First EurOvaCan Symposium marks launch of new ovarian cancer research forum and network

“We established EurOvaCan from a shared understanding that advancing outcomes in ovarian cancer requires much closer integration of fundamental tumor biology, immunology, and clinical translation,” says Professor Line Bjørge, Co-Director of CCBIO.

“Meaningful progress depends on bridging discovery science with clinical implementation, and the EurOvaCan symposium was created as a meeting place to strengthen exactly these connections,” she continues.

A strong opening

Under the theme “Improving ovarian cancer outcomes: harnessing tumor-host interactions”, the symposium brought together leading international experts in tumor biology, immunology, and translational oncology to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and stimulate the development of new strategies for precision and personalized therapy in ovarian cancer.

“And what an inspiring start it was!” says Bjørge. “Excellent scientific presentations, fantastic posters, and an engaged and enthusiastic audience created a truly memorable atmosphere. It was especially exciting to see more than 100 researchers, clinicians, and translational scientists from across Europe and beyond gather around a common goal: improving outcomes for women with ovarian cancer through stronger integration of biology, immunology, and clinical research,” she adds.

A shift to early detection

Together with an outstanding international scientific committee consisting of Anniina Färkkilä (Finland), Ronny Drapkin (USA), Krister Wennerberg (Denmark), and Frances Balkwill (UK), Bjørge produced a diverse and collaborative scientific program.

In the opening session on early detection and tumor initiation, Usha Menon outlined the persistent challenges in detecting ovarian cancer at a clinically actionable stage, emphasizing the need for improved screening strategies and risk stratification tools. Complementing this, Ronny Drapkin presented pioneering work on a pre-cancer atlas of ovarian cancer initiation in the fallopian tube, offering new molecular insights into the earliest steps of disease development. Together, these contributions underscored a shift toward earlier interception of disease, supported by increasingly sophisticated spatial and multi-omic profiling approaches.

Complexity meets precision

The theme of complexity and heterogeneity was further developed in sessions addressing histological diversity and precision oncology. Charlie Gourley and Susana Banerjee highlighted the biological and clinical challenges associated with rare ovarian cancer subtypes, stressing the importance of collaborative efforts to advance both understanding and treatment. In parallel, Sampsa Hautaniemi and Olivia Le Saux focused on mechanisms of chemotherapy resistance and the identification of predictive biomarkers for immunotherapy response. Their work illustrated how integrative molecular analyses are uncovering actionable vulnerabilities, bringing the field closer to truly individualized treatment strategies.

Exploring tumor ecosystems

On the second day, the focus shifted toward experimental models, the tumor microenvironment, and novel therapeutic targets. Frances Balkwill and Krister Wennerberg demonstrated how advanced in vitro systems and organoid models are transforming preclinical research by more accurately recapitulating tumor biology and drug responses. In the field of immunology and spatial biology, Denarda Dangaj and Anniina Färkkilä emphasized the importance of not only immune cell presence but also their spatial organization and functional states in shaping therapeutic outcomes. Finally, presenting emerging insights into tumor-stroma interactions and new treatment modalities, including work on cancer-associated fibroblasts and antibody-drug conjugates, Hanna Dahlstrand and Frederik Marmé highlighted promising directions for future therapies. Overall, the symposium reflected a rapidly evolving field driven by technological innovation and a deeper understanding of tumor heterogeneity.

The the complete program here. (external link)

Save the date for 2027

EurOvaCan 2026 marked a highly successful beginning for what is intended to become a lasting scientific hub.

“A heartfelt thank you to all speakers, contributors, sponsors, organizing committees, and participants for making the first EurOvaCan symposium such a success. We are already looking forward to the future of this growing collaborative community,” Bjørge concludes.

The next meeting is scheduled to take place on May 9 and 10, 2027, this time also at Solstrand, as a pre-symposium to the 15th CCBIO Symposium.