The Marseille Cancer Research Center celebrates its 50th anniversary ! -
Epithelial cancers are known to present a major intratumoral heterogeneity that contributes to therapy failure and disease progression.The origin of this cellular heterogeneity is mainly explained by a hierarchical organization of tumor tissues where several subpopulations of self-renewing cancer stem cells (CSCs) sustain the long-term oligoclonal maintenance of the neoplasm. CSCs drive tumor growth, resist to conventional therapies and initiate metastasis development. Thus, developing CSC-targeting therapies is becoming a major challenge requiring the understanding of the unique molecular circuitry of CSC as compared to non-CSC. Our research programs focus on three main questions:
To answer these questions we use two tissue models: the human mammary gland and the epithelial transition zones.
Our team is a pioneer in the identification and characterization of breast cancer stem cells (bCSCs) (Ginestier et al., Cell Stem Cell, 2007; Charafe-Jauffret et al., Cancer Res., 2009). We are pursuing our effort by developing research programs to decipher intrinsic molecular pathways regulating bCSC-fate. We aim at identifying new therapeutic targets to develop anti-CSC therapies. All these translational research programs are based on the development of innovative tools and models (functionnal screens, Patient-derived Xenografts).
Transition zones represent an abrupt transition between two types of epitheliums, and are ubiquitously found in our body such as in the eye, cervix, between the esophagus and stomach and between the anal canal and rectum. These zones can develop cancer with poor prognosis in human and mouse associated with metastasis. Despite their clinical significance, the underlying molecular and cellular reasons for this tumor susceptibility remain elusive. Our group is using various molecular and biochemistry techniques, flow cytometry, 3D cellular cultures and genetically modified mouse models to characterize these transition zones in normal and pre-lesional states. We are also investigating the role of stem cells and the microenvironment in squamous cell carcinoma development.
Team publications
Arfaoui A, Rioualen C, Azzoni V, Pinna G, Finetti P, Wicinski J, Josselin E, Macario M, Castellano R, Léonard-Stumpf C, Bal A, Gros A, Lossy S, Kharrat M, Collette Y, Bertucci F, Birnbaum D, Douik H, Bidaut G, Charafe-Jauffret E, Ginestier C
El Helou R, Pinna G, Cabaud O, Wicinski J, Bhajun R, Guyon L, Rioualen C, Finetti P, Gros A, Mari B, Barbry P, Bertucci F, Bidaut G, Harel-Bellan A, Birnbaum D, Charafe-Jauffret E, Ginestier C
Morel AP, Ginestier C, Pommier RM, Cabaud O, Ruiz E, Wicinski J, Devouassoux-Shisheboran M, Combaret V, Finetti P, Chassot C, Pinatel C, Fauvet F, Saintigny P, Thomas E, Moyret-Lalle C, Lachuer J, Despras E, Jauffret JL, Bertucci F, Guitton J, Wierinckx A, Wang Q, Radosevic-Robin N, Penault-Llorca F, Cox DG, Hollande F, Ansieau S, Caramel J, Birnbaum D, Vigneron AM, Tissier A, Charafe-Jauffret E, Puisieux A
Fattori S, Le Roy A, Houacine J, Robert L, Abes R, Gorvel L, Granjeaud S, Rouvière MS, Ben Amara A, Boucherit N, Tarpin C, Pakradouni J, Charafe-Jauffret E, Houvenaeghel G, Lambaudie E, Bertucci F, Rochigneux P, Gonçalves A, Foussat A, Chrétien AS, Olive D
Fattori S, Gorvel L, Granjeaud S, Rochigneux P, Rouvière MS, Ben Amara A, Boucherit N, Paul M, Dauplat MM, Thomassin-Piana J, Paciencia-Gros M, Avenin M, Pakradouni J, Barrou J, Charafe-Jauffret E, Houvenaeghel G, Lambaudie E, Bertucci F, Goncalves A, Tarpin C, Nunès JA, Devillier R, Chretien AS, Olive D
Müller S, Sindikubwabo F, Cañeque T, Lafon A, Versini A, Lombard B, Loew D, Wu TD, Ginestier C, Charafe-Jauffret E, Durand A, Vallot C, Baulande S, Servant N, Rodriguez R
Giroux P, Bhajun R, Segard S, Picquenot C, Charavay C, Desquilles L, Pinna G, Ginestier C, Denis J, Cherradi N, Guyon L
Maran-Gonzalez A, Franchet C, Duprez-Paumier R, Antoine M, Barlier C, Becette V, Berghian A, Blanc-Fournier C, Brabencova E, Charafe-Jauffret E, Chenard MP, Dauplat MM, Delrée P, Fleury C, Garbar C, Ghnassia JP, Haudebourg J, MacGrogan G, Mathieu MC, Michenet P, Penault-Llorca F, Poulet B, Robin Y, Roger P, Russ E, Treilleux I, Valent A, Verriele V, Vincent-Salomon A, Arnould L, Lacroix-Triki M,
Bidan N, Bailleul-Dubois J, Duval J, Winter M, Denoulet M, Hannebicque K, El-Sayed IY, Ginestier C, Forissier V, Charafe-Jauffret E, Macario M, Matsunaga YT, Meignan S, Anquez F, Julien S, Bonnefond A, Derhourhi M, Le Bourhis X, Lagadec C
Guégan JP, Ginestier C, Charafe-Jauffret E, Ducret T, Quignard JF, Vacher P, Legembre P
Tyran M, Carbuccia N, Garnier S, Guille A, Adelaïde J, Finetti P, Toulzian J, Viens P, Tallet A, Goncalves A, Metellus P, Birnbaum D, Chaffanet M, Bertucci F
Sabatier R, Charafe-Jauffret E, Pierga JY, Curé H, Lambaudie E, Genre D, Houvenaeghel G, Viens P, Ginestier C, Bertucci F, Sfumato P, Extra JM, Gonçalves A
Nawrotek A, Benabdi S, Niyomchon S, Kryszke MH, Ginestier C, Cañeque T, Tepshi L, Mariani A, St Onge RP, Giaever G, Nislow C, Charafe-Jauffret E, Rodriguez R, Zeghouf M, Cherfils J
