Phenotypic heterogeneity in cancer chemotherapy

Funded by the National Science Centre, call POLS, grant no. UMO-2020/37/K/NZ2/03737

In this project we investigate differences in single-cell response of normal and cancer cells to chemotherapy, and how the response correlates with phenotypic, non-genetic heterogeneity prior to treatment. The project will help to better understand why chemotherapy fails, quantify the contribution of different mechanisms leading to resistance, and drive better, predictive mathematical models of cancer treatment.

We plan to expose selected cell lines (glioblastoma, pancreatic cancer, lung cancer, normal fibroblasts) in an in vitro assay to a range of chemotherapeutic drugs, and imaged them using an automated microscope. Cells will be genetically modified to express fluorescent proteins to enable cell tracking and monitoring gene expression of selected proteins implicated in resistance. Images will be processed to extract features of interests (gene expression) and reconstruct phylogeny (cell relatedness).

By combining experimental data and mathematical modelling, we will determine the proportion of cells that survive treatment as a function of drug concentration and treatment duration, correlate survival with pretreatment phenotype, and test simple models of evolutionary dynamics of in vitro chemotherapy.

People involved: Dr Pragyesh Dixit

This project is supported by Norway Grants. The EEA and Norway Grants are funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. The Grants have two goals – to contribute to a more equal Europe, both socially and economically – and to strengthen the relations between Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, and the 15 Beneficiary States in Europe

Project highlights:

04/08/2022 Response of cancer cells to chemotherapy

03/08/2022 Pragyesh talks about his work in an interview (1:53 – 3:00)

27/01/2022 New lab member