Co-Expression of α9β1 Integrin and VEGF-D Confers Lymphatic Metastatic Ability to a Human Breast Cancer Cell Line MDA-MB-468LN Postdoctoral Scholar Biography: Significance of the Research:Schulich Postdoctoral Publication Success
Mousumi Majumder--Anatomy & Cell Biology
Publication Title:
(PLoS One)
Currently I am a TBCRU (Translational Breast Cancer Research Unit) fellow, conducting research on understanding lymphatic metastasis and lymphangiogenesis two major mechanisms of breast cancer metastasis. Currently I am investigating how “stem like cells”, responsible for breast cancer perpetuation and relapse after traditional therapy. Trying to investigate the mechanism of induction and maintenance of these cells by an inflammation-associated enzyme cyclo-oxygenase-2 and how this process can be stopped with simple drugs. I discovered two small molecules known as microRNAs as candidate stem cell biomarkers that will help to personalize therapy, and monitor disease status after therapy by testing these microRNAs in blood of the patient. This discovery raises new hope for eradication of breast cancer. Before joining as postdoctoral fellow at UWO, I finished my PhD from Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata, India. My PhD research involved identification of candidate genes responsible for oral cancer in tobacco users.
If we can establish that COX-2 inducing or helping the survival of "stem like cells" and micro RNA, then by treating breast cancer patients with NSAIDs (like Celecoxib) which inhibits the activity of COX-2, will help to reduce tumor burden and improve patient survival. And most interestingly detection of miRNAs in blood sample of patients may tell us the disease stage which will be helpful on top of biopsy and help in personalized therapy.
Emeline Ribot -- Robarts Research Institute, Imaging
Publication Title:
In vivo single scan detection of both iron-labeled cells and breast cancer metastases in the mouse brain using balanced steady state free precession imaging at 1.5 Tesla.
(Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
Postdoctoral Scholar Biography:
I received my doctorate in Cellular Biology and Physiopathology at the University of Bordeaux (Bordeaux, France) in 2008. During my studies, I used MRI to investigate a gene therapy strategy against glioma by tracking microglia labeled with gadolinium-based silica nanoparticles in mice. Currently, I am a post-doctoral fellow at the Robarts Research Institute (London, Ontario, Canada). Here, I have focused on the optimization of MR sequences at clinical and high magnetic fields in order to detect early stage metastases using micron-sized iron oxide particles and to track stem cells using fluorine-based emulsions.
Significance of the Research:
Cellular MRI allows us to track non-invasively single breast cancer cells in the mouse brain and follow their development in metastases. This method provides new information about the temporal and spatial development of metastases in the brain not possible by other histopathological or imaging methods.
The use of fluorine-based contrast agents is of great interest because it allows for the specific detection and tracking of cells in vivo. I use this method to track stem cell migration to tumors after their injection into mice. This technique will allow to evaluate the efficiency of stem cell therapy against cancer.
Gabrielle Siegers -- Anatomy & Cell Biology
Publication Title:
Extensive expansion of primary human gamma delta T cells generates cytotoxic effector memory cells that can be labeled with Feraheme for cellular MRI
(Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy)
Postdoctoral Scholar Biography:
After completing an Honours BSc in Biochemistry and German (Guelph) and a Master of Arts in German Studies (Queen’s), including two exchange visits to Germany, the first as a student (University of Tuebingen) and the second as an English Teaching Assistant (Berlin), I returned to Germany and science to earn a PhD in Molecular Immunology from the University of Freiburg. My love of gamma delta T cells (GDTc) began during my PhD research: “Investigation of the structural organization of B and T cell antigen receptors“ at the Max-Planck-Institute for Immunobiology. I returned to Canada to work as a postdoctoral fellow in the Cell Therapy Program at the Princess Margaret Hospital/Ontario Cancer Institute under the supervision of Dr. Armand Keating. There, I established a pre-clinical xenograft Ph+ leukemia model to test human GDTc therapy. This work is summarized at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3376996/ I joined Dr. Paula Foster’s group at Robarts Research Institute for one year in order to label GDTc with iron-oxide nanoparticles for cell tracking via cellular MRI. I am now studying GDTc in the context of breast cancer with Dr. Lynne-Marie Postovit in the Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy and Robarts Research Institute. I am also a DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) Research Ambassador: http://www.daad.org/page/ra-2012-2013/#s10 and a CIHR Strategic Training Program in Cancer Research and Technology Transfer Fellow. I am supported in part by the Translational Breast Cancer Postdoctoral Award from the London Regional Cancer Program, London, Ontario.
Human gamma delta T cells (GDTc) are garnering great interest for their potential application as cellular therapy for a variety of different cancers; however, to date, only one group has been able to track infused GDTc in humans (using radioactive tracer). We sought to develop a protocol by which GDTc could be labeled with clinically approved iron-oxide nanoparticles for visualization via cellular MRI; however, GDTc were difficult to label and could not tolerate high doses of iron. While we demonstrate proof-of-principle that we can detect these iron-labeled cells in vitro, a different approach will be necessary to track GDTc in vivo. Our paper also includes a novel GDTc expansion protocol, whereby clinically relevant numbers of effector GDTc can be obtained. We verified their cytotoxicity against prostate cancer, glioblastoma and leukemia cell lines. Of note, we can expand both Vdelta1 and Vdelta2 GDTc subsets obtained from fresh healthy donor blood. This is of importance, since most GDTc protocols only expand the more prevalent Vdelta2 cells. Our new protocol will pave the way for more intensive study of the lesser-understood peripheral Vdelta1 GDTc and perhaps lead to future clinical protocols for GDTc Immunotherapy.
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