Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

Normal development of the human body and tissue requires cells to respond to a plethora of stimuli and integrate these from one cell to another. In response to an outside stimulus, a cell may divide or die but can also be triggered to migrate to another location in the body. These events are tightly controlled and interpreted by molecules on the surface of every cell called receptors. Response to receptor stimulus is normal during embryonic development but it also occurs in an uncontrolled manner in cancer. This may result in a tumour metastasizing and colonizing another part of the body. Typically, the process of metastasis is what ultimately leads to death in cancer patients. The receptors that help cancer cells migrate and interact with their environment are called integrin receptors. When these receptors are stimulated, they are taken up into the cell and either destroyed or recycled back to the cell surface where they promote cell migration. My studies have focused on the mechanisms that control the decision point between degradation and recycling, how this contributes to cell migration and ultimately how this information can be used for therapeutic benefit. By using state of the art microscopy and established biochemistry techniques I have identified a molecule called GGA3 that controls integrin fate. These fundamental studies are critical for our interpretation of recent clinical trials that used therapies targeting integrin receptors. While the Phase III clinical trial failed, the interpretation of our data will help develop better rationale and refine therapy.