DR-422 Investigating the mechanisms of epithelial/mesenchymal plasticity and metastasis

Metastasis to distant organs is the major cause of cancer-related deaths. The recent advancements in DNA sequencing technology, have significantly improved our understanding of the genetic alterations associated with different types of human cancer. Nevertheless, genomic landscape and mutational impacts of recurrently mutated genes in metastatic cancer remain poorly understood. Mixed-lineage kinases (MLKs) are serine/threonine protein kinases regulating several signalling pathways implicated in cancer pathogenesis. The aim of this project is to analyse the functional consequences of somatic mutations in MLK in metastatic tumours, and assess whether these cancer-associated kinases might serve as novel therapeutic targets.

Anna Marusiak, The International Institute of Molecular Mechanisms and Machines Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland