The Cancer Researcher Podcast

Research focus: novel approach to advance treatment of KRAS-driven non-small cell lung cancer based on ERK5 and FAK inhibition

We speak with Dr. Georgia Konstantinidou and Dr. Chiara Pozzato from University of Bern about their recent pre-clinical research investigating a new potential treatment approach for KRAS driven cancers. The conversation explores the role of FAK signalling in KRAS driven NSCLC and potential approaches to bypass drug resistance against FAK inhibitors from the molecular mechanisms involved to the impact of their study for the wider cancer research community.
This study has been published in EMBO Molecular Medicine and was included in the EACR's Highlights in Cancer Research, a summary of the most interesting and impactful recent papers in cancer research.
🔗 Read more about the publication: https://magazine.eacr.org/highlights-in-cancer-research-december-2024/7/
🔗 Access transcripts for all our episodes at magazine.eacr.org/podcast

Curiosity, optimism and collaboration: research insights from three award winning scientists

In this insightful and honest conversation, award winners Karin de Visser, Ido Amit and Marta Kovatcheva talk about their research, career journeys, and excitement for the future of cancer research. From curiosity  and scientific breakthroughs to diversity and balancing life in the lab, they reflect on what it really means to be a researcher today.
This episode explores the evolution of the cancer field and why optimism is more important than ever in science. The episode ends with a look ahead to the EACR 2025 Congress in Lisbon, where they’ll join fellow scientists from across the globe to share research and shape the future of cancer science.
Karin de Visser is winner of the Pezcoller-Marina Larcher Fogazzaro-EACR Women in Cancer Research Award
Ido Amit is winner of the Pezcoller Foundation-EACR Translational Cancer Research Award
Marta  Kovatcheva is winner of the EACR-Mark Foundation-Pezcoller Foundation Rising Star Award
🔗 Find out more about the EACR Congress at eacr.org/congress
🔗 Access transcripts for all our episodes at magazine.eacr.org/podcast

Charlie Swanton on perseverance, scientific change and asking questions

In this episode of The Cancer Researcher Podcast we interview Professor Charlie Swanton, Deputy Clinical Director of the Francis Crick Institute and Chief Clinician at Cancer Research UK on his research interests, the evolution of the field and how he turned round his failing PhD. Charlie also shares with us what he’s looking forward to at the EACR Congress ahead of his Keynote Lecture and gives some excellent advice to early-career researchers on how to break away from the shyness that could hold some back from asking questions and networking at conferences.
🔗 Access transcripts for all our episodes at magazine.eacr.org/podcast.
🔗 Find out more about the EACR Congress at eacr.org/congress

Research focus: beating cancer at its own game - the effects of oncogenic signaling hyperactivation on cancer progression

In this episode of the Cancer Researcher Podcast we interview Matheus Diaz about his research in Rene Bernards' lab on a ‘paradoxical’ approach to cancer treatment involving the activation of oncogenic signaling. The conversation explores how this method potentially kills cancer cells and addresses drug resistance, based on Diaz's fascinating recent publication in Cancer Discovery.
🔗 Read more about the publication: https://magazine.eacr.org/highlights-in-cancer-research-december-2024/10/ 
🔗 Access transcripts for all our episodes at magazine.eacr.org/podcast
 

Insights from a Keynote Speaker

In this episode of The Cancer Researcher Podcast we welcome back Professor Carlos Caldas, Clinician Scientist and Professor of Cancer Medicine at the University of Cambridge. As a keynote speaker at the upcoming EACR Congress, he shares insights into his breast cancer research, the evolution of cancer science, and the power of patient-derived xenograft models. We also discuss the Congress programme, networking tips for early-career researchers, and why Lisbon is the perfect host city.
🔗 Access transcripts for all our episodes at magazine.eacr.org/podcast.
🔗 Find out more about the EACR Congress at eacr.org/congress

Collaborating Across Borders

Cross-border collaboration is crucial in cancer research because it fosters knowledge-sharing, accelerates innovation, and maximises the impact of research by leveraging diverse expertise and resources. However, it also comes with many challenges.
In this episode of The Cancer Researcher Podcast we're joined by four renowned experts — the Director of EMBO, the Director of Research and Partnerships at Cancer Research UK, the Past President of the European Academy of Cancer Sciences, and the Past President of the EACR.
The guests discuss the complexities and benefits of cross-border collaboration in cancer research, emphasising the need for careful planning and understanding diverse funding models. They also explore the balance between discovery science and translational research, the importance of investigator-initiated and pragmatic clinical trials, and how such approaches can drive innovation and reduce healthcare costs.
🔗 Access transcripts for all our episodes at magazine.eacr.org/podcast.
🔗  Celis, J. and Ringborg, U. (2024), From the creation of the European research area in 2000 to a Mission on cancer in Europe in 2021-lessons learned and implications. Mol Oncol, 18: 785-792. https://doi.org/10.1002/1878-0261.13632

Research focus: the impact of chronic stress on tumour progression

A cancer diagnosis is understandably stressful for a patient. But how does chronic stress influence cancer progression and metastasis? In this episode, Dr. Xue-Yan He discusses her recent research on the impact of stress on the tumour microenvironment, with a focus on the altered balance between neutrophils and lymphocytes and its role in promoting tumour spread.
This study, published in Cancer Cell (Volume 42, Pages 474–486), was selected for the EACR Highlights in Cancer Research, showcasing its significance to the field.
🔗 Read the Cancer Cell article: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ccell.2024.01.013
🔗 Explore the EACR Highlights: https://magazine.eacr.org/highlights-in-cancer-research-june-2024/3/
🔗 Access transcripts for all our episodes at magazine.eacr.org/podcast.
Tune in for an in-depth discussion on the interplay between stress and cancer biology, and its implications for understanding tumour progression.

Research focus: a novel pan-lysyl oxidase inhibitor for improving the treatment of pancreatic cancer

Dr. Jessica Chitty and Dr. Thomas Cox generated and validated a novel selective and irreversible pan-lysyl oxidase inhibitor: PXS-5505. Their experiments in a series of pre-clinical models show that by acting on the tumour microenvironment, this small molecule drug has the ability to significantly enhance chemotherapy efficacy.
Listen to this episode to find out direct from the authors about the effects that PXS-5505 in combination with gemcetabine has on tumour morphology, behaviour and subject survival in pancreatic cancer.
This study has been published in Nature Cancer and was included in the EACR's Highlights in Cancer Research, a summary of the most interesting and impactful recent papers in cancer research.
Access transcripts for all our episodes at magazine.eacr.org/podcast.

Scientific management as a career

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to pursue a career in scientific management? What would a regular workday look like? What skills are valued in this sector and what are the opportunities for career progression?
Tune into this episode of The Cancer Researcher Podcast for an insightful conversation with our three expert guests who each work in scientific management in different positions and sectors.
Our guests in this episode:
Lynn Turner, Director of Research at Worldwide Cancer Research
Olivia Tort, International Project Manager at IRB Barcelona
Javier Carmona, Head of Scientific Strategy and Translational Programs at Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology
Access transcripts for all our episodes at magazine.eacr.org/podcast.

Trailer

Welcome to The Cancer Researcher Podcast, from the European Association for Cancer Research.