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SUMMARY:Druggable Drivers of Castration Resistance in Prostate Cancer
DTSTART:20230223T121500
DTEND:20230223T133000
DTSTAMP:20260428T030707Z
UID:51b7988b607f8bea91184d3255901d10dbeb4c576b66f63a588760e3
CATEGORIES:Conferences - Seminars
DESCRIPTION:Prof. Dr. Andrea Alimonti\nA Lola and John Grace Distinguished
  Lecture in Cancer Research\n\nProfessor Alimonti has worked in the field 
 of prostate cancer for several years in three different countries (Italy\,
  USA\, Switzerland)\, acquiring significant expertise and knowledge in mol
 ecular mechanisms by which cell autonomous and non-autonomous mechanisms c
 ontrol tumour initiation\, progression and resistance to treatment. In par
 ticular\, his research has focused on the role played by the tumour suppre
 ssor gene PTEN in cancer. Professor Alimonti's research has shown that whi
 le subtle reductions in PTEN levels can trigger tumorigenesis\, complete i
 nactivation of PTEN leads to senescence\, a stable form of cell cycle arre
 st that opposes tumour development. This discovery was unexpected\, as can
 cer cells were previously known to be immortal. From this observation\, it
  was discovered that compounds that target senescence genes increase senes
 cence in cancers and can therefore be used as cancer therapy\, an approach
  called "pro-senescence" cancer therapy. Recently\, by characterising the 
 microenvironment of prostate tumours in mice and humans\, A subtype of tum
 our-infiltrating myeloid cells was discovered\, known as MDSCs\, that can 
 interfere with senescence caused by loss of PTEN or conventional chemother
 apy\, demonstrating that senescence in cancer can be regulated by the tumo
 ur's immune response.\n\nIn a subsequent study\, Professor Alimonti demons
 trated that MDSCs promote resistance to androgen deprivation therapy\, a t
 ype of treatment normally used in the clinic to treat patients with metast
 atic prostate cancer (MPC). These findings have inspired the design of sev
 eral clinical trials evaluating the role of MDSC inhibitors in mPCPs. Thes
 e clinical trials are currently underway in Switzerland and other internat
 ional cancer centres. Recently\, his team made a key contribution to the f
 ield of gut microbiota and prostate cancer by demonstrating that bacteria 
 can synthesise androgens from precursors\, thus conferring resistance to a
 ndrogen deprivation therapy.\n\nAwards received include the Swiss Bridge A
 ward\, the J. Steiner Award for cancer research (considered the "Swiss Nob
 el" for cancer research)\, the PCF Challenge Award and the Robert Wenner P
 rize. A number of competitive grants have been received\, including ERC St
 arting and Consolidation Grants. Professor Alimonti has been a member of t
 he scientific board of various national and international scientific commi
 ttees\, such as the Swiss Cancer League and the La Caixa Foundation in Spa
 in.\n\n 
LOCATION:SV 1717 https://plan.epfl.ch/?room==SV%201717 https://epfl.zoom.u
 s/s/97039045251
STATUS:CONFIRMED
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