2014/10/06

International experts in cell signalling and cancer metabolism gather at CIC bioGUNE

- From tomorrow until Thursday a congress will gather 120 scientists.

- It is one of the most important European events in this field.

- Its goal is to bring together the knowledge of basic science and clinical researchers

(Bilbao, October 2014) The Basque Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences CIC bioGUNE will hold a scientific congress on cancer from tomorrow until the 9th. The title, 'Translational advances in cancer cell signalling and metabolism', seeks to promote an exchange of information between scientists focusing on cell signalling and cancer metabolism, two matters of increasing interest in the field of oncology due to their immense potential in the production of new therapeutic tools.

This meeting, which is one of the most important European events in the field, will gather researchers focusing on basic science and the clinical research. It will bring together people in the clinical field researching the causes of the disease and those who wish to apply this knowledge to treat their patients. Both sides will exchange information to advance in the fight against cancer.

This event, organized by Arkaitz Carracedo (CIC bioGUNE) and renowned scientists Pier Paolo Pandolfi (Harvard, USA) and Lewis Cantley (Cornell University, USA) will gather 120 global experts at CIC bioGUNE, located at the Bizkaia Technology Park. The sessions will include conferences by 20 first level experts, as well as six lectures by young researchers and 50 posters by researchers from all around the world.

The European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) has collaborated in the organization. The event is also supported by the Basque Government Agios and Pfizer and biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies such as OWL, Fisher, Seahorse and Bruker.

Cell signalling and cancer metabolism

Cell signalling and cancer metabolism are two of the major areas for studies in the field of oncology in the last years.

The study of cell signalling focuses on identifying changes in the way in which cells respond to their environment. Cells function with the "orders" received constantly from our body; however, if these signals are interpreted incorrectly, they can have an anomalous performance, which may result in health problems.

For example: during infancy, many cells are ordered to divide, which allows us to grow. However, when adult cells, that in normal conditions shouldn't divide, misinterpret that they should, it may produce a tumour.

Scientists analyze cell signalling performance, i.e. how cells interact with their environment, to understand the source of tumours caused by this sort of problems.

Cancer metabolism research focuses on the way in which cancer cells feed. Through their metabolism, cells obtain energy to function, divide and generate new cells.

It is known that normal and cancer cells do not feed in the same way. Therefore, by knowing the ways in which tumour cells feed but normal cells do not, it will allow us to find strategies to attack tumour cells feeding mechanisms without harming healthy cells.

"It will place Bilbao on the cancer research map"

"This meeting is a reflection of the growing importance of the interaction between basic and clinical research" says CIC bioGUNE researcher Arkaitz Carracedo, event organizer. "Bringing 120 global experts to our centre will place Bilbao on the cancer research map", he adds.