Characterizing changes in the lung environment that promote osteosarcoma metastasis

Osteosarcoma is the most common type of bone cancer in both dogs and humans. The high mortality rate of this disease can be attributed to its ability to spread (metastasize) to the lungs. Metastasis is a complex and multi-step process. To promote the survival of cancer cells when they spread, organs can change their characteristics at a microscopic level. In response, cancer cells can alter their overall behavior, such as how they grow and respond to therapy. The goal of this project is to understand what changes occur in the lung, how this can affect certain proteins within the cell, and investigate a new way to detect these tissue changes. It is predicted that the lung undergoes drastic alterations in tissue rigidity, and this impacts the activation of various protumorigenic molecules inside the invading tumor cells. This in turn promotes the colonization of the lungs by the invading tumor cells.

Faculty Supervisor:

Alicia Viloria-Petit

Student:

Partner:

Boston University

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Education

University:

University of Guelph

Program: