Course Directors

Rob Coppes, Biologist, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, (NL)
Daniel Zips, Radiation Oncologist, University Hospital and Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden (DE)

Background and Aims

Recent developments in stem cell biology have opened new therapeutic opportunities for cancer treatment. Stem cells are cells that can self-renew and differentiate in any cell of an organism or tissue. The current and newly being developed techniques for characterisation, selection and isolation allow transplantation of different types of stem cells to regenerate damaged tissues. Another important area of stem cell biology is the application of the concept to malignant tissues. While the cancer stem cell concept has been established in haematological malignancies for some years it is only recently being considered for solid tumours. Currently stem cells are being investigated for their role in the development, progress and cancer treatment susceptibility as well as their potential to treat radiotherapy related site effects.

This course aims to inform and discuss recent developments in the stem cell field, its relation to radiation biology and the potential implications in radiation oncology. This course will provide a basic insight into the general biology of stem cells (what is a stem cell, what characterises a stem cell and how does it interact with its environment) and put this into the perspective of cancer biology and treatment. Particularly, issues related to radiation response of stem cells to radiotherapy will be covered by the course. Focus is given to the potential use of stem cells to reduce radiation toxicity in normal tissues and to the implications of the cancer stem cell concept for tumour imaging as well as targeting.

This course provides an update of a rapidly expanding field of science with considerable potential for cancer treatment and will therefore be of interest not only to radiation biologists but also to other professionals within oncology.

Educational Programme

9.00 – 9.10:         Welcome, introduction

                            Rob P. COPPES , Daniel ZIPS

I Biological concept

9.10 – 9.50: Introduction to stem cells

                            Sten Eirik W. JACOBSEN

9.50 – 10.30:       Can we apply the normal tissue stem cell concept to cancer?

                            Wendy WOODWARD

II Aging, carcinogenesis and tumour microenvironment

10.30 – 11.00:     Aging of stem cells; involvement of DNA repair?

                            Penelope JEGGO

 

11.00 – 11.30:     Coffee break

 

11.30 – 12.00:     Stem cells and carcinogenesis

                            Rolf BJERKVIG

12.00 – 12.30:     Cancer stem cells: New variations on an old theme

                            Jörg CAMMENGA

III Stem cells and radioresistance

12.30 – 13.00:     Are clonogenic tumour cells cancer stem cells (CSC)?

                            Richard P. HILL

 

13.00 – 14.00:     Lunch

 

14.00 – 14.30:     Are CSC radioresistant?

                            Anthony CHALMERS

14.30 – 15.00:     Radiosensitivity of stem cells in normal tissues

                            Michèle MARTIN

IV Implications for Radiation Oncology

15.00 – 15.30:     Stem cell therapy to treat normal tissue damage

                            Rob P. COPPES

 

15.30 – 16.00:     Coffee break

 

16.00 – 16.30:     Consequences of the CSC concept for targeting and imaging strategies in clinical radiation therapy

                            Daniel ZIPS

16.30 – 17.00:         General discussion