Control traslacional
Colorectal cancers (CRCs): are a major health problem with over 1 million CRC cases diagnosed worldwide every year and a five-year survival rate of metastatic-CRC patients of only 10%. CRC are highly heterogeneous tumors, composed of different cell populations and cell states hierarchically organized, reminiscent of the intestinal epithelium. Tumor hierarchies are fueled by a small population of self-renewing cancer stem cells (CSCs), key targets to limit tumor progression, metastasis and relapse, whereas the bulk of the tumor is composed of differentiated short-lived progenies
Why targeting Ribosome Biogenesis and Translational Control in Cancer? Ribosomes control the ultimate step of gene expression in a spatiotemporal manner. Ribosome biogenesis and the selective control of protein synthesis (translational control) are emerging as key actors in the cellular response to oncogenic stresses. In CRCs, a limited subset of CSCs in dedicated regions of the tumors (biosynthetic niches), are the main producers of ribosomes and proteins, such that these cells reside at the top of the hierarchy.
Our approaches: In our laboratory, we aim at understanding how the ribosomes, by controlling the translation of specific proteins, control cell fate, identity and plasticity in CRCs. For that purpose, we use state-of-the-art model systems and tools such as Patient-Derived Organoids and genetically engineered mice, lineage tracing, CRISPR/Cas9-based genome editing, and single-cell transcriptomic approaches to track and manipulate CSCs.
Our group is also affiliated to IDIBELL
