm your accommodations and airport transfer.
- As a nonprofit we utilize volunteers and other methods to maximize our efforts (or our donor support) when making accommodations and arranging ground transportation. Ground transportation will be provided upon your arrival either by a foundation volunteer or arranged shuttle. You will be provided airport transportation information the week of the forum. We do not reimburse for home side airport transfer or incidentals while traveling.
Abstracts
Abstracts are due 30 days prior to the start of the meeting to allow enough time to prepare the meeting book.
The abstracts should be only one or two paragraphs outlining the theme of your presentation and should reflect the objective and spirit of the meeting (see above). Abstracts will be circulated about one week before the meeting. The meeting organizer will start requesting them a month before the meeting.
Forum Structure
The structure of the forum has been developed over years of experience.
- Participants have approximately 45 minutes, depending on the number of participants, for their presentation and discussion. The presentation is meant as a conversation start and should last about twenty minutes briefly covering background information and areas that are new or need further input. This should be structured in such a way as to lead to a lively discussion. Participants are encouraged to interrupt to ask questions or start discussions.
- A MAXIMUM of 2 slide equivalents per presentation is allowed (Power point slides should not contain more than one graph or gel per slide and no more than 5 bullet points to stress the points being made by the presenter.) We appreciate cooperation with the spirit of this guideline. Handouts are welcome but should be distributed before sessions.
- Everyone is expected to actively participate in every session and discussions.
- The time spent at the forum is relatively short, so please be familiar with papers received prior to arrival.
- It is very important that you commit to all sessions of the 2 days of the forum.
Forbeck Scholars Participation
Scholars are selected for each Forbeck Forum. These are outstanding junior clinical or post-doctoral fellows selected based on the quality and relevance of science.
- Scholars present for 30-45 minutes, depending on the number of participants
- The same presentation rules apply for scholars
- After the Forum you are selected to attend, you will attend three years of Scholar Retreats held in Lake Geneva, WI. If you attend a Fall Forum, you will attend the Spring Retreat. If you attend a Spring Forum you will attend a Fall Retreat.
- Scholars are selected by the Foundation Scientific Advisory Board and peer reviewers selected from past Forbeck Scholars.
General Program
The outline below illustrates a typical program schedule. You will receive a complete schedule, including speaking times, the Thursday the forum starts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are some of our most Frequently Asked Questions. If you have something new to ask, please feel free to contact us.
- Travel Confirmation will be sent out within 1 week of the forum. This will include a hotel confirmation number, if there is one, and airport transfer details. We have to wait until we receive almost everyone’s travel to book airport transfer. Due to frequent airline changes, we wait until the week of the meeting to send this out.
- Airport transfer is provided by Foundation staff, volunteers or arranged shuttle at specific times. If you opt to utilize Foundation airport transportation on your travel form, please be patient in receiving this information. We will send it to the week of the forum.
- Speaker agenda is not sent out prior to the meeting. It will be provided upon arrival in the meeting packet. We do not tell people when they are speaking because we expect everyone to attend all sessions. Sessions are all day.
- Frequently airport transfer is provided by volunteers. Please be patient on receiving this information. Airport transfer will be sent out prior to arrival.
- REMINDER: We do not reimburse for home side airport transfer or incidentals while traveling. We will not honor miscellaneous receipts sent for these expenses.