Exploring Principles of the Interplay Between Tumour Initiating Cells and Endothelial Component Towards Advanced Therapies Against Glioblastoma

Standing

Undergraduate

Type of Proposal

Oral Research Presentation

Faculty

Faculty of Science

Faculty Sponsor

Dr. Lisa Porter

Proposal

Glioblastoma (GBM), a stage IV brain tumour is among the most aggressive types of cancer. Current treatment options are suboptimal with extremely poor survival rates of approximately 15 months. GBM-Tumour Initiating Cells (TICs) are at the source of therapy resistance and unpredictable aggressive progression of the disease. GBM-TICs are divided in diverse groups with different characteristics, and they present different molecules on their surface which they can be identified by. TICs thrive on the presence of endothelial cells (ECs) which are recruited by the tumour to form new vessels and to sustain its growth and expansion. This novel project aims to explore in detail the interaction between TICs and ECs in glioblastoma and how their relationship controls GBM aggressiveness. Individual TIC populations derived from GBM patients at surgery will be cultured as 3D GBM patient- derived mini tumours in a dish (GBM organoids). We will manipulate the levels of TIC and EC driver, Notch1, and study how the cocultured cells impact each other in terms of capacity to form vessels, proliferation, expression of aggressiveness markers and response to chemotherapy. This project will contribute to elucidating of brand-new therapeutic targets and aid in patient-tailored approaches to treatment of patients with GBM.

Availability

March 29th: 12pm-2pm; March 30th: 12pm-2pm; March 31st: 12pm-2pm; April 1: 12pm-3pm

Special Considerations

Presenter: Alan Cieslukowski

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Exploring Principles of the Interplay Between Tumour Initiating Cells and Endothelial Component Towards Advanced Therapies Against Glioblastoma

Glioblastoma (GBM), a stage IV brain tumour is among the most aggressive types of cancer. Current treatment options are suboptimal with extremely poor survival rates of approximately 15 months. GBM-Tumour Initiating Cells (TICs) are at the source of therapy resistance and unpredictable aggressive progression of the disease. GBM-TICs are divided in diverse groups with different characteristics, and they present different molecules on their surface which they can be identified by. TICs thrive on the presence of endothelial cells (ECs) which are recruited by the tumour to form new vessels and to sustain its growth and expansion. This novel project aims to explore in detail the interaction between TICs and ECs in glioblastoma and how their relationship controls GBM aggressiveness. Individual TIC populations derived from GBM patients at surgery will be cultured as 3D GBM patient- derived mini tumours in a dish (GBM organoids). We will manipulate the levels of TIC and EC driver, Notch1, and study how the cocultured cells impact each other in terms of capacity to form vessels, proliferation, expression of aggressiveness markers and response to chemotherapy. This project will contribute to elucidating of brand-new therapeutic targets and aid in patient-tailored approaches to treatment of patients with GBM.