Dr. Laurence Albiges (Institut Gustave Roussy) presents on the microbiome at KCRS22. The microbiome has now been recognized as one of the emerging hallmarks and enabling characteristics of cancer.
KidneyCAN hosted the 4th Annual Kidney Cancer Research Summit on October 6-7, 2022 live in Philadelphia at Convene CityView (in the Duane Morris Plaza) and virtually via Zoom webinar.
KCRS is a meeting focused on basic science research, translational research, and clinical research in kidney cancer. This meeting is fueled by the ideas and research funded through the Department of Defense CDMRP-KCRP awards. KCRS gives the grant recipients, as well as other international leaders in kidney cancer research, the opportunity to gather and collaborate.
Spurring Breakthroughs
The two-day event began with a pre-conference session on genetics. The Genetic Consensus Conference was led by by Dr. Brian Shuch (UCLA) and Dr. Gennady Bratslavsky (SUNY). Speakers and participants included specialists in hereditary kidney cancers, to provide an update to the very comprehensive 2018 Journal of Clinical Oncology article “Genetic Predisposition to Renal Cell Carcinoma: Implications for Counseling, Testing, Screening, and Management.”
The formal program for KCRS22 began with a Fireside Chat with two leading researchers in immunotherapy at Johns Hopkins Medical Center, Dr. Drew Pardoll and Dr. Suzanne Topalian. Dr. Pardoll and Dr. Topalian recalled fascinating anecdotes — some about their research, and some about their first date. They reviewed some of the more exciting developments in kidney cancer research but also took time to offer sound advice to junior researchers as they start their first jobs — specifically, to seek out supportive environments and look for programs with strong mentorship from senior leaders.

Though Covid prevented an in-person Fireside Chat, moderators Toni Choueiri (DFCI) and Hans Hammers (UTSW) still led a wonderful conversation with Drew Pardoll and Suzanne Topalian from Johns Hopkins Medical Center.
A Packed Program and All-Star Lineup
Another first-day highlight was a special session called Breaking Barriers to Trial Enrollment. In this panel led by Michael Atkins (Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center), leading experts discussed health disparities and under-represented populations in kidney cancer trial enrollment. This session was enthusiastically received by attendees who had many great questions and insights during the discussion.
Breaking Barriers to trial Enrollment - that session #KCRS22 should be a must have in all oncology conference! major input from #FDA Chana Weinstock + patients advocates + industry partners!
— Laurence Albiges (@AlbigesL) October 6, 2022
Why? EQUITY (access to innovation) & REPRESENTATIVENESS (real world) pic.twitter.com/2hKLf0Ob3P
The second day of KCRS22 kicked off with Clinical and Scientific Updates in Kidney Cancer, presented by an all-star lineup of speakers:
Amazing panel with @brian_rini @DrChoueiri @montypal @AlbigesL @tompowles1 @Uromigos @MVossMD @DrRanaMcKay discussing clinical and scientific updates in kidney cancer #KCRS22 pic.twitter.com/T31ATTPHT0
— Fabio Schutz (@FabioSchutz78) October 7, 2022
Another highlight from the second day was a presentation by Dr. Andy Sewell. Professor Andrew Sewell is a distinguished Research Professor in the Division of Infection and Immunity at Cardiff University School of Medicine in the United Kingdom.
The research team at Cardiff, led by Professor Sewell, has discovered unconventional T-cells equipped with a new type of T-cell receptor (TCR) which recognizes and kills most human cancer types while ignoring healthy cells. The discovery holds out the tantalizing possibility of a universal approach to killing cancer.
Thanks Prof Sewell for sharing we should ❤️ real T-cells as they are the F1 race cars of the immune system 🏎 #KCRS22 https://t.co/PKJx5cHsXT
— Neil Reaume MD (@NeilReaumeMD) October 7, 2022
You can view the full program, along with session slides and video, by visiting the KCRS website. You can also pre-register for KCRS23, which will take place on July 13-14 in Boston, MA.

Thank you to all who joined us at KCRS22, whether in person or online for the virtual presentation. Thank you for your support and for working with us to accelerate cures for kidney cancer.
Feeling hopeful and refreshed after #KCRS22! Kidney Cancer has a very very tough opponent in @kidneycan #Acceleratecures @OncoAlert @DanaFarber_GU https://t.co/NQNjTSaBMN
— Toni Choueiri, MD (@DrChoueiri) October 7, 2022
1/ Bienveillance: I can't find the exact english equivalent but everyone at @kidneycan wants you to succeed because everyone has the same goal pic.twitter.com/YLtV55wJMo
— Renee Maria Saliby (@ReneeSaliby) October 8, 2022
So honored to support this amazing organization driven by passionate patient advocates who are the heart and soul of this group. They are the fuel for all the amazing work to cure kidney cancer for all! @kidneycan @DrChoueiri @HHammersMD @montypal https://t.co/Pl199Uwnfc
— Rana McKay (@DrRanaMcKay) October 7, 2022





















