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About the research project:
Metastasis is the spread of cancer cells throughout the body and is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths. While many conventional therapies effectively eliminate rapidly dividing cells, they often fail to stop cancer cells from moving, invading, and adapting to new environments. What if, instead of just killing cancer cells, we could immobilize them? This project introduces the emerging concept of migrastatics, a new class of drugs developed to block the movement of cancer cells by targeting the cellular machinery responsible for protrusion and contractility. By preventing tumor cell migration, migrastatics aim to halt invasion, regardless of the mode of movement used. During this summer course, participants will explore how candidate drugs can affect the motility, growth, and cytoskeletal organization of cancer cells. Using cutting-edge imaging techniques, including quantitative phase imaging, we will visualize and analyze how cancer cells move. By combining functional measurements of cell migration with molecular analyses of focal adhesion dynamics, this project offers a unique opportunity to understand invasive plasticity at a mechanistic level. Participants will understand how drugs can complement conventional cancer therapies and contribute to innovative strategies against metastasis. Join us to discover how stopping movement may be the key to halting cancer.
Research project outline:
- Introduction to metastasis and the concept of migrastatic therapies
- Contact with laboratory
- How applicate holographic quantitative phase imaging in live-cell analysis
- Principles of holographic quantitative phase imaging
Capacity:
- 2 students
Research project leader:
