Role of the microenvironment in cancer invasion and therapy response

This presentation will be split into two parts: the first will focus on cancer cell invasion and the second part will investigate how the microenvironment contributes to therapy failure.

Cancer cells can use different migratory strategies, particularly when challenged with complex three-dimensional matrices in vivo. It has recently become clear that collective cancer cell invasion plays a key role in metastasis. We will present data on the mechanism of cooperation between epithelial cancer cells and stromal fibroblasts. In particular, analysis of a pathological heterotypic cell-cell contact will be presented.

Many tumors show an initial response to targeted therapies before genetic resistance emerges, however little is known about how tumor cells tolerate therapy before genetic resistance dominates. We present data that shows how the ECM generates a ‘safe haven’ in which melanoma cells can tolerate targeted therapy.  This supports the population of cancer cells from which genetically resistance emerges. Finally, we present analysis of organ specific responses to targeted therapy in melanoma.