Final Activity Report Summary - INVASION SCREENING (Gene silencing-based functional screening for genes regulating invasion in human cancer cells)
An analysis of the involvement of the Rho GTPases family of proteins in cancer cell migration and invasion has been carried out. The study has helped in the understanding of the role of this family of proteins in different processes during cancer progression, especially in the dissemination of cancer cells through tissues. In particular, results obtained during the course of the project have determined specific functions for closely related members of the family as are RhoA, RhoB and RhoC, highlighting the importance of specificity within this family of proteins in cell function regulation. This is not only relevant to posterior studies but also for the possible cancer therapeutic intervention targeting this class of proteins.
The work also joins the efforts by other research laboratories on understanding the cellular and molecular basis behind human prostate cancer, one of the most common cancers in men, that frequently develops with aggressive metastasis.
Different techniques have being developed and improved for use in the host laboratory and by the scientific community in general. Special relevance have the techniques modelling 3D migration and invasion in vitro, for the possibility to carry out detailed cellular studies in the laboratory in models that try to resemble tumour cells dissemination in vivo.
As a result of the work and the knowledge about Rho GTPases and cancer accumulated by the host laboratory and acquired by the fellow, two invited review articles have been produced for international scientific journals that will encourage discussion within the cancer and Rho GTPases field and bring the topic to the general scientific community.
The work also joins the efforts by other research laboratories on understanding the cellular and molecular basis behind human prostate cancer, one of the most common cancers in men, that frequently develops with aggressive metastasis.
Different techniques have being developed and improved for use in the host laboratory and by the scientific community in general. Special relevance have the techniques modelling 3D migration and invasion in vitro, for the possibility to carry out detailed cellular studies in the laboratory in models that try to resemble tumour cells dissemination in vivo.
As a result of the work and the knowledge about Rho GTPases and cancer accumulated by the host laboratory and acquired by the fellow, two invited review articles have been produced for international scientific journals that will encourage discussion within the cancer and Rho GTPases field and bring the topic to the general scientific community.