Harvard 41st Annual Critical Issues in Tumor Microenvironment 2026

41st Annual Critical Issues in Tumor Microenvironment: Angiogenesis, Metastasis, and Immunology

Harvard 41st Annual Critical Issues in Tumor Microenvironment 2026 is an advanced four-day oncology and cancer research program examining the latest discoveries in tumor biology, angiogenesis, metastasis, cancer immunology, immunotherapy, metabolism, microbiome, cancer neuroscience, CAR T-cell therapy, tumor-associated fibroblasts, and artificial intelligence in oncology.

Directed by Professor Rakesh K. Jain, the program brings together internationally recognized investigators and clinicians to critically analyze current knowledge of the tumor microenvironment, identify major gaps in cancer research, and explore new directions for translating laboratory discoveries into improved cancer therapies.

Course Details

• Official Title: 41st Annual Critical Issues in Tumor Microenvironment: Angiogenesis, Metastasis, and Immunology
• Dates: September 14–17, 2026
• Duration: 4 Days
• Format: Live Online
• Institution: Harvard Medical School Continuing Education
• Offered By: Massachusetts General Hospital
• Course Director: Rakesh K. Jain, PhD
• Specialties: Oncology / Cancer Research / Tumor Biology / Immunology
• Language: English
• Recorded Access: Sessions are recorded and made available to registered participants for online viewing for 30 days following the course

Target Audience

This advanced program is particularly relevant for:

• Oncologists
• Cancer researchers
• Tumor biology researchers
• Immunologists
• Physician-scientists
• Specialty physicians
• Primary care physicians with an interest in oncology
• Radiation oncology professionals
• Cancer immunotherapy researchers
• Translational researchers
• Molecular and cellular biologists
• Biomedical scientists
• Fellows and trainees involved in cancer research
• Researchers studying tumor microenvironment, metastasis, angiogenesis, and cancer immunology

The official participant categories include Primary Care Physicians, Specialty Physicians, Researchers, and Others.

Program Overview

The 41st Annual Critical Issues in Tumor Microenvironment: Angiogenesis, Metastasis, and Immunology provides an in-depth critical analysis of current and emerging concepts in tumor microenvironment research.

The four-day online program examines how malignant cells interact with blood vessels, immune cells, fibroblasts, extracellular matrix, neurons, metabolic pathways, microbiota, and other components of the tumor ecosystem.

Major areas include:

• Tumor angiogenesis
• Vascular function
• Vascular normalization
• Cancer immunology
• Cancer immunotherapy
• Extracellular matrix
• Lymphatics
• Metastasis
• Cancer metabolism
• Tumor microbiome
• Circadian biology
• Cancer neuroscience
• Tumor-associated fibroblasts
• CAR T-cell therapy
• Solid-tumor immunotherapy
• Single-cell genomics
• Spatial genomics
• Biomarkers
• Pediatric malignancies
• Artificial intelligence in oncology

Learning formats include didactic lectures, trainee-led Q&A sessions, and group discussions.

The program emphasizes critical analysis of current evidence, limitations of existing research, emerging therapeutic approaches, biomarkers of treatment response and resistance, and opportunities to improve translation between laboratory research and clinical oncology.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

1. Identify pharmacological approaches to normalize the tumor microenvironment, including tumor-associated blood vessels, fibroblasts, and the extracellular matrix.
2. Evaluate molecularly targeted agents approved or currently in clinical development in combination with immunotherapies for cancer treatment and incorporate them into practice.
3. Identify emerging determinants of immunotherapy outcomes, including blood vessels, fibroblasts, extracellular matrix, neuronal-tumor interactions, circadian cycle, microbiome, and discuss potential approaches to harness them.
4. Compare correlative studies of biomarkers and their response and resistance to immunotherapies in cancer patients.
5. Evaluate state-of-the-art genetic and imaging techniques and their applications in pre-clinical and clinical studies.
6. Assess relevant, state-of-the-art, or translational pre-clinical models of anti-cancer therapies for adult and pediatric malignancies.
7. Recognize the steps and determinants of the metastatic process of cancer.
8. Identify the applications of AI in cancer care and research.

Official Program Topics

Day 1 — Monday, September 14, 2026

Opening Remarks

Faculty: Rakesh Jain

Tumor Microenvironment I: Angiogenesis and Vascular Function

Faculty: Rakesh Jain

An advanced examination of tumor angiogenesis and abnormal vascular function within the tumor microenvironment.

Q&A

Faculty: Rakesh Jain; Dai Fukumura

Tumor Microenvironment II: Vascular Normalization and Immunotherapy

Faculty: Rakesh Jain

Explores vascular normalization and its relationship to the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy and other anticancer treatments.

Q&A

Faculty: Rakesh Jain; Dai Fukumura

Tumor Microenvironment III: Extracellular Matrix, Lymphatics and Metastasis

Faculty: Rakesh Jain

Examines the extracellular matrix, lymphatic system, tumor progression, and mechanisms involved in cancer metastasis.

Q&A

Faculty: Rakesh Jain; Dai Fukumura

Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Overview

Faculty: Arlene Sharpe

Comprehensive review of contemporary cancer immunology and the biological foundations and clinical development of cancer immunotherapy.

Q&A

Faculty: Arlene Sharpe; Zohreh Amoozgar

Day 2 — Tuesday, September 15, 2026

Skull Bone Marrow as a Site for Immuno-Surveillance of Healthy Brain and Brain Tumors

Faculty: Jonathan Kipnis

Explores the emerging role of skull bone marrow and immune surveillance in normal brain biology and brain tumors.

Q&A

Faculty: Marc Charbati

Neuron-Cancer Interactions in the TME

Faculty: Michelle Monje

Examines interactions between the nervous system and malignant cells and the emerging field of cancer neuroscience.

Q&A

Faculty: Anna Geraghty

Determinants of How Tumors Use Metabolism to Support Growth

Faculty: Matthew Vander Heiden

Explores metabolic adaptations that allow cancer cells and tumors to sustain proliferation and survival.

Q&A

Faculty: Sonu Subudhi

Emerging Strategies to Improve CAR-T Cell Therapy for Glioblastoma and Other Solid Tumors

Faculty: Hideho Okada

Examines emerging strategies designed to overcome barriers to effective CAR T-cell therapy in glioblastoma and other solid malignancies.

Q&A

Faculty: Sumedha Pareek

Day 3 — Wednesday, September 16, 2026

AI in Basic and Clinical Oncology

Faculty: Eliezer Van Allen

Explores applications of artificial intelligence in cancer biology, oncology research, precision medicine, and clinical cancer care.

Q&A

Faculty: Sonu Subudhi

Dissecting the Ecosystem of Gliomas by Single-Cell and Spatial Genomics

Faculty: Mario Suva

Examines the use of single-cell and spatial genomic technologies to characterize cellular heterogeneity and interactions within glioma ecosystems.

Q&A

Faculty: Daniel Radin

Mechanisms of the Gut Microbiome from Biomarker to Immunotherapy Adjuvant

Faculty: Bertrand Routy

Explores the relationship between the gut microbiome, cancer biomarkers, immune responses, and immunotherapy efficacy.

Q&A

Faculty: Benjamin Wolf

RREBELLIOUS INTERFERENCE: Challenging Old Paradigms and Discovering New Strategies for Targeting Pediatric Brain Tumors

Faculty: Robert Wechsler-Reya

Reviews emerging biological concepts and therapeutic strategies for pediatric brain tumors.

Q&A

Faculty: Taylor Uccello

Day 4 — Thursday, September 17, 2026

Fibroblast Heterogeneity in Solid Tumors: Implications for Pancreatic Cancer

Faculty: David Tuveson

Explores the biological diversity of cancer-associated fibroblasts and their implications for pancreatic cancer biology and treatment.

Q&A

Faculty: Heena Kumra

Metastasis Ecosystems

Faculty: Joan Massague

Examines the biological ecosystems and cellular interactions that support metastatic progression.

Q&A

Faculty: Lei Xu

Identifying Immune Vulnerabilities in Solid Tumors

Faculty: Lisa Coussens

Explores immune vulnerabilities within solid tumors and opportunities to exploit these mechanisms therapeutically.

Q&A

Faculty: Sumedha Pareek

Circadian Clock and Metabolic Vulnerabilities of Cancer

Faculty: Chi Dang

Examines connections between circadian biology, tumor metabolism, and potentially exploitable metabolic vulnerabilities in cancer.

Q&A

Faculty: Melin Khandekar

Summary and Closing Remarks

Faculty: Rakesh Jain

Major Topics

Tumor Microenvironment

Cellular, molecular, vascular, immune, stromal, and physical components that shape tumor development, progression, treatment response, and resistance.

Angiogenesis and Tumor Vasculature

Mechanisms of tumor angiogenesis, abnormal vascular function, and strategies for vascular normalization.

Vascular Normalization

Therapeutic approaches to normalize abnormal tumor blood vessels and improve drug delivery and immune responses.

Cancer Immunology

Interactions between cancer cells and the immune system, including mechanisms of immune surveillance and immune escape.

Cancer Immunotherapy

Biological mechanisms, biomarkers, resistance pathways, and strategies for improving responses to immunotherapeutic treatments.

CAR T-Cell Therapy

Emerging approaches for improving adoptive cellular therapies, particularly CAR T-cell treatment for glioblastoma and other solid tumors.

Cancer Metastasis

Biological steps and determinants involved in metastatic dissemination and the development of metastatic ecosystems.

Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts

Fibroblast heterogeneity, stromal biology, and the influence of fibroblasts on tumor progression and treatment response.

Extracellular Matrix and Lymphatics

Role of extracellular matrix architecture, physical forces, and lymphatic biology within the tumor microenvironment.

Cancer Metabolism

Metabolic adaptations and vulnerabilities that enable malignant cells to grow and survive.

Cancer Neuroscience

Emerging understanding of neuron-cancer interactions and the role of the nervous system within the tumor microenvironment.

Microbiome and Cancer

Influence of the gut microbiome on cancer biology, biomarkers, immune responses, and immunotherapy outcomes.

Circadian Biology and Cancer

Relationships between the circadian clock, metabolism, tumor biology, and potential therapeutic vulnerabilities.

Single-Cell and Spatial Genomics

Advanced genomic approaches for dissecting tumor heterogeneity and mapping cellular interactions within cancer ecosystems.

Brain Tumor Biology

Contemporary research into glioma, glioblastoma, pediatric brain tumors, immune surveillance, and tumor-neural interactions.

Artificial Intelligence in Oncology

Applications of AI in basic cancer research, precision oncology, biomarker discovery, clinical decision-making, and cancer care.

Course Director and Faculty

Course Director

Rakesh K. Jain, PhD

• Course Director
• A. Werk Cook Professor of Radiation Oncology, Harvard Medical School
• Director, Steele Laboratories for Tumor Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital

Professor Jain directs this long-running program examining the tumor microenvironment and its implications for cancer biology and therapy.

Featured Faculty

The 2026 program includes internationally recognized researchers and oncology experts, including:

• Rakesh K. Jain
• Dai Fukumura
• Arlene Sharpe
• Zohreh Amoozgar
• Jonathan Kipnis
• Marc Charbati
• Michelle Monje
• Anna Geraghty
• Matthew Vander Heiden
• Sonu Subudhi
• Hideho Okada
• Sumedha Pareek
• Eliezer Van Allen
• Mario Suva
• Daniel Radin
• Bertrand Routy
• Benjamin Wolf
• Robert Wechsler-Reya
• Taylor Uccello
• David Tuveson
• Heena Kumra
• Joan Massague
• Lei Xu
• Lisa Coussens
• Chi Dang
• Melin Khandekar

Why This Course Is Relevant

The tumor microenvironment is increasingly recognized as a critical determinant of cancer progression, metastasis, therapeutic response, and treatment resistance.

Rather than focusing exclusively on malignant cells, this program examines cancer as a complex biological ecosystem involving:

• Blood vessels
• Immune cells
• Fibroblasts
• Extracellular matrix
• Lymphatics
• Neurons
• Metabolic pathways
• Microbiota
• Circadian biology
• Physical properties of tumors

The program connects these mechanisms to major areas of contemporary cancer treatment, including immunotherapy, molecularly targeted therapies, CAR T-cell therapy, biomarkers, precision oncology, and AI.

Its translational emphasis makes it particularly valuable for investigators and clinicians seeking to understand how discoveries in tumor biology can be transformed into new therapeutic approaches and improved cancer treatment.

Short Description

Harvard 41st Annual Critical Issues in Tumor Microenvironment 2026 is a four-day advanced oncology and cancer research program directed by Rakesh K. Jain, PhD. The course explores tumor angiogenesis, vascular normalization, metastasis, cancer immunology and immunotherapy, CAR T-cell therapy, cancer metabolism, microbiome, cancer neuroscience, fibroblasts, extracellular matrix, single-cell and spatial genomics, brain tumors, circadian biology, and artificial intelligence in oncology.

Day 1: Monday, September 14, 2026

Day 2: Tuesday, September 15, 2026

Day 3: Wednesday, September 16, 2026

Day 4: Thursday, September 17, 2026