The 2024 Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (NPC) Gordon Research Conference (GRC) and its Youth Research Seminar (GRS) were held in Les Diablerets, Switzerland, from June 1-7. The conference invited internationally renowned experts in the fields of nasopharyngeal carcinoma and Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) to present their research, with over 130 basic and clinical experts from around the world participating. During the conference, Academician Ma Jun from Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center (SYSUCC) and Prof. Benjamin Gewurz from Harvard Medical School were elected as the chairpersons of the 2028 conference.



Chaired by Prof. Zeng Mu-Sheng and Prof. Alan K. S. Chiang, this year's GRC focused on the theme of “Elucidating Pathogenic Mechanisms and Developing Novel Therapeutics.” The conference addressed the latest progress and future research directions in the etiology and pathogenesis of NPC, tumor microenvironment, novel molecular markers, immune escape mechanisms and immunotherapy, as well as the potential oncogenesis mechanism of EBV and vaccine development.


Four invited speakers at the GRC were from Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center. Prof. Ma Jun, a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), focused on optimizing treatment strategies for NPC patients. Prof. Mai Haiqiang shared achievements in individualized diagnosis and treatment of NPC based on plasma EBV DNA. For basic research, Prof. Zhong Qian presented a speech entitled “Gene Editing Organoids in Recapitulating Driver Mutations in NPC,” and Prof. Bei Jinxin shared his latest findings on the NPC tumor microenvironment.

Additionally, SYSUCC researchers delivered five oral presentations at the 2024 GRC. Prof. Jia Weihua analyzed the association of EBV antibodies with cancer risks. Prof. Liu Na’s speech focused on the bacterial community and functional mechanisms in NPC. Prof. Zhou Guanqun introduced the implementation of an artificial intelligence-empowered radiotherapy workflow for NPC treatment. Prof. Xu Miao and Prof. Zhao Gexin also presented their latest results and findings on NPC risk factors and EBV infection, respectively.



The NPC Gordon Research Conference is a renowned international academic conference focused on advancing the frontiers of science through the presentation of cutting-edge research and discussions among experts of all career stages.