Colloquium: The nanoscale gears of cancer cells: Identifying and targeting cancer cell vulnerabilities

Dr.  Costin Antonescu

Department of Chemistry and Biology, Toronto Metropolitan University

Bio: Costin Antonescu is Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biology at TMU. He obtained his BSc in Molecular Genetics and Biology and PhD in Biochemistry at the University of Toronto. During this time, he studied the regulation of cell metabolism and membrane traffic in skeletal muscle cells by insulin and signals derived from muscle contraction. Then, he undertook postdoctoral studies at the Scripps Research Institute, studying fundamental cell biology, focusing on the regulation of clathrin-mediated endocytosis. He has been at TMU since 2012, with a highly collaborative research program studying fundamental and cancer cell biology that spans cell metabolism, receptor signaling, membrane traffic, with an eye for applications in drug development and delivery. He also serves as Undergraduate Program Director for Biology as well as Dimensions Faculty Lead for the Faculty of Science

Abstract: The development of new treatments for cancer requires both a better understanding of molecular mechanisms that drive tumor progression as well as strategies for improved therapeutic targeting of tumors and cancer cells. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a form of breast cancer that remains difficult to treat and the prognosis for patients with TNBC remains poor. Our highly collaborative work has focused on several new dimensions of TNBC cell physiology and therapeutic targeting. We identify new ways in which critical protein signaling pathways control TNBC cell growth and survival, focusing on the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and associated signals, and how these signals are organized in space and time at the nanoscale. This research relies on advanced microscopy, automated image analysis, and quantitative cell biology approaches. This work reveals new molecules that represent vulnerabilities for TNBC that can be exploited for new drug development. Furthermore, we also examine strategies for targeting TNBC cells that do not depend on a specific molecular marker, using ultrasound in combination with microbubbles (USMB).