UNC5B: targeting dependence receptors in colorectal cancer metastasis

MORGAN BRISSET
PhD Student Tumour Heterogeneity in Metastatic Cancer
UMCCR & Department of Clinical Pathology

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer worldwide and the fourth most common cause of death from cancer. Most deaths related to colorectal cancer are due to metastasis to distant organs. Understanding how colorectal cancer cells modulate their environment in these new lesions to allow growth and development of metastasis is then crucial. During this step, the secretion of cellular factors and communication between cancer cells through their molecular receptors are critical.

The dependence receptors concept has recently emerged as a new paradigm in tumour biology. Like “classical” receptors, dependence receptors induce positive signalling such as proliferation, migration, and survival in the presence of their ligand. In contrast, in the absence of its ligand, dependence receptors actively trigger negative signalling within the cells, leading to apoptosis. Netrin-1 is the ligand of several dependence receptors including DCC and UNC5B. Netrin 1 has already been described as a potential target for metastatic colorectal cancer, but implications of its receptors in metastasis and modulation of microenvironment has not been perfectly characterized yet. Morgan's project aims to understand the implication of the UNC5B dependence receptor in colorectal cancer cell liver metastasis.

Morgan Brisset has a background in biochemistry (Bachelor), cancer biology (Master), and is currently enrolled in a PhD in clinical pathology in the laboratory of Professor Frederic Hollande (University of Melbourne). His research focuses on the implications of dependence receptors in chemoresistance and stemness of colorectal metastatic cancer cells. His research is a drive to evaluate the efficacy of treatments targeting dependence receptors for cancer therapies.