Investigating the heterogeneity of circulating tumor cells in metastatic prostate cancer

A hallmark of cancer is genomic instability and the acquisition of many new mutations when tumor cells divide. This results in a population of cancer cells that are highly variable (aka, heterogeneous). Tumor heterogeneity is poorly understood but a highly important feature that enables cancer to quickly evolve and develop resistance to treatments and metastasize to new body sites. Arianna Giacobbe is developing methodologies and models to study single circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from animal models and prostate cancer patients, in order to better understand the landscape of tumor heterogeneity. These models will be used to determine how tumor heterogeneity impacts metastatic propensity and treatment responses and to elucidate mechanisms of tumor metastasis and progression. If successful, this project will lead to the identification of mechanisms that drive tumor metastasis and guide improved therapeutic approaches in advanced prostate cancer.