CCBIO Seminar – Ellen Puré

Speaker: Ellen Puré, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA

Title: Flanking solid tumors via immune-mediated disruption of desmoplastic stroma

Place: digital event as webinar in Zoom. Use this link: https://uib.zoom.us/j/69639978353?pwd=QmFtQmZkNkRhVVRGa3dWSVMrZmpaUT09

If asked for a passcode, use: m2YJKFCT

Time: May 27, 2021 at 14:30 (Norwegian time zone). Open for logon from 14:20.

Chair: Donald Gullberg

Abstract: Solid tumors are dependent on cues intrinsic to malignant cells as well as on extrinsic factors derived from non-malignant components of the tissue/tumor microenvironment, overall ecology of the host and environmental factors. Malignant transformation and disease progression involves co-evolution of malignant cells and the vascular, neural, immune and stromal compartments of the cancer neo-organ. At the site of primary tumor, as well as sites of metastasis, this results in transition from the tumor resistant environment of normal tissue to establishment of a pro-tumorigenic niche and involves angiogenesis, innervation and transition from immune surveillance to immune escape. Activation of spatially and temporally diverse populations of stromal cells referred to collectively as cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs), and dynamic extracellular matrix remodeling, are increasingly recognized as an essential hub in the complex network of communications within the tumor microenvironment that drives tumorigenesis and disease progression. The mechanisms of activation and effector functions of a pro-tumorigenic and immune suppressive subpopulation of fibroblast activation protein (FAP) expressing CAFs will be discussed.  In addition, proof-of-concept that this subpopulation can be therapeutically targeted at a cellular or molecular level will be presented.   

Short bio: Ellen Puré is Professor and Chair, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. The laboratory of Ellen Puré is studying the cellular and molecular basis of inflammation and fibrosis, with a particular focus on the role of stromal cells and extracellular matrix (ECM), in the context of chronic inflammatory diseases and cancer. Two molecules studied in some detail in her lab are CD44 and fibroblast activation protein (FAP), a stromal cell surface protease, widely used as a marker for cancer-associated fibroblasts.

Zoom practicalities:

Note: Please change any username to your name when logging in, so that chair can address you by name if you have questions.

• Your sound and video will be turned off as default for security reasons, and only host can de-mute individual participants.
• We will open for questions after the lecture, where you can use the Raise hand function, or type your question in Chat. Host will then de-mute your sound and address you by your name (please log on with your name).
• If you think you might want to ask questions, please test your microphone beforehand. Make sure your microphone is turned on. (Or ask host to read out your typed question).
• We advise all to have a Zoom account on your device beforehand (free service), that will save you some minutes when logging on.

Those of us with University of Bergen (UiB) client machines, might already have Zoom. If not, see https://it.uib.no/Jeg_skal_bruke_Zoom_for_f%C3%B8rste_gang

For private machines (not UiB), see https://zoom.us/download#client_4meeting   Otherwise, clicking the logon link provided above will prompt the Zoom app to download, but it saves you time to have done this beforehand.