VIROLLE

Thierry VIROLLE

Cancer Stem Cell Plasticity and Functional Intra-tumor Heterogeneity

Main interests

  • Brain Tumor
  • Cancer stem cells
  • Intra-tumor heterogeneity
  • Epigenetic regulation

Scientific Questions

Glioblastomas (GBM) are the most common form of primary brain tumors in adult. These tumors remain incurable and lead to a fatal outcome in less than 18 months. Tumor development is a complex process mixing normal cells and heterogeneous cancer cell populations. A sublevel of complexity in intra-tumor heterogeneity resides in the co-existence of functionally divergent heterogeneous populations of cells. GBM exemplifies this situation by harboring tumor territories functionally divergent while sharing similar genomic abnormalities. These territories are enriched in mitotic tumor cells, positive for markers of GBM stem cell (GSC), or enriched in non-mitotic, differentiated cells, frequently associated to pathological vessels and large necrotic areas. Such heterogeneity constitutes a major obstacle for conventional therapies, mostly due to the selection and expansion of resistant GSC. Thus targeting GSC properties and mitotic territories will be valuable for therapeutic strategies.

Our Strategy

The research developed by our group focuses on the study of the regulation of GSC plasticity in the context of the genesis of tumor micro-territories. Through a better understanding of tumor homeostasis, our goal is to identify key molecular factors of interest for therapeutic purposes. The group is composed of researchers and clinicians, an essential association to link fundamental research with clinical applications. Because GBM are heterogeneous tumors, we have built a platform dedicated to establish and characterize a collection of GSC primary cultures (from different patients) as well as GBM samples representative of mitotic and non-mitotic tumor territories. This collection, crucial for our research, allowed us to identify key molecular factors involved in the control of GSC properties and tumorigenicity.

The objective of our research development is to model the molecular basis involved in the biogenesis and homeostasis of both mitotic and non-mitotic tumor territories, affecting tumor progression and aggressiveness. Our aim is to identify innovative therapeutic targets capable to efficiently repress GSC properties.

We have identified a tumor suppressor miRNA signature (among them the miR-302-367 cluster), constituting a feature and a gatekeeper of non-mitotic territories, while one of its common targets, a splice factor, is restricted to stem-like/progenitor cells in mitotic territories and contributes to the maintenance of stemness and selfrenewal.

Research Aims

We will characterize the regulation of this splice factor and its mode of action in self-renewing GSC by identifying its most functionally prominent targets (deep RNAseq, exome analysis and CLIP-seq). Our recent results indicate the strong contribution of this factor in the regulation of H3K9 and H3K27 methylation, influencing thus the chromatin structure. Using bioinformatic and mathematical modeling, we will determine hubs of regulatory targets involved in GSC maintenance and aggressiveness.

Signals coming from the tumor microenvironment including soluble proteins, extracellular matrix components, secreted vesicles as well as tunneling nanotubes (TNT) are most likely important factors to guide GBM cell fate decision. This part of our project is to functionally characterize these cell-to-cell communication processes and verify their contribution in the genesis of functionally divergent tumor territories.

The development of molecules capable in promoting irreversible loss of CSC populations, through the modulation of the specific factors that we identified (miRNA, transcription factors, splice factors), will constitute an innovative and attractive therapeutic approach compatible with industrial pipelines. We develop in tight collaborations with chemists (Dr M Duca, ICN Nice; Dr F Roussy, Dr M Litaudon, ICSN Gyf sur Yvette) the characterization of innovative compounds targeting GSC.

Researchers

LADOUX Annie - +33 493377704

Clinical Researchers

PAQUIS Philippe - +33 489150821
BUREL VANDENBOS Fanny - +33 489150821
ALMAIRAC Fabien - +33 489150821

Engineers & Technicians

POLO Béatrice - +33 489150821
TURCHI Laurent - +33 489150821
PEUX Clément - +33 489150822

 

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2014 - Prix de l'appel à projet santé du conseil général 06 - Conseil départemental

1998 - prix Coloplast - entreprise Coloplast

iBV Researchers and clinicians join forces to fight glioblastoma

Improving cancer treatment requires a better understanding of how cancer stem cells (CSC) are maintained in solid tumors. By studying ...
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iBV - Institut de Biologie Valrose

"Sciences Naturelles"

Université Nice Sophia Antipolis
Faculté des Sciences
Parc Valrose
06108 Nice cedex 2