
Stressed out? The cancer playbook may help
We often associate the concept of stress with deadlines, emergencies, traffic or hardships. For those who study biological and biochemical processes of disease in cell and organismal models, the idea of stress adaptation is recognized as one mechanism by which malignant and nonmalignant cells survive and thrive within environments that, at times, are hostile.
Are there ways that we think about environmental stress adaptations at an organismal level that may help scientists develop new perspectives on combatting cancer to improve patient outcomes? Indeed, cancer cells may even engage in molecular decision-making activities that differentiate between fight-or-flight responses in the face of environmental stress.
Submit an abstract
Abstract submission begins Sept. 14. If you submit by Oct. 12, you'll get a decision by Nov. 1. The regular submission deadline is Nov. 30.
This session will consider the mechanisms by which cancer cells adapt to intrinsic and extrinsic stressors and how defining these adaptative mechanisms may lead to improved treatment strategies. Topics will include nutrient access/use, aging, subcellular compartments, microenvironmental influences and tissue reprogramming.
Keywords: Cancer biology, molecular crosstalk, biochemical signaling, tissue homeostasis, aging, subcellular transport, local and global adaptations, tumor microenvironment.
Who should attend: Cancer researchers, cell biologists and biochemists interested in considering how aging, biochemistry and multi-scale adaptations cooperate to shape the stress landscapes of tumors.
Theme song: by A Tribe Called Quest
This session is powered by cortisol and catecholamines.

Stress adaptations in tumor progression
Jonathan Kelber (chair), Baylor University
Elda Grabocka, Thomas Jefferson University
Christina Towers, Salk Institute for Biological Studies
Mark LaBarge, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope
Enjoy reading ASBMB Today?
Become a member to receive the print edition four times a year and the digital edition monthly.
Learn moreGet the latest from ASBMB Today
Enter your email address, and we’ll send you a weekly email with recent articles, interviews and more.
Latest in Science
Science highlights or most popular articles

Parsing plant pigment pathways
Erich Grotewold of Michigan State University, an ASBMB Breakthroughs speaker, discusses his work on the genetic regulation of flavonoid biosynthesis.

Calcium channel linked to cancer drug resistance
Researchers discover a protein associated with carboplatin-resistant retinoblastoma, suggesting this protein could be a promising therapeutic target. Read more about this recent Journal of Biological Chemistry paper.

Host fatty acids enhance dengue virus infectivity
Researchers in Germany find that viral replication depends on host enzymes that synthesize lipids, revealing potential metabolic targets for antiviral intervention. Read more about this recent Journal of Biological Chemistry paper.

Antibodies inhibit hyperactive protein disposal
Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, identify an enzyme inhibitor, offering new tools to study diseases like cystic fibrosis, neurodegeneration and cancer. Read more about this recent Journal of Biological Chemistry paper.

Scientists find unexpected correlation between age and HDL-C levels
In a 30-year multicenter study, researchers determined what factors predict HDL-C concentration. In their analysis, they found that HDL-C levels grew with increasing age and physical activity.

Butter, olive oil, coconut oil — what to choose?
Depending on the chain length and origin of the fat, regular fat consumption changes the specific makeup of fats in bloodstream and affect mild to severe cholesterol patterns. Read about this recent Journal of Lipid Research study.