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Studying the Context and Complexity of Oncogenes and Oncogene Addiction Paradigms in MalignanciEs (SCOPE) Think Tank

Image of a labeled DNA segment of a known oncogene in a mouse oocyte visualized using n situ hybridization (left) and a stethoscope (right) that is overlaid by the following text: “Studying the Context and Complexity of Oncogenes and Oncogene Addiction Paradigms in MalignanciEs (SCOPE) Think Tank, December 9 – 10, 2024)”

The SCOPE Think Tank was held on December 9-10, 2024. It brought together a group of thought leaders in the field of oncogene biology for discussions on key questions and challenges related to the context and complexity of oncogenes and oncogene addiction paradigms.

The meeting was designed around topics to promote novel thinking and highlight new approaches towards understanding the functions of oncogenes in precancers and early cancers, as well as oncogene addiction during tumor evolution.

Documents from the Think Tank

A group photo of participants at the NCI SCOPE Think Tank

Group photo of NCI SCOPE Think Tank participants.

Recordings from the Think Tank

Opening Remarks and Think Tank Objectives

  • Welcoming Remarks and Charge to the Meeting - Drs. Sharmistha Ghosh-Janjigian and Dan Gallahan (NCI Division of Cancer Biology)
  • Think Tank Objectives - Dr. Robert Eisenman (Fred Hutch)

Keynote Presentation

  • Focusing Attention on the Dosage, Dependencies, and Interactions of Oncogenic Proteins in Cancer Cells - Dr. Harold Varmus (Weill Cornell)

Session I: Oncogene Activities and the Acquisition of Malignant Phenotype

  • Session I Aims - Dr. Dean Felsher (Stanford University) and Dr. Elizabeth Jaffee (Johns Hopkins University)
  • MYC-Driven Oncogenesis: It Takes a Network - Dr. Robert Eisenman (Fred Hutch)
  • Mechanisms of Tissue Tropism for Oncogenic RAS - Dr. Kevin Haigis (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute)
  • Cooperative and Antagonistic Interactions between KRAS and HRAS in Skin and Lung Cancer Development - Dr. Allan Balmain (UCSF)

Session I Highlights

  • Highlights and Summaries from Session I - Dr. Lukas Dow (Cornell University) and Dr. Sita Kugel (Fred Hutch) 

Session II: Oncogenic Effects and Determinants of Cell Fate

  • Session II Aims - Dr. Trever Bivona (UCSF) and Dr. Anirban Maitra (MD Anderson Cancer Center)
  • MYC Cooperates with Cell of Origin to Dictate Tumor Plasticity - Dr. Trudy Oliver (Duke University)
  • Metabolic Vulnerabilities of MYC-Driven Tumors: Opportunities and Challenges - Dr. Chi Van Dang (Johns Hopkins University)
  • Regenerative Plasticity as an Oncogene-Induced Driver of Malignancy - Dr. Ronald Evans (Salk Institute)
  • Investigating Amplified Oncogenes in the 3D Cancer Genome - Dr. Xiaoyang Zhang (University of Utah)

Session II Highlights

  • Highlights and Summaries from Session II - Dr. Katja Lamia (Scripps Research Institute) and Dr. Ashani Weeraratna (Johns Hopkins University)

Session III: Oncogene Addiction - Possible Mechanisms and Potential Vulnerabilities

  • Session III Aims - Dr. Robert Coffey (Vanderbilt University)
  • Oncogene Addiction: Identifying Tumor Intrinsic Mechanisms That Can be Generally Exploited as Therapeutic Vulnerabilities - Dean Felsher (Stanford University)
  • Dividing and Conquering Cancer by Understanding Oncogenic Dependencies - Dr. Lou Staudt (NCI Center for Cancer Research)
  • Shifting Mechanisms of Escape from Oncogene Targeted Therapies - Dr. Charles Sawyers (MSKCC)

Session III Highlights

  • Highlights and Summaries from Session III - Dr. Cory Abate-Shen (Columbia University) and Dr. Angelo De Marzo (Johns Hopkins University) 

Key Points from Day 1

  • Genetic Basis of Kidney Cancer: Oncogene/Oncogenic Pathways - Dr. Marston Linehan (NCI Center for Cancer Research)

Session IV:  Leveraging Resources, Tools, and Models

  • Session IV Aims - Dr. Kevin Haigis (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute) and Dr. Linghua Wang (MD Anderson Cancer Center)
  • The Complexity of Oncogenes in the Germline - Dr. Stephen Chanock (NCI Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics)
  • Modeling Small-Cell Lung Cancer Development and Response to Therapy - Dr. Julien Sage (Stanford University)
  • Computational Tools and Approaches for Oncogene Biology and Complexity - Dr. Linghua Wang (MD Anderson Cancer Center)
  • Braking Bad: How Oncogenes Drive Ectopic Mutagenesis, Tumor Heterogeneity, and Therapy Resistance - Dr. Ping Mu (Yale University)

Closing Remarks

  • Closing Remarks for the Think Tank - Drs. Sharmistha Ghosh-Janjigian and Rihab Yassin (NCI Division of Cancer Biology)

Social media posts related to the meeting can be found using #NCISCOPE24. 

DCB Contact for the Think Tank

For additional information about the SCOPE Think Tank, please contact Sharmistha Ghosh-Janjigian. 

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