Team Julie PANNEQUIN
Signalization, plasticity and cancer
Project Study of the role of the microenvironment in tumor heterogeneity and early dissemination of colon cancer
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
IGF staff involved
Tinhinan LAHLOU
IR CDD, Inserm
Laia BASSAGANYAS
CRCN, CNRS
The research project focuses on the in-depth characterization of molecular and environmental heterogeneity of precancerous adenomas in order to better understand the role of the microenvironment in colon cancer progression and molecular mechanisms involved in early dissemination and the pre-metastatic niche. More specifically, we are interested in the role of the immune system in this heterogeneity and potentially identify risk prognostic biomarkers and novel therapeutic targets.
Characterization of colorectal adenoma heterogeneity for the identification of predictive biomarkers of progression into colorectal cancer
With the use of transgenic mouse models of intestinal tumorigenesis, in vitro models and patient samples obtained from the clinical resection of adenoma, we deeply characterize the heterogeneity of pretumoral adenoma with a particular attention on the role of the immune system and the secreted factors in the potential progression of these adenoma into a more aggressive tumor. We aim to identify one or several biomarkers that could predict the presence of adenoma in the colon but also their potential to progress into cancer.
Representative images of the differential expression of Prox1 and Cd45 (immune cells) in adenoma from ApcD14/+ mice detected by immunofluorescent staining.
Main publications
• Bonnans C., et al. (2012) PNAS, 8, 3047
Alumni
• Maud Flacelière (Thèse)
• Fanny Grillet (Thèse)
Study of the role of myeloid cells in the pre-metastatic niche and the early dissemination of non-tumoral cells
Through the use of in vivo transgenic mouse models of intestinal tumorigenesis, in vitro models and patient samples, we are trying to better understand the role of myeloid cells, specifically macrophages, in the establishment of the pre-metastatic niche and early dissemination of pre-tumor cells.
Picture of a liver metastasis (colorectal tumoral cells CMT93-mcherry, red) infiltrated by myeloid cells Gr1+ (green).
Main publications
• Homayed Z. et al. Cancer Cell. http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4484642
Alumni
• Zeinab Homayed (Thése)
• Guillaume Belthier (Thèse)
