Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to announce the 1st International Electronic Conference on Cancers: Exploiting Cancer Vulnerability by Targeting the DNA Damage Response: 1–14 February 2021

Defects in the DNA damage response (DDR), comprising DNA repair and cell cycle checkpoint signalling, can promote tumorigenesis by creating increased genomic instability. These defects create tumour vulnerabilities that can be exploited for therapeutic gain. This conference aims to promote and advance the exciting and rapidly changing field of exploiting DDR dysregulation for cancer therapy. It will bring together experts in basic, translational and clinical research to discuss the current research and the opportunities and obstacles that lie ahead of the field, as we seek to translate the concepts of synthetic lethality, gene addiction and checkpoint inhibition into cancer therapies together.

The focus of this conference is the translation of basic science understanding of the DNA damage response (DDR), and its dysregulation in cancer to its therapeutic exploitation. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

• DNA function and its dysregulation in cancer, including epigenetic and post-translational mechanisms
• Role of the DDR in immune signalling
• Targeted therapies exploiting DDR dysregulation and translation of determinants of sensitivity to predictive biomarkers
• Clinical studies with DDR-targeted therapies

There will be seven specific sessions:

• Session 1: Overview of targeting DDR dysfunction in cancer
• session 2: DNA damage cell cycle checkpoints
• Session 3: DNA repair, defects in cancer and their exploitation
• Session 4: MMR defects, mutator phenotype
• Session 5: SUMO and ubiquitination and other epigenetic and post-translational mechanisms
• Session 6: Targeting with immune checkpoint inhibitors
• Session 7: Overview and use of biomarkers in clinical trials

and a poster session. Posters can be presented without an accompanying proceedings paper, and will be available online on this website, during and after the e-conference. However, they will not be added to the proceedings of the conference.

Participants will have the opportunity to examine, explore and critically engage with issues and advances in these areas. We hope to facilitate discussions and exchange within the community.

This event will solely be an online proceeding which allows participation from all over the world, with no concerns for travel and related expenditures. This type of conference is particularly appropriate and useful because research concerned with cancers is progressing rapidly. An electronic conference provides a platform for rapid and direct exchanges about the latest research findings and novel ideas. Participation, as well as the “attendance” of this online conference, is free of charge.

The 1st International Electronic Conference on Cancers: Exploiting Cancer Vulnerability by Targeting the DNA Damage Response will be held at IECC2021.sciforum.net, on a platform developed by MDPI to organize electronic conferences.

The 1st International Electronic Conference on Cancers: Exploiting Cancer Vulnerability by Targeting the DNA Damage Response is sponsored by MDPI and the scientific journal Cancers. Accepted conference papers will be published in the proceedings of this e-conference. All participants are cordially invited to contribute with a extended full manuscript to Cancers Special Issue IECC2021: Exploiting Cancer Vulnerability by Targeting the DNA Damage Response with a 20% discount off the APC. Cancers (ISSN 2072-6694; IF 6.126) is a peer-review Open Access journal of oncology published semimonthly online by MDPI.

The best conference paper and presentation will receive an award of 500 CHF, as well as an offer to publish an extended paper, free of charge, in the Special Issue of the journal Cancers.

We hope the community will share this enthusiasm and help making this conference a success.

Kind regards,
Prof. Dr. Nicola Curtin
Dr. Helen E. Bryant

Conference Secretariat

Ms. Dimity Wang
Ms. Donna Xue
iecc2021@mdpi.com

Time Schedule

Abstract Deadline: 6 December 2020
Abstract Acceptance Notification Deadline: 20 December 2020
Full Paper Submission Deadline: 20 January 2021
Conference Date: 1–14 February 2021
Live Sessions: 1–3 February 2021
Awards Announcement: 30 April 2021