Functional analysis of Baz2a containing chromatin remodeling complexes in metastasis models (A05#)

• Subject Area: Hematology, Oncology
• Term: from 2021 to 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 429280966

We have recently found that the chromatin-remodeling factor Baz2a is highly upregulated in migratory breast cancer cells that display stemness properties. Furthermore, Baz2a is upregulated in small micrometastases, and downregulated in highly proliferative advanced primary tumors and metastases. Baz2a is a subunit of the chromatin remodeling complex, NoRC, that plays an important role as the epigenetic regulator of gene expression. Baz2a binds to a non-coding RNA (pRNA) that regulates the function and genomic targeting of the complex. We hypothesize that Baz2a levels and pRNA processing play important roles in the regulation of cancer cell plasticity by changing gene expression programs and phenotypes of cancer cells, enabling metastatic colonization. We aim to address the molecular role of Baz2a containing remodeling complexes in the process of metastasis, addressing its role in inducing stemness and survival of breast cancer cells after dissemination, and its impact on colonization at the distant site.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 305: Striking a moving target: From mechanisms of metastatic colonization to novel systemic therapies
• Applicant Institution: Universität Regensburg
• Project Heads: Dr. Hedayatollah Hosseini; Professor Dr. Gernot M. Längst