CYTOSKELETON AND CANCER PROGRESSION
activities
The Cytoskeleton and Cancer Progression (CCP) research group explores the role of the actin cytoskeleton of tumour cells in two processes that critically promote cancer progression: metastatic spreading and resistance to the immune system, with the ultimate goal of translating its discoveries into clinical applications that benefit patients.
Cancer immune evasion is a major obstacle to effective anticancer immunotherapies and a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms is urgently needed. Using high resolution and quantitative cell imaging approaches, we recently established the pivotal role of the actin cytoskeleton in tumour cell resistance against cytotoxic immune effector cells. Our investigations at the tumour cell side of the immunological synapse (the cell-to-cell contact between cytotoxic lymphocytes cells and tumour cells) open new avenues for the development of innovative therapeutic approaches aimed at restoring an effective antitumor immune response in patients.
Thomas
Projects & clinical trials
- The actin cytoskeleton at the tumour cell side of the immunological synapse. In a series of complementary projects, we explore the mechanisms by which fast polarisation of the actin cytoskeleton of tumour cells to the immunological synapse provides direct resistance against cytotoxic lymphocytes and promotes tumour immune evasion in vivo.
- The invadopodial actin cytoskeleton as a potential target to block cancer invasion and metastasis. In this project, we focus on a family of actin regulatory proteins coordinating the formation of invasive membrane protrusions (also termed invadopodia) and the upregulation of proteases involved in extracellular matrix degradation.
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Featured team members
Scientific publications
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A comprehensive guide to study the immunological synapse using imaging flow cytometry – 03/04/2024
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Actin remodeling in autophagy-mediated tumor immune escape, mechanistic aspects – 08/12/2023
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CSPG4 CAR-redirected Cytokine Induced Killer lymphocytes (CIK) as effective cellular immunotherapy for HLA class I defective melanoma – 22/11/2023
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Actin cytoskeleton remodeling at the cancer cell side of the immunological synapse – 21/09/2023
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Correlative light and electron microscopy to explore the lytic immunological synapse between natural killer cells and cancer cells – 05/06/2023
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The Immunological Synapse Part B – 11/07/2023
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Actin cytoskeleton depolymerization increases matrix metalloproteinase gene expression in breast cancer cells by promoting translocation of cysteine-rich protein 2 to the nucleus – 15/05/2023
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Measuring CTL Lytic Granule Secretion and Target Cell Membrane Repair by Fluorescent Lipophilic Dye Uptake at the Lytic Synapse – 28/04/2023
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An integrated workflow for phosphopeptide identification in natural killer cells (NK-92MI) and their targets (MDA-MB-231) during immunological synapse formation – 09/02/2023
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The Immunological Synapse Part A – 11/01/2023
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