Unraveling oncogenesis: What makes cancer tick?
Recent discoveries in cancer biology may bring forward an additional collection of tools in physicians’ arsenal of cancer therapeutics. Scientists now know that many cancer-associated mutations affect chromatin regulation and the function of multiprotein transcriptional complexes, which can ultimately lead to cancer development and growth. This knowledge may be used to develop future clinical approaches.
The ASBMB annual meeting is around the corner, and attendees can expect a wide variety of symposia offerings throughout the event. One of the symposia, oncogenic hubs: chromatin regulatory and transcriptional complexes in cancer, will focus on the role of transcriptional dysregulation, histone modification and chromatin regulatory complexes in cancer formation. Cigall Kadoch of Harvard Medical School and Greg Wang of Duke University School of Medicine organized and will lead the session.
Wang, a current Journal of Biological Chemistry editorial board member and 2022 ASBMB Young Investigator Award recipient, said the symposium will focus on cancer but encouraged attendees from all fields to participate in the session.
“These topics can be applied to many other diseases as well,” Wang said.
According to Kadoch, the topics covered at the symposium directly relate to patient care and developing novel therapeutic approaches.
“We’re at a unique moment in time in which the learnings from first-in-class approaches in the clinic are coming back to the bench to inform new questions and propel next-step advances,” Kadoch said. “(We) hope this section of the ASBMB meeting does a good job of covering that.”
Wang added: “(This field) elevates basic science to the translational level to ultimately benefit patients.”
Kadoch and Wang selected a diverse array of speakers who study the role of molecular condensates, extrachromosomal DNA, chromatin regulatory machinery, epigenetics and more in cancer.
“I am particularly excited about the interplay of the speakers within the section and the opportunity for our audiences to take away numerous new approaches to exploring some of the most pressing biological questions relating to oncogenic hubs,” Kadoch said.
Check out the full program schedule to get the most out of #ASBMB25.
Enjoy reading ASBMB Today?
Become a member to receive the print edition four times a year and the digital edition monthly.
Learn moreFeatured jobs
from the ASBMB career center
Get the latest from ASBMB Today
Enter your email address, and we’ll send you a weekly email with recent articles, interviews and more.
Latest in Science
Science highlights or most popular articles
Blood glycome possibly predicts lifespan
Researchers at the University of Santiago de Compostela show that total serum N-glycome can predict mortality independent of traditional risk factors.
Building a better model for drug delivery across the blood–brain barrier
Industry and academic scientists collaborated to develop a rat with humanized iron-transport receptors, enabling research into iron homeostasis and drugs that cross the brain’s barrier.
Fat synthesis enzyme crucial for milk fat and newborn growth
Researchers found that a deficiency of the fatty acid synthesis enzyme stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 reduced mammary gland function during lactation and caused low birth weight in newborns that were fed milk from enzyme-deficient glands.
Flipping lipids and slime molds
A dull first job nearly pushed JBC associate editor Todd Graham out of science. Then a slime mold project changed his path. Now, he studies membrane biology and reflects on discovery, persistence and mentoring through uncertainty.
How smelling death alters worm behavior
Researchers have found that the roundworm C. elegans can smell death, and it changes how the worms behave, reproduce and age.
A chance encounter with the lab
Payton Stevens never planned to become a pancreatic cancer researcher. A temporary job set him on a path from rural Kentucky to leading research on Wnt signaling and metastasis, where he now pairs discovery with mentorship and science advocacy.