# AACR Special Conference on Evolutionary Dynamics in Carcinogenesis and Response to Therapy

> **NIH NIH R13** · AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR CANCER RESEARCH · 2020 · $1

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
The proposed conference, titled “Evolutionary Dynamics in Carcinogenesis and Response
to Therapy,” will be held March 12-15, 2020 in Denver, Colorado. Two of the most critical issues
in current cancer research are 1) defining the biological basis for the vast intratumoral
heterogeneity observed in patients and 2) understanding the underlying processes in therapy
resistance. Both issues stem from Darwinian evolutionary dynamics wherein selection forces are
imposed on a population with heritable variability. In the instance of cancers, the interactions of
individual cancer cells with one another, the surrounding tissues, and the immune system govern
the evolution of cancers from carcinogenesis through treatment response (1-2). The concept of
cancer as an evolutionarily guided process has been recognized for over forty years (14) but has
focused mainly on the genetic diversity of cancers. The aim for this conference is to move away
from the simplistic view of cancer evolution as a merely genetic phenomenon and to discuss
instead how microenvironmental, immune cell, genetic, and epigenetic heterogeneity interact and
how this influences cancer progression and therapy success or failure. Moreover, this conference
will meet the need for practical application of evolutionary theory by providing a venue to
synthesize concepts in evolutionary dynamics from basic cancer research into clinical
applications. There is currently a dearth of opportunities in the United States for investigators to
meet and share research on this subject. The program has been carefully designed to feature
thought-provoking sessions on clonal evolution, generation of genomic and epigenomic diversity,
mechanisms of dynamics and resistance, longitudinal dissection of resistance evolution, and
evolutionary guided therapy. Attendance will help better disseminate the rapidly growing collection
of research innovations. Collaboration and networking will also be encouraged by incorporating
multiple opportunities for thoughtful discussion and meaningful interaction between participants.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9833557
- **Project number:** 1R13CA243226-01
- **Recipient organization:** AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR CANCER RESEARCH
- **Principal Investigator:** Margaret Foti
- **Activity code:** R13 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $1
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-03-01 → 2020-08-27

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9833557

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9833557, AACR Special Conference on Evolutionary Dynamics in Carcinogenesis and Response to Therapy (1R13CA243226-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9833557. Licensed CC0.

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