Tracing and characterization of disseminated cancer cells during the ‘invisible stage of metastasis’

• Applicant: Hazel Quinn, Ph.D.
• Subject Area: Hematology, Oncology ; General Genetics and Functional Genome Biology ; Cell Biology
• Term: from 2021 to 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 465615409

Breast cancer (BC) is the most diagnosed cancer worldwide, 70% are diagnosed as estrogen receptor-positive (ER+). Up to 40% of these patients progress to metastatic disease. As these tumours are inherently slow at proliferating, the majority of patients are diagnosed with metastatic disease 5–20 years post-diagnosis. This deadly phenomenon is caused by dormant disseminated cancer cells (DCCs) remaining undetectable at the time of initial diagnosis until awakening giving rise to overt metastasis. Due to the lack of clinically relevant models, the phenomenon of dormancy has remained unstudied in ER+ BC. Using clinically relevant models, this project aims tackle this clinical question to elucidate the epigenetic mechanisms responsible for ER+ DCC plasticity. By tracing and characterising individual cells from the primary tumour to the metastatic site, this project will identify the key process involved in plasticity during disease progression. Overall, I aim to highlight potential early interventions and prevention of late-stage metastatic disease.

• DFG Programme: WBP Fellowship
• International Connection: Switzerland
• Host: Professorin Cathrin Brisken, Ph.D.