Cancer stem cells and novel cancer therapeutics
Tumor cells with stem-like properties, commonly referred to as cancer stem cells (CSCs) or tumor-initiating cells, are key drivers of cancer evolution, metastatic progression, and tumor relapse. Their intrinsic resistance to many anticancer treatments makes them an important contributor to therapeutic failure. Strategies capable of selectively targeting and eliminating CSCs, therefore, have the potential to improve treatment durability and prevent disease recurrence.
We have developed experimental methods and model systems to study CSCs across different tumor types and to identify cell-specific vulnerabilities using genetic and pharmacological approaches. Through these models, we investigate the biological and molecular mechanisms that promote the acquisition of stem-like properties and sustain the survival and expansion of CSCs. Our goal is to identify actionable pathways and therapeutic vulnerabilities that can be exploited to develop novel CSC-directed therapies.
