Regina Elena National Cancer Institute hosts translational oncology workshop

The Regina Elena National Cancer Institute (IRE) in Rome is hosting the 8th Translational Oncology Workshop to explore how the tumor microenvironment influences cancer progression, metastasis, and therapy resistance.

Researchers are focusing on mechanobiology, specifically how tumor cells perceive the stiffness of the surrounding extracellular matrix. A dense or rigid matrix can make tumors more aggressive and create physical barriers that prevent drugs and immune cells from reaching the malignancy. This continuous dialogue between tumor cells, immune cells, fibroblasts, and blood vessels represents a new frontier in oncology.

The international event is organized in collaboration with the Manchester Cell-Matrix Centre at the University of Manchester and the Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute. The goal is to identify new therapeutic targets that can make tumors more vulnerable to treatment by disrupting these environmental mechanisms.