Prof. Luconi will present the new possibilities of modelling Adrenal Tumors.

The Adrenal is a complex endocrine organ integrating a steroidogenic cortex and a central neuroendocrine chromaffin medullary component. The tuned interaction between the two components regulates the development, maintenance and functional activity of the entire gland in pathophysiological conditions. Currently available in vitro and in vivo cell and xenograft models of adrenal cancers have limits as they fail to mimick the 3D structure and complexity of the organ.

Novel models that can address steroidogenic and chromaffin cell interactions as well as the role of the microenvironment are needed for taking a significant step forward in adrenal cancer research to develop more efficacious therapies.

The talk will covered the current in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo cell, animal and organoid models available for studying adrenal cancer, in particular adrenocortical cancer. Novel exciting data from research on in vitro 3D organoids of adrenals and their use for studying adrenal cancer and tumor microenvironment interaction will be presented.