Understanding how a tumor evolves over time to anticipate its moves and neutralize it before it can strike the patient again. This is the core focus of the 37th Pezcoller Symposium, hosted yesterday and today by the University of Trento, which brought together over 240 scientists, physicians, and researchers from every corner of the globe.
As explained by Enzo Galligioni, President of the Pezcoller Foundation, this year’s Symposium focuses on the study of cancer’s evolutionary pathways in an effort to understand—and anticipate—its mutations and subsequent drug resistance. This challenge represents perhaps one of the most critical priorities on the global healthcare agenda, given the staggering number of cancer diagnoses, a disease that claims over 190,000 lives each year in Italy alone.
Scientific Director William G. Kaelin explains the meaning and significance of the theme addressed in this edition: “The history of tumor evolution is long, but we already know that certain cells have acquired mutations throughout their history that make them resistant to therapy. Over time, these groups of cells with distinct mutations compete to grow faster than others, leading to a highly heterogeneous tumor mass. This is precisely why we are gathered here: to collectively study tumor evolution and the factors driving it — ranging from the microenvironment to the intrinsic characteristics of the cell itself.”
However, medicine quickly gives way to politics. Indeed, it is with genuine regret that Galligioni paints a portrait of a “mad” world that prioritizes the profits generated by war over investments in research: “The challenge of funding research is an ongoing battle,” he explains, “and it is further worsened by the international events we are all familiar with, including the cutting of funds.”
