July 15-18, 2027
Delta Hotel by Marriott
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

CONFERENCE COCHAIRS

Julio A. Aguirre-Ghiso, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, New York
Cyrus M. Ghajar, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington
Christoph A. Klein, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
Dorothy A. Sipkins, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina

Metastatic cancer remains largely incurable, with current therapies rarely eradicating disease once it has spread. While most cancer patients in Western countries are diagnosed at an early stage—before overt metastasis is detectable—this apparent window of curability is undermined by our inability to target disseminated cancer cells (DCCs) and micrometastases at the single-cell level. Despite advances in detection and local therapy, there are still no approved treatments that specifically eliminate these cells or prevent their eventual outgrowth into lethal metastases. This gap is rooted in an incomplete understanding of the key biological events occurring between the initial dissemination of tumor cells and the emergence of clinically manifest metastases in humans, and how best to model these processes in mice or in cell culture.

Recent literature underscores that the biology of minimal residual disease (MRD) and tumor dormancy is distinct from that of established metastasis. Key unanswered questions include how DCCs evolve clonally at distant sites, the epigenetic and transcriptional programs that enforce dormancy, the role of organ-specific niches and immune surveillance and immune evasion, and the mechanisms by which dormant cells evade therapy and eventually reactivate. Importantly, dormant DCCs can persist for years or decades, evading both immune detection and conventional therapies, only to later drive metastatic relapse. These processes are now recognized as major contributors to cancer mortality, yet remain among the least understood aspects of cancer biology.

The urgency of addressing these gaps is reflected in the growing attention from funding agencies and the scientific community. Publication trends reveal a sharp rise in studies focused on metastasis prevention and tumor dormancy, outpacing general metastasis research and highlighting a rapidly expanding field that is redefining our understanding of cancer progression. Despite this momentum, there is currently no dedicated venue for cross-disciplinary exchange on MRD and dormancy. This second AACR conference focused on these topics will bring together basic scientists, clinicians, technology developers, and translational researchers to help catalyze the development of new strategies for tracking, targeting, and ultimately eradicating dormant cancer cells – transforming the prospects for true metastasis prevention and long-term cancer survival. Make plans to join us in Toronto for this exciting conference.