About This Project

Radiotherapy is a crucial cancer treatment, but resistance and relapse remain challenges. Irradiated cancer cells form multinucleated giant cells which don't divide but grow and remain metabolically active. My study aims to investigate the possible connection of these cells to stemness and metastasis in lung cancer. Understanding these multinucleated giant cells could lead to novel inhibitors or enhance radiation therapy efficacy and treatment plans.

Ask the Scientists

What is the context of this research?

Radiotherapy is a crucial component of cancer management, either as a standalone treatment or in combination with surgery or chemotherapy as adjuvant therapy. Additionally, it can offer palliation for patients with incurable forms of cancer, alleviating adverse symptoms. Tumor-specific radio-resistance is a significant factor leading to the failure of radiotherapy, resulting in distant metastases and locoregional relapse. In my recent experiments, I found that irradiated lung cancer cells stopped proliferating but started growing in size and remained metabolically active for longer periods. With this study, I am trying to understand the fate of these multinucleated giant cells formed after radiation and their possible role in metastasis.

What is the significance of this project?

This project's significance lies in cancer management, particularly in radiotherapy. Understanding the fate of these irradiated giant cells and their link to metastasis is crucial. By investigating the 'molecular switching' of dormant giant cells, their connection to stemness, we aim to combat tumor-specific radio-resistance. Results could lead to targeted therapies, improving treatment outcomes and adding valuable knowledge to the field of radioresistance in lung cancer.

What are the goals of the project?

The primary objective of this study is to explore the fate of radiation-induced giant cells and investigate any potential links they may have with metastasis. To achieve this, I will sort the radiation-induced giant cells based on their size and co-culture them with other lung cancer cells. In this study, un-irradiated lung cancer cells will serve as the control group. Through this approach, I will examine various secretory factors present in the culture media, aiming to identify their potential role in driving metastasis within the cancer population. If a positive correlation is established between the giant cells and metastasis, I will then proceed to test specific anti-metastatic drugs to evaluate their effect on metastatic progression in the cell system.