ABSTRACT
Support is requested for a Keystone Symposia conference entitled Tumor Metabolism, organized by Drs. Gina
DeNicola, Rushika Perera and David Shackelford. The conference will be held in Banff, Alberta, Canada from
February 12-15, 2024.
Cancer is a major cause of mortality worldwide. Increased understanding of mechanisms that drive cancer will
provide new avenues to reduce incidence and to treat the disease. Aberrant metabolism is a critical hallmark of
cancer cells that enable adaptation to a variety of external and internal stressors. Thus, identifying and targeting
key metabolic dependencies in cancer cells remains an important strategy for blocking cancer progression.
Therefore, this conference brings together researchers focusing on identifying cancer cell intrinsic mechanisms
alter metabolic state and how these pathways integrate with differential activity of key metabolic organelles such
as the mitochondria and the lysosome. The inter-connections between nutrient acquisition and utilization and
changes in the tumor microenvironment will also be explored. As an increasing appreciation for differences in
metabolic dependencies in primary versus metastatic disease emerges, this conference will also focus on
discussing unique metabolic vulnerabilities of metastatic cells as they seed and grow in secondary organ sites.
The conference also brings together investigators at the cutting edge of new imaging and quantitative tools for
measuring tumor metabolism in vitro and in vivo. Finally, the program will explore the latest developments in
targeting tumor metabolism and the next steps required for effectively translating preclinical findings into patients.
The numerous short talk opportunities and breakfast topic discussions will help to foster discussion and
collaboration between investigators at all career stages.