The virtual symposium on Complement and Cancer of the International Complement Society explores the critical and complex role of the complement system within the tumor microenvironment. Interactions between malignant cells, host cells, and complement components can either inhibit or promote cancer progression, significantly influencing patient prognosis. Despite recent advances, there is an unmet need for personalized therapeutic approaches that consider the diverse nature of complement involvement across different cancers. This workshop aims to bridge this gap by presenting cutting-edge research on the dual roles of complement in cancer. Discussions will cover the mechanistic aspects of the plasma complement cascade and intracellular complement, their antitumoral effects, and their potential to drive chronic inflammation and tumor growth. Additionally, the symposium will highlight how this knowledge is being applied in clinical trials with complement-targeting drugs. By fostering a deeper understanding, the event seeks to advance the development of tailored cancer therapies, ultimately improving patient care and outcomes.
Organizers | O |
9:00 - 9:05 |
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Welcome & IntroductionLubka Roumenina, PhD INSERM, France |
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9:05 - 9:35 (5 min. Q&A) |
Introduction to Inflammation and CancerEmese Zsiros, MD, PhD Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, USA |
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9:35 - 10:05 (5 min. Q&A) |
Complement Cascade and CancerRubén Pío Osés, PhD University of Navarra, Spain |
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10:05 - 10:30 (5 min. Q&A) |
Intracellular Complement and CancerLubka Roumenina, PhD INSERM, France In the past decade it was discovered that the complement proteins are not acting solely in the circulation in the context of the complement cascade but can function in a cell autonomous, intracellular manner. We and others have evidenced that overexpression of intracellular complement proteins influence cancer progression by controlling the hallmarks of cancer, such as sustaining proliferative signalling, resisting cell death, enabling replicative immortality, deregulated metabolism and evading immunity, acquired during the multistep development of human tumors. This talk will summarize the current knowledge on the intracellular mode of action of the complement proteins in cancer and the questions to be answered to pave the way for tackling them in the process of cancer treatment. |
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10:30 - 10:45 |
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BREAK | |
10:45 - 11:15 (5 min. Q&A) |
Role of Complement in the Respronse to Cytotoxic Therapy
Monica Olcina, PhD University of Oxford, United Kingdom Monica Olcina is a Group Leader in the department of Oncology, University of Oxford. She is also an Associate Research Fellow at St Hilda’s College, University of Oxford. Monica leads the Olcina lab which is focused on understanding how tumours thrive in immunosuppressive microenvironments; including how they exploit the complement system for their survival advantage. We use this knowledge to identify druggable tumour-specific vulnerabilities to improve tumour response and reduce treatment-induced toxicity. |
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11:15 - 11:45 (5 min. Q&A) |
Complement Activation as an Anti-Cancer TherapyEdward Patz, MD Duke University, USA Tumor cell killing can be initiated by IgG antibodies that target tumor cells. This can then lead to a cascade of events that promotes anti-tumor immunity and a durable clinical response. We have found a tumor specific anti-complement factor H IgG3 autoantibody that not only causes tumor cell death by CDC and ADCP, but also activates the complement system and the split products help drive a potent adaptive immune response through multiple mechanisms. This immune modulating strategy be used as a novel treatment approach for cancer. |
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11:45 - 12:15 (5 min. Q&A) |
Complement Inhibition as an Anti-Cancer Therapy
Brahm Segal, MD Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, USA |
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12:15 - 12:30 |
Concluding RemarksBrahm Segal, MD |