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Professor Charles Swanton – The Francis Crick Institute, UK

12/02/2025 12:00 pm - 12/02/2025 1:00 pm
Location
Davis Auditorium

WEHI Wednesday Seminar hosted by Professor Jane Visvader
 

Charles Swanton MD PhD FRCP

Deputy Clinical Director

Cancer Evolution and Genome Instability Laboratory

The Francis Crick Institute, UK

 

Cancer Initiation, Progression and Metastases: Myeloid Mayhem

 

Davis Auditorium

Join via SLIDO enter code #WEHIWednesday

Including Q&A session

 

The TRACERx lung cancer evolution study investigates the intricate processes underlying cancer initiation and progression, focusing on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in 800 patients. This comprehensive research integrates genomic, transcriptomic, and immune profiling to elucidate the dynamic interplay between tumor evolution and the immune microenvironment. By examining tumor samples from patients over time, the study tracks genetic alterations and their correlation with clinical outcomes, highlighting the adaptive strategies of lung cancer cells in response to therapeutic pressures and immune system interactions.

This talk will review the mechanisms of genome instability which foster diversity upon which natural selection in response to immune and therapeutic pressures act. A key aspect of TRACERx is its emphasis on myeloid cells, including macrophages and dendritic cells, which play pivotal roles in shaping the immune response to tumors. The study has begun to delineate how these myeloid populations contribute to tumor initiation through particulate exposure and chronic inflammation through the IL1B axis. Recent results from TRACERx demonstrating how ageing associated clonal haemtopoiesis contributes to tumour progression and the establishment of an immunosuppressive microenvironment will be reviewed.

Ultimately, TRACERx seeks to inform the development of novel therapeutic and diagnostic strategies that can enhance anti-tumor immunity by targeting the interactions between cancer cells and the immune system. Understanding these mechanisms not only deepens our knowledge of lung cancer biology but also paves the way for personalized treatment approaches that harness the immune system’s potential in combating cancer.
 

 

 

All welcome!

 

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