The Kidney Cancer Research Summit 2024 (KCRS24), which takes place July 11 to 12, promises to be a pivotal event in kidney cancer research. The summit, hosted by KidneyCAN and supported by leading institutions and sponsors, aims to spotlight cutting-edge advancements and foster collaborations among experts dedicated to combating renal cell carcinoma (RCC).
KCRS24: Keynote Address and Opening Sessions
The summit will be inaugurated with a welcome session by Bryan Lewis (KidneyCAN President) followed by a keynote address by Charles Swanton from The Francis Crick Institute, focusing on “How the Air We Breathe Can Impact Cancer.” The session will set the stage for exploring novel perspectives on environmental influences in cancer development.
Following this, Session 1 will delve into “Exploring Novel Drug Targets for RCC,” chaired by Pavlos Msaouel (MD Anderson Cancer Center) and Scott Tykodi (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center).
Researchers from MD Anderson Cancer Center and Brigham & Women’s Hospital will present groundbreaking studies such as:
- Purinergic receptor antagonist therapeutics presented by Jean Jiang (University of Texas Health San Antonio).
- Novel therapeutic strategies for chromophobe RCC presented by Elizabeth Henske (Brigham & Women’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School).
- Therapeutic relevance of targeting BCL-XL protein presented by Abhishek Chakraborty (Cleveland Clinic Foundation).
- SETD2 deficiency in clear cell RCC presented by Neil Bhowmick (Cedars-Sinai Medical Center).
KCRS24: Innovations in Imaging and Biomarkers
Session 2, moderated by Eric Jonasch (MD Anderson Cancer Center) and Katy Beckermann (Vanderbilt University Medical Center), will shift focus to “Novel Imaging and Biomarkers to Guide RCC Patient Management.”
- Xiankai Sun (University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center) will discuss advancements like PET imaging of HIF-2a.
- Jeremiah Morrissey (Washington University in St. Louis) will talk about the multiplexed quantification of urinary biomarkers.
- Christopher Weight (Cleveland Clinic Foundation) will delve into AI-based patient care strategies.
KCRS24: State of the Science and Diagnostic Advances
“State of the Science,” Session 3, chaired by Rohit Mehra (University of Michigan) and Payal Kapur (University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center), will explore the taxonomic evolution of kidney cancer, surgical pathology advancements, prognostic biomarkers, and updates on sarcomatoid RCC diagnosis and therapy.
Speakers will be Samson Fine (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center), Michelle Hirsch (Brigham & Women’s Hospital), Payal Kapur, Sabina Signoretti (Brigham and Women’s Hospital) and Rohit Mehra.
Trials in Progress and Future Directions
Session 4, moderated by Robert Motzer (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center) and Naomi Haas (Abramson Cancer Center/University of Pennsylvania), will focus on “Trials in Progress,” featuring updates on advanced RCC combination immunotherapy trials, novel drug studies like HC-7366 and Ubamatamab, and innovative approaches such as implantable microdevices for in vivo drug response evaluation.
Speakers will be Michael Serzan (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute), Rana McKay (University of California, San Diego), Pavlos Msaouel (MD Anderson Cancer Center), Vincent Xu (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute), Toni Choueiri (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute) and Grant Stewart (University of Cambridge).
Clinical Updates and Immunotherapy Advances
Day 2 will commence with insights into “Obesity and Immunotherapy” by Jeffrey Rathmell (Vanderbilt University Medical Center), followed by Session 5 on “Clinical and Scientific Updates in Kidney Cancer,” moderated by Toni Choueiri.
This session will cover frontline systemic therapies, subsequent treatments for advanced disease, adjuvant options, and novel therapies beyond immunotherapy, providing a comprehensive update on therapeutic strategies across RCC stages and subtypes.
Speakers will be Thomas Powles (Barts Cancer Centre), Robert Motzer (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center), Bradley McGregor (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute), Laurence Albiges (Institut Gustave-Roussy), Rana McKay (University of California, San Diego) and David Braun (Yale Cancer Center).
Immunotherapy Advances and Emerging Research
Session 6, moderated by Hans Hammers (University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center) and David McDermott (Beth Israel Deaconness), will focus on “Immunotherapy Advances and Research.” Discussions will include the development of immunotherapy for kidney cancer, mechanisms of adoptive NK cell therapy, tumor-immune contexture in ccRCC, and novel targets like PTPN2/PTPN1 inhibitors and ex vivo models to predict immunotherapy responses.
Speakers will be Michael Atkins (Georgetown-Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center), Rizwan Romee (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute), Srinivas Malladi (University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center), Jonathan Powell (Calico Labs) and David Braun (Yale School of Medicine).
KCRS 24: Abstract Presentations and Future Directions
Session 7 will feature “Oral Abstract Presentations,” moderated by Rana McKay (University of California- San Diego) & Yuksel Urun (Ankara University School of Medicine).
- The session will showcase the pivotal research on belzutifan versus everolimus, safety profiles of belzutifan monotherapy, CDK4/6 inhibition in RCC, and innovative approaches in liquid biopsy and gut microbiome modulation.
- These presentations will highlight emerging data crucial for shaping future treatment paradigms in kidney cancer.
Speakers will be Laurence Albiges (Institut Gustave-Roussy), Toni Choueiri (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute), Bradley McGregor (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute), Eddy Saad (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute), Karl Semaan (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute) and Nazli Dizman (MD Anderson Cancer Center).
Biotech Innovations and Therapeutic Prospects
The summit will end with Session 8, a “Biotech Showcase” moderated by Thomas Powles (Barts Cancer Centre) and Hans Hammers (University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center).
Leading biotech companies will present their latest innovations, including Hif-2-alpha inhibitors, latent TGFβ1 inhibitors, α/β IL-2 receptor-biased partial agonists, bispecific antibodies, and novel cell therapies.
Speakers will be Dimitry Nuyten (Arcus Biosciences), Lu Gan (Scholar Rock), Alex Azrilevich (Synthekine, Inc.), Chet Bohac (Xencor), Levi Gray-Rupp (ArsenalBio), Pavlos Msaeouel, (BostonGene, Principal Investigator), Kim Allman (Telix) and Natasha Lucero (Standard BioTools).
KCRS 24: Research Highlights
- A Phase 1b, Open-Label, Safety, Tolerability, and Efficacy Study of HC-7366 in Combination with Belzutifan (WELIREGTM) in Patients with Advanced or Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma, NCT06234605
- WIRE: Window of Opportunity Clinical Trials Platform for Evaluation of Novel Treatments Strategies in Renal Cell Cancer
- Clinical Pharmacokinetic/ Pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) Relationship Confirms Best-in-class Potential of Casdatifan (AB521), a Small Molecule Inhibitor of HIF-2α Being Developed in Renal Cancer
- Applying single cell RNA sequencing of sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma for the development of a novel transcriptomic biomarker to predict immunotherapy response
- INTerpath-004: A phase 2, randomized, double-blind study of pembrolizumab with V940 (mRNA4157) or placebo in the adjuvant treatment of renal cell carcinoma
- PET Imaging of HIF-2a in Renal Cancer
KCRS 24: Conclusion and Awards
KCRS24 will conclude with awards recognizing innovation and excellence in kidney cancer research, including AACR-KidneyCAN grants and merit awards. This celebration of scientific achievements will highlight the collaborative efforts driving advancements in understanding, diagnosing, and treating kidney cancer.
KCRS24 promises to be a pivotal event catalyzing transformative breakthroughs in kidney cancer research. From exploring novel drug targets and biomarkers to advancing immunotherapy and biotechnological innovations, this summit serves as a beacon of hope for improving outcomes and quality of life for patients worldwide.
