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Project

Metabolic vulnerability of breast tumor cells during bone metastasis formation

Breast tumor-derived bone metastases cause severe morbidity and remain
a therapeutic challenge as current therapies do not cure. Tumor cells often
spread to bone before the primary tumor is treated but they escape
detection. Insight in the early bone metastatic stages is therefore necessary.
We postulate that the metabolic profile of tumor cells regulates their
proliferation in bone. More specifically, bone-specific nutrient availability and
metabolic cross-talk with osteoblasts will allow tumor cells with a compatible
metabolic profile to grow in bone. To this end, we will use transcriptomics
and metabolomics in preclinical models of bone metastases combined with
metabolomics on in vitro co-cultures of tumor cells and osteoblasts. Using
integrative bioinformatics, we will select interesting metabolic pathways and
confirm their contribution to bone metastasis formation by genetic
approaches and by a clinical retrospective study. Our project has the
potential to lead to novel diagnostic or druggable targets.

Date:1 Mar 2021 →  29 Feb 2024
Keywords:Breast cancer, metastatic niche, metabolomics
Disciplines:Cancer biology