Developing optical labelling technologies to study the spread of cancer cells to vital organs

Project Description:

It is estimated that one in three breast cancers will come back after initial treatment with many of these cancers spreading to other parts of the body (known as metastatic disease). Metastatic disease is incurable and the cause of breast cancer related deaths. In this NBCF-funded study, A/Prof Delphine Merino and colleagues will use pre-clinical models and cutting-edge technologies to ‘paint’ individual breast cancer cells and surrounding normal cells (including immune cells) with unique coloured tags, to study their migration, interactions, and genetics.

Why is this work needed:

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women, and while the majority will respond to initial treatment, there is a lifelong risk of the cancer returning. Around one in three breast cancers will come back after initial treatment and many of these will progress to incurable metastatic disease. Hence, it is critical to understand the process of metastasis to develop new and improved treatments that can stop advancement of the disease.

Expected outcomes:

Outcomes from this study will uncover unique features of the cancer cells that enable them to withstand treatment, migrate to different parts of the body, impact their new environment to survive and thrive, and resist standard therapies.

Project description:

Breast cancer stands as the most prevalent cancer diagnosis among women in Australia. It is estimated that one out of every three cases of breast cancer will recur following initial treatment with a significant portion of these cancers progressing to metastatic disease, where the cancer spreads to other areas of the body. Unfortunately, metastatic disease remains incurable and is the leading cause of breast cancer related deaths. Cancer recurrence is due to a small subset of treatment resistant cells that escape from the primary site, the breast, and begin to migrate, invade and colonise vital organs.

A/Prof Delphine Merino from the Olivia Newton John Cancer Research Institute will use different optical colour tags to fluorescently label breast cancer cells and surrounding normal cells, to track the way individual cancer cells survive and grow in metastatic organs. Experiments will be conducted in clinically relevant models of disease that include patient derived tumour samples. The study aims to reveal the unique molecular profiles of these migrating breast cancer cells, and to understand how they can impact their newfound environment to enhance their survival and growth.

By pinpointing the molecular factors driving metastasis and uncovering the communication pathways through which these cells interact with their new environment, we can pave the way for the development of innovative and effective treatments. Ultimately, the goal is to halt the progression of breast cancer.