Title:
Clinical assistant professor

Institute:
CHU Sainte Justine

Department:
Centre de recherche du CHU Sainte Justine

Province:
Quebec

Training:
Postdoctoral fellow, PhD, University of Paris XI, Paris, France
MSc, University of Paris XI, Paris, France
BSc, University of Reims, Reims, France
M.D., University Joseph Fourier, Grenoble, France

Research interests:
Pediatric tumours, Cancer stem cells, new therapies

Career highlights:
Director of a research team on neuroblastoma, Research Center, CHU Ste-Justine, Quebec, Canada

Research Projects

Project title:
Regulation of the pro-invasive properties of neuroblastoma-initiating cells by membrane-type 1 matrix metalloproteinase

Funding period: 
2011-2013

Program:
Operating Grant (basic research)

Summary:
Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial cancer in children, accounting for 12% of all childhood cancer deaths in Canada. Striking in infancy, neuroblastoma presents a big challenge to scientists and clinicians alike, as most children (60%) with advanced disease relapse even after aggressive therapies, and die. It is therefore crucial to identify the causes of neuroblastoma metastasis. One factor may be the presence of cells within the tumour that behave like stem cells; that is, they have the ability to self-renew, initiate tumours and spread to other parts of the body. So what controls these tumor-initiating cells? Our preliminary results led us to MT1-MMP, a protein known to participate in the metastatic process. We propose to further our research into the role of MT1-MMP. Our research may provide a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in the spread of neuroblastoma, and lead to the design and development of new effective treatments and possibly a cure.