Supervisor:
Dr. Aurora M. Nedelcu, Professor, Biology Department, University of New Brunswick
Program of Study:
PhD, Biology
Project Title:
The role of inter-clonal cooperation and tumour microenvironment in cancer progression
Scholarships and/or awards:
- 2023 – 2026 Research NB Doctoral Studentship Award
- 2022 Board of Governors Merit Award for Graduate Students
- 2022 New Brunswick Innovation Foundation STEM & Social Innovation Award Scholarship
- 2022 – 2026 PhD Recruitment Program/ NBIF Graduate Merit Award
- 2020 New Brunswick Innovation Foundation STEM & Social Innovation Award Scholarship
Lay Research Summary:
Cancer is the primary cause of death in Canada. Most cancer deaths (up to 90%) are due to the spreading of tumour cells throughout the body – a process known as metastasis. The main challenges in developing effective anti-cancer therapies stem from cancer’s highly complex and varied nature among patients and within the same tumour. In addition, there are dynamic interactions among the diverse cancer cell types in a single tumour. Recently, several studies provided evidence that different cancer cell types present in a tumour can cooperate through released factors to promote tumour progression and increase its spreading potential. However, we know little about how these cooperative behaviours take place. My research aims to better understand what molecules are released by aggressive cancer cells and how they affect the behaviour of the less aggressive types to induce tumour progression and spread. I found that an aggressive breast cancer cell type can stimulate the migration and invasion of a less aggressive type, and identified a molecule called TGF-β that plays a major role in this process. I am continuing to investigate the mechanisms involved in this cell-cell communication by using breast cancer cells and exploring ways to disrupt such cooperative interactions. Understanding and interfering with the ability of cancer cells to communicate and cooperate with each other is an unexplored area that has the potential to provide new therapies directed at preventing cancer spread and decreasing death due to metastasis.
Career aspirations:
My career aspiration lies in understanding the complex interactions within a tumor as an organized and complex system. I’m focused on studying the behaviors of cancer cells, hoping to pave the way for novel therapies and enhanced quality of life for patients. Whether immersed in research or directly engaging with patients, I aim to make tangible contributions towards transforming the landscape of cancer treatment and care.
Location:
University of New Brunswick, Fredericton
Publications:
Carneiro CS, Hapeman JD, Nedelcu AM. (2023). Synergistic inter-clonal cooperation involving crosstalk, co-option and co-dependency can enhance the invasiveness of genetically distant cancer clones. BMC Ecology and Evolution 23, 20 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12862-023-02129-7.
Hapeman JD, Carneiro CS, Nedelcu AM. (2023). A model for the dissemination of circulating tumour cell clusters involving platelet recruitment and a plastic switch between cooperative and individual behaviours. BMC Ecology and Evolution 23, 39 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12862-023-02147-5.