Page 20 - Annual Report 2020

Sergio Gradilone, Ph.D.
Cancer Cell Biology and Translational Research
SECTION LEADER / ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
“Our research is uncovering novel
and generalizable information on fundamental, ciliary- dependent mechanisms controlling the proliferation and migration of malignant cells in bile duct cancer, and provide
the foundation for anti-cancer therapies based on the rescue of primary cilia functions,
i.e. Ciliotherapy.”
Sergio Gradilone
Seth Richard Kishor Pant Renhui Shen Estanislao Peixoto DaQing Yang
The “Cancer Cell Biology and Translational the cells. We’ve found that these antennae are lost
Research” section focuses on understanding
the basic biological processes involved with
a normal cell transforming into a cancerous one.
By understanding these mechanisms, potential therapeutic interventions may be envisioned. We continue investigating the role of the primary cilium in tumor biology. Primary cilia are multisensory or- ganelles – similar to a cell antenna – that sense and receive signals from the environment surrounding
in tumor cells; therefore, we are trying to understand the mechanisms of ciliary loss, and what are the consequences of such a loss. Furthermore, as we gain knowledge on these mechanisms, we are now able to induce the restoration of primary cilia in tumor cells and bring back the malignant cells to
a more normal phenotype, which may contribute to the development of new therapeutic strategies based on the rescue of primary cilia integrity.
SUMMARY
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