Back to the Future in the search for better cancer treatments

The 14th Annual CCBIO Symposium, held May 12–13, 2026 in Bergen, Norway, brought together researchers, clinicians, and collaborators for two days of scientific exchange, inspiration, and forward-looking discussions. This year’s thematic framing - “Back to the Future” - emphasized the importance of understanding the history behind today’s research fields.

Published: 22.05.2026

Collage of group photo from the 14th symposium meeting, and of situations from the symposium, such as speakers, audience, and poster session. — Photo: CCBIO, Thor Brødreskift

“We need to know where we come from in order to move forward wisely, this is especially true for early-career scientists,” said CCBIO Director Lars A. Akslen. The theme served as a conceptual backdrop to the program.

A masterclass in molecular biology

The symposium opened with “the maestro in molecular biology,” William A. Haseltine, who delivered a compelling lecture—without a single slide—tracing the scientific revolutions shaping modern medicine.

“Haseltine is a remarkable communicator. He brings a unique overview of the entire evolution of molecular biology, from the earliest breakthroughs to where we stand today,” said Akslen.

Dr. Haseltine on stage, clearly connecting with the audience, waving his hands while he explains.. — Photo: CCBIO, Thor Brødreskift

He noted how the lecture aligned almost perfectly with the symposium theme:

“It wasn’t planned that way, but it fit exceptionally well with the ‘Back to the Future’ perspective. Dr. Haseltine showed how understanding the past is essential for recognizing future opportunities. This was particularly motivating for the younger audience.”

Despite its clear thematic highlights, the symposium’s hallmark remained its broad scientific scope.

“Our philosophy has always been to offer a broad scientific menu, something for everyone,” said Akslen.

The emerging role of nerves in cancer

One of the key topics of this year’s symposium was cancer neuroscience, highlighted by presentations from Vera Thiel and Ronny Drapkin. Their work demonstrated how the nervous system actively contributes to tumor progression and metastasis.

New findings show how tumors recruit and interact with nerve cells to promote growth and dissemination, suggesting that tumors with strong neural interactions may be more aggressive. This rapidly evolving field is gaining attention, supported by significant new research funding for CCBIO.

Collage of Thiel and Drapkin as speakers on stage. — Vera Thiel and Ronny Drapkin presented new insights into how neural signaling shapes the tumor microenvironment and metastasis. Photo: CCBIO, Thor Brødreskift

From genomics to proteomics

Another major focus was proteomics, presented by Janne Lehtiö. While cancer research has long emphasized genomic alterations, increasing attention is now being paid to proteins—the functional molecules that execute cellular processes.

Proteomic analyses provide critical insights that cannot be inferred from genomic data alone, including treatment response, tumor behavior, and immune interactions. Lehtiö's talk showed how this shift toward “proteome medicine” represents a key step in advancing precision oncology and improving clinical decision-making.

This theme was further expanded by Keith Hunter, who demonstrated how combining spatial transcriptomics and proteomics enables detailed mapping of the tumor microenvironment. His work showed how distinct stromal and immune states within tumors are linked to disease progression and patient outcomes, highlighting the potential of these approaches to inform more targeted therapeutic strategies.

Bridging research, clinical studies, and industry

A central theme of this year’s symposium was translating discoveries into new treatment strategies.

Several presentations illustrated this pipeline. Gema Moreno-Bueno showed how molecular analyses of endometrial cancer, including heterogeneity and epigenetic profiling, can support more personalized treatment strategies. Francis Jacob demonstrated how comprehensive multimodal profiling can guide clinical decision-making in ovarian cancer.

In immunotherapy, the link to clinical application was especially clear. Bart Neyns presented clinical studies using dendritic cells to overcome resistance to immunotherapy, while Jon Amund Kyte showed how combining immunotherapy with selected chemotherapy can render “immune-cold” tumors responsive. Dorian Forte highlighted how liquid biopsies and immunometabolic profiling may enable more dynamic monitoring and new treatment approaches in leukemia.

Bile fra publikum i salen som sitter og følger med. — Photo: CCBIO, Thor Brødreskift

At the same time, contributions from industry partners such as GSK, Pfizer, and Bio-Techne demonstrated how these advances are closely intertwined with drug and technology development.

The symposium highlighted the path from research to innovation. Christian Kersten shared how a serendipitous clinical observation led to a new therapeutic approach and the creation of the biotech company AKIGAI. Karl-Henning Kalland presented the CryoIT concept, a novel immunotherapy strategy for prostate cancer that resulted in the company Alden Cancer Therapy.

“Here we see the full trajectory, from discovery to treatment and implementation,” Akslen noted.

Empowering early-career researchers

A hallmark of the CCBIO Symposium is its strong emphasis on providing a platform for early-career researchers. Through two poster sessions and a dedicated speed talk session, young scientists had the opportunity to present their work and engage with the research community.

For each session, the audience voted for their favorites. Congratulations to:

Day 1 – Best Poster:

Tessa Lohr: “Bidirectional interactions between breast cancer and peripheral neurons.”
Ghazal Lessan Toussi: “Development of a Proximity Ligation–Imaging Mass Cytometry Platform for Spatially Resolved Immune Checkpoint Analysis.”

Both also received Best Speed Talk, standing out across multiple presentation formats.

Day 2 – Best Poster:

Camilla Ekanger: “Organoid model for translational cancer research recapitulates the histoarchitecture and molecular hallmarks of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).”
Md Kaykobad Hossain: “Molecular rewiring leading to bladder cancer tumorigenesis.”

The best poster and best speed talk winners lined up with their diplomas, smiling. — The Best Poster/Speed talk winners: From the left, Camilla Ekanger, Ghazal Lessan Toussi, Md Kaykobad Hossain, and Tessa Lohr. Photo: CCBIO, Ingrid Hagerup and Heidrun Vethe.

CCBIO 2.0

Looking ahead, CCBIO continues to evolve. While maintaining its strong scientific foundation, the center is increasingly focused on securing external funding and strengthening strategic development.

“This represents a sharpening of our thinking and efforts. We are in the midst of multiple revolutions, and we experience daily how knowledge of the past helps create expectations about the future”, Akslen concludes.