18/12/2025
AIRC lecture, part of a series of invited AIRC lectures that comply with our commitment “finding the cure of cancer through research”.
The lecture Molecular, cellular, and spatial determinants of inflammation in cancer will be given by Prof. Renato Ostuni (Associate Professor - Vita-Salute San Raffaele University and Group Leader SR-Tiget) on December 18 at 5.00 pm Italian time.
Lecture abstract:
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive disease with high resistance to therapies. Inflammatory and immune suppressive signals co-exist in the pancreatic tumor microenvironment (TME), leading to dysregulated repair and cytotoxic responses. In this context, elucidating the spatial organization and local interactions of immune and non-immune cells is essential to identify biomarkers of disease initiation and progression, as well as to uncover targets for immunotherapy. Here, we integrated high-resolution spatial transcriptomics, single-cell genomics, and functional experiments to highlight key principles of architecture and function of immunity in pancreatic cancer. We identified IL-1β⁺ tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) as central organizers of inflammatory niches, as these cells engage in reciprocal crosstalk with distinct tumor, stromal and immune cell subsets via the production and sensing of prostaglandins and innate immune cytokines. Together, our findings provide an integrated spatial and functional map of immune dysregulation in PDAC, highlighting local multicellular programs that shape tumor progression, inflammation and immune suppression. Targeting pathogenic immune niches may offer new strategies to restore anti-tumor immunity in PDAC.
All lectures will be through remote participation and conducted virtually using the platform AIRC Science Seminars .
If you are not registered yet please sign up now at AIRC Science Seminars Registration in order to attend the lectures.
On the day of the event, we also suggest that you connect a few minutes in advance.
The calendar of next lectures is available at AIRC Science Seminars Next Events.