Pharmacy Research Seminar Series: Dr. Hon Leong

Accomplices in Tumor Cell Invasion: Invadopodia and Extracellular Vesicles

We are honoured to invite Dr. Hon Leong of the University of Western Ontario Department of Urology to speak in the Pharmacy Research Seminar Series.

Visitors from main campus and those external to Waterloo are welcome. 

Please RSVP to sarah.rae@uwaterloo.ca.

Abstract

Cancer cell extravasation is a key step in the metastatic cascade in which tumor cells undergo transendothelial migration into the tissue surrounding a vessel. If unable to translocate to tissue, the cell will eventually die and no metastatic colony will form. Using intravital imaging, we have determined that tumor cells form tentacle-like structures, called invadopodia to mediate this process. When invadopodia function is impaired, cancer cells are unable to undergo extravasation and subsequent metastatic colony formation is abrogated. During extravasation, tumor cells also release membrane blebs, also known as cancer cell microparticles or extracellular vesicles, resulting in a loss of cell volume post-extravasation. Our laboratory has developed tests to enumerate these cancer microparticles to act as a "fluid biopsy" to potentially improve the way cancer screening is performed in the general population.  

Visitors from main campus and those external to Waterloo are welcome.

Please RSVP to sarah.rae@uwaterloo.ca.