We study the communication between brain tumor and the native tissue environment during tumor progression and after anticancer treatments. Our work focuses on the fabrication of tissue mimetic in vitro platforms to understand the critical role of the tumor microenvironment components in cancer progression and the key alterations induced by therapeutic intervention. These studies aim to better predict therapeutic outcomes and manipulate these interactions to develop innovative treatments.
TUMOR MICROENVIRONMENT AFTER THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTION
Gliomas are highly heterogenous and the dynamic crosstalk between this diverse population determines therapeutic outcomes. In addition, therapeutic interventions modify the structure and organization of the tumor microenvironment.
We aim to understand this crosstalk in primary brain cancers by using advanced biomaterial platforms that recapitulate key histological features of brain tumors. We focus on the alterations associated to radiotherapy and targeted inhibitors to overcome the current limitation of standard of care, expanding the library of potential treatable targets.
NEURAL REGULATION OF BRAIN TUMORS
Gliomas communicate with neurons, with neuronal activity directing tumor growth and gliomas remodeling neural circuits and increasing excitability.
We design bioengineered platforms to understand the communication mechanisms between cancer cells and the native neural tissue. We aim to elucidate the role of cells composing the tumor microenvironment in stimulating the hyperexcitable neural networks that influences glioma progression.