Metabolic dysregulations in EMT-driven metastatic colonisation (A03)

• Subject Area: Hematology, Oncology
• Term: since 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 429280966

Metastatic colonisation requires a dynamic adaption of cancer cells to the permanently changing conditions of the tumour environment. This is enabled by the activation of the embryonic epithelial to mesenchymal (EMT) program, which provides the necessary plasticity to cancer cells. We and others have demonstrated that his plasticity also includes a permanent adaptation of metabolic processes. In project A03 we will address how EMT-activation is coupled to metabolic changes in metastatic colonisation, with the aim to identify molecular bottlenecks as novel therapeutic targets. We will identify and characterize how EMT factors regulate metabolic processes (e.g. a switch between central energy consumption pathways), explore ways of targeted interference and validate the findings in human cancer.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 305: Striking a moving target: From mechanisms of metastatic colonization to novel systemic therapies
• Applicant Institution: Universität Regensburg
• Project Heads: Professor Dr. Thomas Brabletz; Professor Dr. Dimitrios Mougiakakos