Join the 21st Annual Meeting of the Canceropole GSO – A Key Event for Cancer Research and Clinical Innovation in the Greater South-West
The Annual Meeting of the Canceropole GSO is a major gathering for researchers and clinicians across the Greater South-West (GSO) region. This event is a unique opportunity to connect, exchange ideas, and discuss the strategic directions of cancer research in the two regions.
Dates: November 26–28, 2025
Location: Congress Center, Agen
This 21st edition will feature:
- Plenary and parallel sessions showcasing cutting-edge research from internationally renowned keynote speakers, as well as leading scientists and clinicians from the GSO.
- Oral presentations and poster sessions highlighting the latest research findings and technological platform assets.
- A Young Scientist poster competition, open exclusively to PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, and medical residents.
- For the first time, a Young Scientist oral presentation competition, on Friday morning during the « Rising Stars – Young Scientist Oral Presentation Competition » session.
This meeting fosters collaboration across disciplines and institutions, helping to build strong networks and launch innovative projects in oncology.
Social Events
Looking for an idea for Wed. evening?
L’indé, an independent brewery & restaurant in the city centre, will offer that day a beverage with each diner reservation made before Nov. 16th ! You can visit their website for more information and to schedule a visit of their facilities.
To get your free drink, remember to mention you are coming on behalf of Cancéropôle GSO when making your reservation. Contact >>
Thursday Nov. 27th evening Gala Dinner
As every year, the Thursday evening Gala Dinner will offer delicious food, good music and as always a lot of dancing!
Program
12:30: Welcome Lunch
14:00 – 14:10: Opening Ceremony
Nadine HOUEDE, Cancéropôle Grand Sud-Ouest Scientific Director
14:10 – 15:45: Plenary session
- Inflammation & Cancer
Chairs: A. Majid KHATIB and Antonio MARAVER- KEYNOTE SPEAKER María CASANOVA-ACEBES, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (CNIO), Madrid (Spain)
Novel immunomodulatory functions of myeloid cells in solid tumors - Bruno SEGUI, Cancer Research Center of Toulouse (CRCT)
- Selected Communication
- Nadine LAGUETTE, Institute of Molecular Genetics of Montpellier (IGMM) – Exploring the crosstalk between DNA repair and inflammatory responses: impact on cancer therapeutics
- KEYNOTE SPEAKER María CASANOVA-ACEBES, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (CNIO), Madrid (Spain)
15:45 – 16:00: Cancer Research in Limoges at a glance
Bertrand LIAGRE, Limoges University – LABCiS
16:00: Coffee Break
16:45 – 18:20: Plenary session
- Innovation in drug delivery technologies
Chair: Sébastien BRITTON and Sébastien PAPOT- KEYNOTE SPEAKER Vijay CHUDASAMA, University College, London (UK)
Use of “click” chemistry and native disulfide rebridging to make homogeneous ADCs, bispecifics and “synthetic” antibodies (SynAbs)
- KEYNOTE SPEAKER Vijay CHUDASAMA, University College, London (UK)
18:20 Poster session / Icebreaker session
08:00: Welcome Coffee Break
08:30 – 10:15: Plenary session
- Hot topics in oncology
Chairs: Julie PANNEQUIN and Pierre CORDELIER- KEYNOTE SPEAKER Frank WINKLER, Universitäts Klinikum, Heidelberg (Germany)
Neural influences on brain tumors: from new insights to new therapies - Invited communication
- KEYNOTE SPEAKER Jean ALBRENGUES, Institute for Research on Cancer and Aging, Nice
Neutrophil extracellular traps promote chemoresistance
- KEYNOTE SPEAKER Frank WINKLER, Universitäts Klinikum, Heidelberg (Germany)
10:15 – 11:15: Poster Session
11:15 – 12:45: Parallel sessions
- Cell signaling, microenvironment and targeting / Axis 1 session
Chairs: Violaine MOREAU and Guillaume BOSSIS- KEYNOTE SPEAKER Frédéric BARD, Marseille Cancer Research Centre (CRCM)
- Selected communications
- Ahmad SHARANEK, BoRdeaux Institute of Oncology (BRIC) – Unraveling Vulnerabilities in Glioblastoma Stem Cells for Therapeutic Intervention
- New tools for innovative biomarkers / Axis 5 session
- Les conflits d’intérêts (in french) / session Axe 4
Modération: Philippe GORRY
12:45: Lunch break
14:15 – 15:45: Plenary session (in french)
- Intelligence Artificielle & Ethique
Modérateurs: Cyrille DELPIERRE et Véronique GIGOUX- Jérôme BERANGER, Centre d’Epidémiologie et de Recherche en santé des POPulations, Toulouse – Quels enjeux, risques, et impacts éthiques de l’IA (générative) en Biologie (Recherche, Soins, etc.)
- Thierry LAVABRE-BERTRAND, CHU de Montpellier et Nîmes – IA et éthique, questions anciennes et nouvelles
15:45: Coffee Break
16:45 – 18:15: Parallel sessions
- Genome Dynamics & Expression / Axis 2 session
Chairs: Vera PANCALDI and Eric JULIEN- KEYNOTE SPEAKER Agyris PAPANTONIS, University Medical Center Goettingen (Germany)
Targeting a transcriptional addiction in pancreatic cancer - Selected communications
- Jean-Christophe ANDRAU, Institute of Molecular Genetics of Montpellier (IGMM) – G-quadruplexes are promoter elements functioning as nucleosome exclusion modules in mammals
- KEYNOTE SPEAKER Agyris PAPANTONIS, University Medical Center Goettingen (Germany)
- Biomarkers for clinical innovation / Axis 3 session
Chairs: Véronique GIGOUX- KEYNOTE SPEAKER
- Frédéric SALTEL, BoRdeaux Institute of Oncology (BRIC)
- Les représentations de la maladie cancéreuse au sein de la population générale (in french) / session Axe 4
Modération: Florence SORDES
18:15 – 19:00: Prestige Conference
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- KEYNOTE SPEAKER Hervé MAISONNEUVE, Past president of European Association of Science Editors, Lyon
The rise and fall of scientific publications: publish and perish
- KEYNOTE SPEAKER Hervé MAISONNEUVE, Past president of European Association of Science Editors, Lyon
08:00: Welcome Coffee Break
08:30 – 10:10: Plenary session
- Rising Stars – Young Scientists Oral Presentation Competition
Chair: Nadine HOUEDE- Selected Communications
10:10 – 10:30: Prize Awards
10:30: Break
11:15 – 13:00: Plenary Session & Session Axe 4
- Translational Research in Thoracic Oncology / COALA project
Chair: Olivier CALVAYRAC- KEYNOTE SPEAKER Trever G. BIVONA, University of California San Francisco (USA)
- ALK/ROS1 France Patient Association – Cure Oncogene-Addicted Lung Cancer (COALA) project presentation
- Montse SANCHEZ-CESPEDES, Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute, Barcelona (Spain)
- David SANTAMARIA, Centro de Investigación del Cáncer (CSIC), Salamanca (Spain)
- Les représentations de la maladie cancéreuse au sein de la population générale (in french) / session Axe 4
Modération: Florence SORDES
13:00: Closing Lunch
Abstract submission
Abstract submission is open to registered participants only as the presenting author of an abstract must be registered for the congress.
Abstract submission could be related to all cancer topics (axes, themes and working groups of the Canceropole GSO): present your recent work, platforms and open collaborations with industrials.
Titles and abstracts must be written in English (except for Axis 4 communications). The maximum length allowed for an abstract is 4000 characters including blank spaces. The abstract title, the author(s) or names of institutions are not included in the count of 4000 characters.
Abstract submissions must be made via your personal account, accessible through the link provided in your registration confirmation email.
Accepted abstracts will be published in the online seminar booklet.
By submitting an abstract, the presenting author confirms that all co-authors have approved the content and consent to its publication in the seminar booklet.
If you are selected to present a poster, you will receive detailed instructions following the notification of your selection.
Each poster will be assigned a unique number, which will indicate its designated location in the Poster Area.
Poster specifications:
Maximum dimensions: 80 cm (width) × 120 cm (height), portrait orientation (A0 format).
Presenters are responsible for printing their own posters.
We kindly ask you to mount your poster upon arrival. Mounting materials will be provided only for posters printed on regular paper (non-glossy, non-laminated).
If you choose to use glossy paper, laminated materials, or alternative supports (e.g., fabric), please bring your own hanging system (e.g., clips and extra-strong adhesive).
Poster sessions will be held on Wednesday evening and Thursday morning.
Presenters are expected to stand by their posters for the duration of the session and be prepared to deliver a brief two-minute take-home message.
These competitions are open exclusively to PhD students, post-doctoral researchers, and residents affiliated with GSO academic research / clinical teams.
If selected for the Oral Presentation Competition, candidates will not be eligible to the Poster Presentation Competition
Young Scientist Oral Presentation Competition
One prize of €500 will be awarded for the best oral presentation.
To enter the competition, eligible candidates must submit an abstract in the « Rising Star / Young Scientist Oral Presentation Competition » Session and select the best axis for the presentation. Selected communications will be notified during fall and given more detailed instructions for the competition
Please note: Winners must be present at the award ceremony to receive their prize. Absentees will be disqualified.
The « Young Scientist » oral presentation competition is carried out with the support of :
Poster Presentation Competition
Five prizes of €500 will be awarded for the best poster presentations.
Participants must be present at their posters during both poster sessions (Wednesday and Thursday) to be eligible (except for the Axis 4).
The Jean Paufique Foundation (Laboratoire Silab) will present a special award to a young researcher for outstanding work in fundamental and applied research related to the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of dermatological diseases, with a particular focus on skin cancers.
Please note: Winners must be present at the award ceremony to receive their prize. Absentees will be disqualified.
The « Young Scientist » poster competition is carried out with the support of : 
Registration (before October 31st)
Congress fees include all sessions attendance and access to the online abstracts
| Attendance fees | ||||
| Young academics (PhD student, post-doc, resident) |
Academics (permanent staff) |
Start-ups* | Industry | |
| Before Sept. 19 | 30 € | 50 € | 100 € | 200 € |
| After Sept. 19 | 50 € | 100 € | 200 € | 400 € |
* Start-ups from the GSO: start-ups from Occitanie and Nouvelle Aquitaine regions, created after 2020 and with no more than 10 employees. If these criteria don’t apply, industrial fees apply.
• Attendance to the gala event on Thursday Nov 27th is not included in the congress fees. Gala event supplementary cost :
- Young researchers: 25 €
- Academics: 40 €
- Start-ups: 60 €*
- Industry: 100 €
Payment
The next Canceropole GSO Annual Meeting will take place in Agen at the Agora Congress Center from the 26th to the 28th of November 2025.
Getting to Agen
Agen is located in the heart of Southwest France, along the “Autoroute des Deux Mers,” halfway between the regional capitals Bordeaux and Toulouse — making it a convenient and accessible destination by both train and car!
For your travel, we encourage the use of sustainable and eco-friendly transportation options.
Please beware that the Congress Venue is not in Agen city centre. Buses (Line T1) will be available to access the Agora from the city centre and the railway station. Their schedule will be updated here
AGEN AGORA
351 Avenue du Midi
47000 Agen
For more information visit the Agen Agora website.
Invited Speakers will be hosted at the Serra Hotel****
All other participants will arrange their own accomodation. You can visit the list of other accomodations in Agen, both in the city centre and the Agora area
Sponsors and partners
