UCL CANCER INSTITUTE UCL Workshop on Nervous System Tumour Research Monday 8 September 2014 9am-5.30pm Royal College of General Practitioners 30 Euston Square London Contact [email protected] [email protected] Introduction Tumours of the nervous system London Cancer, an integrated cancer have a high cost and unmet need system working with UCL Partners, has with over 10,000 new cases and one of the largest paediatric (GOSH), almost 5,000 deaths each year in adolescent (UCLH, NHNN) and adult the UK, many survivors are left (NHNN, BH & BHRUT) neuro-oncology with significant disability. services in the UK. There are strong clinical research interests in imaging, Brain tumours are the leading cause neurosurgery, oncology (radiotherapy of childhood cancer deaths and one and medical oncology) and neuro- of the first causes of cancer death in rehabilitation with multiple principal economically active adults. Critically, investigators of local, national and there has been little improvement in international clinical studies. survival rates for high-risk brain tumours These are exciting times for neuro- in both adults and children. Cancer oncology research given the fundamental Research UK, the main sponsor of this discoveries in the area of (epi)genomics event, has identified brain cancer as of nervous system tumours. It is now one of its four cancers with substantial crucial to translate these breakthroughs unmet need and has stated that they will into novel therapies and improve the often increase focus on these tumours and dismal prognosis of these neoplasms. prioritise them within funding streams. We are convinced that this can be achieved only by fostering interactions Nervous system tumour research is and collaborative efforts across different a major theme across many research research groups and disciplines. institutions in the London area. In particular, neurological disease and As part of this effort, we have organized neurosciences research represent a great the Nervous System Tumour Workshop, proportion of UCL’s biomedical science which will provide an overview of neuro- activity. Notably, there are two Brain oncology research in the London area Tumour Charity-funded programmes and at other leading European research at UCL Cancer Institute/IoN and ICH institutions, and, critically, it will represent covering adult and paediatric neuro- a forum to discuss future research oncology translational research, with the directions in this area. latter involving researchers at the Institute of Cancer Research and Newcastle University. 2 Welcome On behalf of UCL and the UCL Cancer Institute Director Tariq Enver, it is our pleasure to welcome you to this one-day CRUK and BRC sponsored workshop. We have an exciting programme with a focus on Nervous System Tumour Research, which we hope will provide a stimulating forum for discussion on how Professor Paolo Dr Darren to facilitate future collaborative neuro- Salomoni Hargrave oncology research in the London area Brian Cross Consultant and beyond. Professorial Paediatric Research Associate Oncologist Samantha Dickson Great Ormond Some of the major themes under Brain Cancer Unit, Street Hospital discussion will include: UCL Cancer Institute London • Clinical Neuro-oncology • Target Identification and Validation • Imaging • Basic Mechanisms and Organising Committee Experimental Models Professor Paolo Salomoni - UCL Cancer Institute We have three outstanding plenary speakers who will provide an insight into Dr Darren Hargrave - their own research programmes and Great Ormond Street Hospital, London more broadly neuro-oncology research at their respective institutions. Professor Tariq Enver - Director, UCL Cancer Institute We extend a special thanks to all of our speakers and chairs and to our sponsors. Dr Matt Wakelin - We hope that you enjoy hearing about the Office of Vice Provost (Health) outstanding work taking place and that Ms Rachel Heatley - you will take the opportunity to interact Office of Vice Provost (Health) with other attendees throughout the day. 3 Programme Registration Theme: Target identification/ 8.45–9.20am Validation 9.20–9.30am 10.45–11.00am Dr Darren Hargrave and Dr Robin Ketteler Professor Paolo Salomoni – High-throughput screening in – Introduction primary cells and 3D model systems Session 1 – Plenary Talk 11.00–11.15am 9.30–10.00am Dr Chris Jones Chair: Professor Paolo Salomoni – Unique genetic and epigenetic drivers of paediatric high grade Professor Ruggero De Maria glioma – Strategies for glioblastoma stem cell targeting 11.15–11.30am Dr Tim Forshew Session 2 – Molecular stratification, tumour 10.00am–12.30pm heterogeneity and minimally Chairs: Professor John Anderson invasive genetics and Dr Naomi Fersht Theme: Neuro-oncology Break: 11.30–11.45am 10.00–10.15am Dr Darren Hargrave – Targeted therapies in paediatric Theme: Imaging neuro-oncology; opportunities and challenges 11.45am–12.00pm Professor Xavier Golay 10.15–10.30am – The role of Exchange-mediated MRI contrast in animal models of Dr Jeremy Rees brain cancer – Imaging of Low-Grade Gliomas: anticipating malignant transformation 12.00–12.15pm Dr Adam Badar 10.30–10.45am – Multimodal in vivo imaging of cell therapies targeted at brain tumours Professor Anthony Chalmers – Improving outcomes for glioblastoma patients by targeting 12.15–12.30pm intrinsic and microenvironment Discussion related radiation resistance 4 Session 3 – Plenary Talk 3.00–3.15pm 12.30–1.15pm Dr Juan Pedro Martinez-Barbera Chair: Dr Darren Hargrave – Adult pituitary stem cells induce tumours in a non-cell autonomous Professor Stefan Pfister manner – Clinical neuro-oncology in the omics era Break: 3.15–3.30pm 1.00-1.15pm 3.30–3.45pm Discussion Professor Silvia Marino – Chromatin modifiers in brain Lunch: 1.15–2.15pm tumourigenesis 3.45–4.00pm Session 4 – Professor Sebastian Brandner 2.15–4.15pm – Neural stem cells in the Chairs: Professor Bill Richardson and pathogenesis of brain tumours Professor Nick Wood Theme: Basic Mechanisms and 4.00–4.15pm experimental models Dr Tom Jacques – The neuropathology perspective: 2.15–2.30pm Tissue research at Great Ormond Professor Alison Lloyd Street – Links between nerve injury and NF1 tumourigenesis Session 5 – Plenary Talk 4.15–4.45pm 2.30–2.45pm Chair: Professor Jonathan Ledermann Professor Paolo Salomoni – Nuclear subdomains and Professor Phillipe Lambin chromatin function in nervous – Research in Neuro-oncology: system tumourigenesis What should we do? The Maastricht point of view 2.45–3.00pm Professor Denise Sheer 4.45–5.30pm – Defining the genetic and - Discussion and Closing epigenetic landscape in paediatric Remarks low-grade gliomas Drinks Reception 5 Chairs Professor John Anderson Dr Naomi Fersht Dr Darren Hargrave Professor of Experimental Consultant Clinical Oncologist Consultant Paediatric Paediatric Oncology University College Hospital Oncologist UCL Institute of Child Health and National Hospital for Great Ormond Street Neurology and Neurosurgery Hospital London Professor Jonathan Ledermann Professor Bill Richardson Professor of Experimental Professor of Biology Paediatric Oncology Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research UCL Institute of Child Health UCL Division of Medicine Professor Paolo Salomoni Professor Nick Wood Brian Cross Professorial Professor of Clinical Research Associate Neurogenetics Samantha Dickson Brain Cancer Unit UCL Institute of Neurology UCL Cancer Institute 6 Plenary Speakers Professor Ruggero De Maria, MD Professor Stefan M. Pfister Scientific Director, Regina Elena Head, Division of Pediatric National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy Neurooncology (German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) Heidelberg Professor Ruggero De Maria graduated in Medicine and specialized in Stefan Pfister was appointed acting head Endocrinology. He is Scientific Director of the Division Pediatric Neurooncology of the Regina Elena National Cancer at the German Cancer Research Center Institute (Rome, Italy) and is internationally (DKFZ) in 2012. Since 2014 he is renowned for his research on cancer professor for pediatric neurooncology at stem cells. the DKFZ and heading the department permanently. Being a pediatrician by His research aims to discover innovative training, Pfister received his MD from biomarkers and develop novel cancer Tübingen University, and his clinical therapies. Other research comprises education at Mannheim and Heidelberg studying microRNA and microenvironment University Hospitals. in solid tumours. As a physician-scientist, he completed He is President of the Italian Alliance postdoctoral fellowships with Christopher Against Cancer, the association of all Rudd at the Dana-Faber Cancer Institute/ comprehensive cancer institutes in Harvard Medical School, and with Peter Italy, and holds several Editorial Board Lichter at the German Cancer Research positions on internationally renowned Center, Division of Molecular Genetics. scientific journals. Pfister´s research focuses on the He has over 140 publications and sits on genetic and epigenetic characterization various prestigious Advisory Boards. of childhood brain tumours by applying next-generation profiling methods and subsequently translating novel findings into a clinical context. For his translational neurooncology projects, Pfister received amongst others the German Cancer Award in 2012. 7 Plenary Speaker Speakers Professor Philippe Lambin Dr Adam Badar Doctor of Medicine (MD, Université Research Associate, UCL Centre for Catholique de Louvain, Belgium), Advanced Biomedical Imaging Doctor of Sciences