Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

Just as humans or animals migrate toward better resources, breast cancer cells migrate to specific organs in the body, seeking favourable environments for survival and growth. This process, known as metastasis, is responsible for 90% of breast cancer-related deaths. Despite its critical impact, the molecular mechanisms underlying organ-specific metastasis remain poorly understood. According to the Canadian Cancer Society, breast cancer accounted for 25% of all new cancer cases in women and 13% of cancer deaths in women in 2024. My PhD research focuses on the leading cancer cells leave behind breadcrumbs-or signals during migration, guiding following cancer cells to specific destinations. I discovered that breast cancer cells release extracellular vesicles (EVs), small nanoparticles that carry abnormal DNA, into the bloodstream. These EVs act as delivery vehicles, transporting genetic material and other molecules to distant organs. Alarmingly, these EVs can transform normal cells into abnormal ones, contributing to cancer progression and metastasis. Using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), I demonstrated the presence of EV-associated DNA at the single EV level (PMID: 39513551). I also authored a comprehensive review on the topic (PMID: 39266560) and developed Canada's only EV-DNA database (PMID: 36271888). My goal is to unravel how cancer cells package abnormal DNA into EVs and explore ways to harness this knowledge for early cancer detection and diagnosis. This research has immense translational potential. Understanding how EVs carrying abnormal DNA contribute to cancer progression may lead to breakthroughs in detecting and preventing metastasis. Imagine a scenario where leading cancer cells no longer emit these EV "breadcrumbs"-the following cells would lose their cues, potentially halting the spread of cancer. My project represents a critical step toward understanding and combating metastasis, offering hope for improved outcomes in breast cancer patients.