CICON24 Day 1 Recap: Groundbreaking Research and Collaboration Driving the Future of Cancer Immunotherapy 

NATIONAL HARBOR — CICON24 officially kicked off today at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, MD. Running from September 8 to 11, this annual event gathers top experts in immuno-oncology, immunology, and tumor biology. The atmosphere is buzzing with excitement as attendees collaborate and exchange groundbreaking ideas, laying the foundation for the next wave of cancer immunotherapy breakthroughs that are set to revolutionize cancer treatment. 

Day one of CICON24 was packed with illuminating presentations, starting with a session focused on neoadjuvant and platform trials. Neoadjuvant therapy is a form of treatment given before the primary treatment, such as surgery, to shrink a tumor or reduce the extent of the disease. It’s use is gaining significant attention, with numerous successful clinical trials underscoring its potential to dramatically improve patient outcomes.

Mark Yarchoan, MD, from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, opened the discussion with groundbreaking findings from clinical trials on neoadjuvant therapy in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). His research revealed that neoadjuvant therapy not only reduces tumor burden but also transforms previously inoperable HCC tumors into resectable ones. A key takeaway was the identification of tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) in patients who respond well to neoadjuvant therapy, marking a significant step forward in understanding and treating this challenging cancer. 

Following this, Luis Diaz Jr., MD, from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), delved into the role of mismatch repair deficiency (MMRd) in colorectal cancer immunotherapy. Dr. Diaz highlighted that MMR deficiency correlates with improved patient response and survival across various cancers. His research demonstrated that combining temozolomide (TMZ) and cisplatin (CDDP) can induce an MMRd genotype, enhancing sensitivity to PD-1 inhibitors in preclinical models. Further, clinical trials showed that this combination, along with anti-PD1 therapy, significantly improved overall survival in chemo-refractory metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients, offering a new strategy to make MMR-proficient tumors more responsive to immunotherapy. 

Elizabeth Jaffee, MD, Deputy Director for the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, continued the discussion on neoadjuvant therapy, this time focusing on pancreatic cancer. Her research on pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) demonstrated how combining a cancer vaccine with anti-PD1 therapy can significantly enhance T cell activation and infiltration within tumors. Using multi-omics analysis, Dr. Jaffee uncovered how immune cells adapt in response to this combination therapy. Additionally, her study identified the role of neutrophils in the tumor microenvironment, further influencing patient outcomes. Her findings underscore the transformative potential of neoadjuvant therapy in improving survival rates for pancreatic cancer patients. 

The meeting then transitioned into the realm of data analytics and the role mechanistic insights play in shaping the future of cancer immunotherapy. Max Krummel, PhD, from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), spoke on the innovative use of immune archetypes in cancer therapy. He emphasized the need to identify patterns of immune cell presence within tumors to develop more effective immunotherapies and called for greater collaboration, improved data curation, and enhanced scientific methodologies to accelerate progress in the field. 

Dana Pe’er, PhD, Chair, Computational and Systems Biology Program for MSKCC, followed with insights on the impact of single-cell genomics in immunology. She discussed the limitations of the current single cell sequencing workflows that are available which can hinder effective data analysis. She also warned against over-reliance on data integration techniques that might dilute crucial gene information. To address these challenges, Dr. Pe’er introduced spectral factor analysis—a novel approach that leverages biological processes to improve data interpretation. This method allows researchers to distinguish between tumor-reactive and exhausted T cells and deconvolute overlapping gene sets, ultimately providing a more accurate adaptation of gene programs to data. 

As the session continued, attendees heard from Elana Fertig, PhD, from Johns Hopkins University, about integrating mathematical modeling and immunotherapy, with a focus on computational approaches. She highlighted the complexity of tumor cell heterogeneity and how it influences immune response. To address this complexity, Dr. Fertig is applying chaos theory and weather forecasting principles to develop predictive models for medicine. 

The session also highlighted proffered talks from promising young scientists entering the field of cancer immunotherapy. Among them was Qin Zhu, PhD, a CRI Immuno-Informatics Fellow from UCSF, who presented his research on T cell states. Dr. Zhu is integrating biological research with bioinformatics to uncover the mechanisms that drive T cells to transition between different states. He offered insights into how developmental stages and various treatments influence T cell states, to develop innovative strategies to transform T cells into potent, tumor-killing effector cells. Speaking about the impact of big data in shaping the field of immunotherapy, Dr. Zhu told CRI, “I think immunobiology as a field is entering big data era”. 

The final session of the day delved into the emerging role of Tertiary Lymphoid Structures (TLS) as crucial regulators of anti-cancer immunity. Nir Hacohen, PhD, from Massachusetts General Hospital, and Wolf Hervé Fridman, MD, PhD, University of Paris, explored how immune cells organize within tumors and the impact of TLS on tumor response to immunotherapy. Dr. Fridman provided a detailed overview of how TLS influence tumor immunity and the cellular signaling pathways that play a critical role in predicting patient response to treatment. 

The session also featured promising young scientists, including Kevin Ng, PhD, CRI-Dr. Keith Landesman Memorial Fellow from The Rockefeller University. Dr. Ng discussed the presence of germinal centers in tumors and their role in producing anti-tumor antibodies, which can be harnessed to eliminate cancer cells.  

From the outset on day one, CICON24 has sparked groundbreaking discussions and showcased pioneering research, all driven by a collective commitment to advancing cancer immunotherapy. The collaborative energy at this conference is not just setting the stage but actively forging the path toward creating a world immune to cancer.