Sarah Maritan

 

RESEARCH PROJECT

Defining molecular mediators of invasive growth in brain metastases

Brain metastases (BrM) occur in ~30% of patients with solid tumors, particularly cancers of the lung, breast, and skin, and are associated with poor patient prognosis. There are growing efforts to understand the molecular mechanisms mediating tumor dissemination and growth within the brain in order to identify new therapeutic targets. However, existing studies investigating these processes frequently use models with limited physiological relevance, including commercially available cell lines rather than primary patient tissue. In contrast, this project utilizes and builds upon an established bank of human BrM samples and patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models. We have previously identified two distinct histopathological growth patterns of BrM: minimally invasive (MI) masses with well-defined borders versus tumors with highly invasive (HI) growth into brain parenchyma. We have previously shown that HI histopathology is associated with poor outcome in patients with surgically resected BrM, suggesting that tumor cell invasion into brain parenchyma is a clinically relevant phenomenon that warrants further investigation. In this project, we will elucidate the molecular and cellular mechanisms that contribute to the invasive growth of BrM.

BACKGROUND

I completed my Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, through the Department of Pathology & Molecular Medicine. In my time at Queen’s, I studied the molecular signaling cascades that contribute to colorectal cancer cell invasion. I am now an MD-PhD student in McGill University’s combined program, and began my PhD in the Siegel Lab in 2021. My research continues to focus on the invasive and metastatic phenotypes of cancer cells, now in the context of brain metastases.

Publications

CONTACT INFO

Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Research Centre - McGill University
1160 Pine Ave. West (Room 508)
Montreal, Quebec (Canada)
H3A 1A3
T. 514.398.8889
F. 514.398.6769

Email