We cordially invite you to the 16th Samsung International Symposium on molecular Medicine on “c-Met in cancer biology and therapeutics”. For years, the symposium has provided great opportunities to discuss the most advanced knowledge on molecular and cellular understanding of human diseases. The symposium has covered various fields of molecular medicine, including genomics, proteomics and stem cell research. Recently, we have focused more on disease oriented themes, such as molecular imaging, metabolic diseases and personalized medicine. This year, we chose the c-Met oncogene as a theme for the symposium.

C-Met, a growth factor receptor, was first discovered as an activated oncogene in carcinogen-transformed human cells. But, soon after, the activation of c-Met was found in various human cancers. The c-Met signaling has been implicated in tumor cell survival, self-renewal, angiogenesis and even the maintenance of cancer stem cells. Recently, targeting c-Met has emerged as an elegant solution for the resistance that arise after anti-EGFR and anti-angiogenesis treatment in some cancers.

In this two day symposium, we will focus on the possibility of c-Met as an attractive target for refractory cancer therapy. We are happy to be able to invite world leading experts in c-Met research, including Dr. Gorge Vande Woude, the pioneer of c-Met oncogene. The speakers will talk about the biology of c-Met as well as its implications in the clinic, and also present the recent progress in the development of the antibody and small molecular therapeutics against c-Met. Moreover, representatives from leading global pharmaceutical companies developing c-Met therapeutics are expected to be present at the symposium.

We truly believe that this symposium will provide a unique opportunity to share the up-to-date knowledge on the role of c-Met in normal and cancer cell function, and also the c-Met-targeting therapeutics. We hope you would join us in this timely symposium and take part in discussing the future of anti-c-Met therapeutics.