Cell density and cancer cell plasticity in breast cancer

• Applicant: Dr. Hedayatollah Hosseini
• Subject Area: Pathology
• Term: since 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 431611975

Goal:This study aims to investigate the regulation of cancer cell-plasticity by cellular density.Hypotheses:a) Cellular density regulates the cellular localization of Her2 (membranous vs. nuclear).b) The components of this switch-mechanism regulate the plasticity program of cancer cells.c) Finding the mechanism of Her2 localization opens new therapeutic strategies.Specific aims1) To unravel the impact of Her2 expression levels and cellular density on Her2 localization and its link to density-regulated phenotypes (migration vs. proliferation) of cancer cells.2) To identify the shuttling-mechanisms of Her2 between nucleus and membrane.3) To unravel the switch-mechanism between proliferation and migration. 4) To explore the functional and clinical relevance of our mechanistic findings.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants