Grant: Operating Grant

Connexin43 is a member of a large family of proteins that form pores between two adjacent cells so that the exchange of materials can occur. This direct communication between cells is important in many normal and diseased organs. Brain cancer often arises from cells that originally contain high levels of connexin 43 that disappear when the cells become cancerous. However, our preliminary results show that connexin43 is also present at the tumor boundary where there is active invasion of the normal tissue by the cancer cells. Recent evidence has revealed the pivotal role of tumor cells changing the fate of the surrounding normal cells and vice versa, eventually leading to an advanced stage of tumor progression. The brain presents one of the most complex environments with numerous factors being released by brain cells that might directly or indirectly affect tumor growth. Connexin43 has already been shown to be important for the interaction between tumor cells and blood vessels, facilitating the spread of tumors cells to the rest of the body. We now propose connexin43 is also critical for the communication between tumor and normal cells. We will determine whether Cx43 affects the spread of brain cancer by altering the characteristics of the cancer cells, or by allowing direct communication between tumor and surrounding cells. Lastly, we will investigate the possible mechanisms by which Cx43 can mediate these effects. The study of Cx43 will provide a better understanding on the lethality of brain cancer, often untreatable due to the aggressive invasion of the cancer cells to the surrounding healthy tissue. Our study might ultimately lead to a treatment to prevent cancer cells from taking over the whole brain