This EACR conference is timely: just over ten years ago, in August 2003, the journal Nature wrote an editorial entitled “Goodbye, flat biology?” commenting on the merits of studying cell biology in vitro in three dimensions rather than two; doing this, it was suggested, more appropriately represented cell behaviour in vivo. In addition to the (not novel) realisation that cells cultured in two dimensions in vitro may be unrepresentative of the complexity of biology in situ, the importance of stromal influences on normal and tumour cell behaviour also began to permeate thinking of how best to optimise in vitro models. Partly accelerated by the dismal record of the pharmaceutical industry to find new, effective therapies for cancer and particularly the failure of pre-clinical models to predict clinical efficacy, questions were asked about the appropriateness in drug discovery of the workhorse of cell lines, many growing in two dimensions without stromal elements.

Although the failure of preclinical models of cancer, both in vitro and in vivo, to predict the clinical efficacy of novel agents has led to a questioning of the platforms used for drug discovery, academics may also be questioning the results of fundamental studies of cancer biology which use the same platforms, particularly cell lines growing in 2-dimensions on plastic. There is a concern that the “wiring” of the internal biochemistry and mechanics of these highly reductionist models are different from that of tumour cells in situ, where cells are in a dynamic, reciprocal relationship with their microenvironment. RNA expression profiles and proteomic analysis supports this view. Now many investigators are exploring how complex tissues and pathologies, such as cancer could be modelled with greater fidelity. These explorations extend to attempts to engineer complete human tissues on chips.

The EACR conference will present work which could herald a change in the way that biology and pathology, particularly cancer, is interrogated in vitro. Although some alternative, complex in vitro models are being commercialised, many of these remain to be fully characterized. Do they have “wiring” that resembles the tissue or pathology in situ with fidelity? What are the indications for their use and their limitations? Can these models replace animal experiments? The EACR meeting will provide a forum where these and other pertinent questions will be discussed.

Abstract submission deadline: 15 August 2014

Registration deadline: 30 September 2014