CICON24 Day 2 Recap: Exploring Cancer Vaccines, Immune Health, and Future Therapies 

NATIONAL HARBOR —Day two of CICON24 began with an impactful keynote by Cathy Wu, MD, from Dana Farber Cancer Center, spotlighting the transformative potential of cancer vaccines in immunotherapy. Dr. Wu emphasized how neoantigens are redefining the cancer vaccine landscape, opening new treatment possibilities across various cancers. While she highlighted the success of vaccines in preventing cancer relapse, she also addressed the significant challenges related to cost and manufacturing time. Her ongoing clinical studies are exploring the potential of personalized vaccines to induce persistent immune responses, setting the stage for future advancements. 

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The morning session shifted focus to immune health and inflammation as precursors to cancer. CRI Lloyd J. Old STAR, Amanda Lund, PhD, from New York University, presented her research on the lymphatic vascular system’s role in cancer immune remodeling. She discussed how “cold” tumors, often resistant to immunotherapy, are characterized by a high density of lymphatic vasculature. Her findings revealed that blocking IFN-γ in melanoma models could increase lymphatic vessels, offering new insights into how manipulating the lymphatic system might enhance cancer immunotherapy. 

Following Dr. Lund, fellow CRI Lloyd J. Old STAR, Matthew Spitzer, PhD, from University of California—San Francisco, delved into the role of T cell exhaustion and the complex signaling mechanisms that regulate T cell health, along with the suppressive influence of neutrophils on T cells. This talk provided a deeper understanding of the intricate immune system interactions at play in cancer. 

Allie Greenplate, PhD, from the University of Pennsylvania, took the stage to discuss “Immune Health: The Next Frontier of Precision Medicine.” She introduced a comprehensive workflow designed to collect and utilize meaningful data, emphasizing the importance of strategically timed patient sampling and meticulous documentation. This data can be stored in an accessible, cloud-based, open-access database, such as the one she helped develop at Penn Medicine, called PENNSIEVE. Her team is developing an immune profile for each patient based on genetic sequencing, with the ambitious goal of encompassing the entire Penn Medicine community, representing a significant leap forward in personalized medicine. 

James Reading, PhD, from University College London, introduced a new approach to intercepting lung squamous carcinogenesis by weaponizing preinvasive CD4 T cell networks. He emphasized the role of T regulatory cells in defining lung cancer risk and suggested the potential for developing biomarkers to track high-risk individuals through CT scans. 

CRI Postdoctoral Fellow Valentin Barthet, PhD, from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, presented his work on liver fibrosis in hepatocellular cancer, focusing on how CD8 T cells become exhausted in the context of fibrosis. He explored the use of nanoparticles in combination therapies to remodel the tumor microenvironment and reduce fibrosis, offering new strategies for treating liver cancer. 

The afternoon session continued with a focus on the role of myeloid cells in anti-tumor responses. Gregory Beatty, MD, PhD, from the University of Pennsylvania, highlighted how activating anti-tumor immunity through coordinated myeloid activation can lead to diverse signaling events, particularly through CD40 activation. His research underscored the distinct biological effects of different immune cells and their roles in shaping anti-tumor responses. 

Evanthia Roussos-Torres, MD, PhD, from the University of Southern California, explored the dynamic rewiring of myeloid cell interactions within the metastatic tumor microenvironment, with a focus on breast cancer. Her research aimed to overcome intrinsic resistance to therapies by examining the role of various suppressor cells in breast tumors, particularly myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs).  

Jennifer Guerriero, PhD, from Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, discussed targeting macrophages to enhance anti-tumor responses. She emphasized the abundance of macrophages in solid tumors and their association with poor clinical outcomes, pointing out the need for a deeper understanding of their spatial distribution and response to therapy. 

The day concluded with an engaging panel discussion featuring experts from both academia and industry. The panel, comprised of luminaries including luminaries like Dana Pe’er, PhD, Hector Corrada Bravo, PhD, Elana Fertig, PhD, Ben Greenbaum, PhD, and CRI Scientific Advisory Council Member, Nir Hacohen, PhD, explored what’s on the horizon for immunotherapy.  

Key topics included the potential of spatial transcriptomics and AI modeling, the integration of systems biology with data analysis to understand tumor evolution, and the emerging interest in RNA-based therapeutics and cancer vaccines. The discussion highlighted the opportunities in manipulating the tumor microenvironment at a systems level and the future direction of genetic engineering approaches for in vivo transcriptomic control. 

Filipe Pereira, PhD from Leiden University presented a novel cancer immunotherapy modality focused on dendritic cell reprogramming in vivo. His research explores how reprogramming these cells directly within the body can lead to enhanced immune responses against tumors. This innovative approach holds potential for developing more effective and targeted cancer treatments. 

Xingwu Zhou, a PhD student from University of Michigan discussed the use of crystallized cyclic dinucleotide manganese nanoparticles in controlling signaling mechanisms. His research highlights the potential of these nanoparticles to activate the STING pathway, a crucial component of the immune response, offering a promising strategy for boosting systemic immunity against cancer. 

Chiara Falcomata, PhD, CRI Postdoctoral fellow at the Ichan School of Medicine at Mount Sinai 
shared her work on identifying mechanisms that control tumor immune composition in pancreatic cancer. Her research aims to uncover how the immune environment within pancreatic tumors is regulated, which could lead to new therapeutic strategies to modulate the immune response and improve outcomes for patients with this challenging cancer type. 

Raymond Shim, PhD, CRI Postdoctoral fellow at University of Calgary presented findings on the role of sympathetic nerves in liver metastases. His research suggests that sympathetic nerves may play a critical role in promoting liver metastasis, offering new insights into the interactions between the nervous system and tumor progression. 

Day two ended on a high note, with attendees completely immersed in the rich exchange of ideas and the collective sense of progress toward advancing cancer immunotherapy. The collaborative spirit and cutting-edge discussions throughout the day not only raised the bar, but also created an atmosphere of anticipation for the sessions ahead.  

Join us for day three of CICON24 tomorrow, September 10th, as we dive into the crucial roles of metabolism in cancer immunotherapy during Session 7: Metabolic Pathways in the Clinic and the impact of the microbiome in Session 8: Diet and Microbiome. The atmosphere at CICON24 is electric, buzzing with groundbreaking ideas and the promising future of the next era in immunotherapy. Be sure to tune in for tomorrow’s wrap-up of the latest scientific discussions, capturing the energy and excitement of the conference.