Novel therapeutic strategies to treat cancer metastasis
Metastatic dissemination of tumor cells to distant organs is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality, yet effective therapeutic options for metastatic disease remain limited. Metastasis is shaped by both tumor-intrinsic properties, including phenotypic plasticity and metabolic adaptability, and the physiological and pathological characteristics of target organs such as bone, lung, and liver. Their interactions promote the reciprocal adaptation and coevolution that establish and sustain the metastatic ecosystem.
Using complementary in vitro and in vivo experimental models, we investigate the interactions among prostate cancer cells, the local microenvironment, and resident cells within metastatic target organs. Our aim is to identify the molecular and cellular mechanisms that enable metastatic colonization and growth and to uncover therapeutic vulnerabilities within these interactions.
In this context, we are evaluating innovative therapeutic approaches—including small-molecule drugs, RNA-based therapeutics, nanomedicine-based and antibody-based therapeutics—to disrupt tumor–host interactions, prevent metastatic colonization, and inhibit the growth and progression of established metastases.
