Team 03 - Liver Cancers and Tumor Invasion

Équipe 03 – Cancers du Foie et Invasion Tumorale

Team 3 results from the gathering of scientists with the aim of performing both fundamental and translational research on liver cancers.

Our research aims to better understanding development and progression of liver cancers. We develop projects mainly on hepatocellular carcinoma, which is the major type of primary liver cancer in adults, but also on cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer), and hepatoblastoma (pediatric liver cancer).

The overall poor prognosis of liver cancers is due to high rates of postoperative recurrence and metastasis incidence. Our research projects overlap the whole tumoral developmental process from initiation to progression of tumors.

Three main research axes:

Axe 1: Mediators of liver carcinogenesis (ß-catenin, EIF3 translation factor)

Axe 2: Tumor micro-environment remodeling (extracellular matrix, cell-cell communication, extracellular vesicles)

Axe 3: Translational research on liver tumors


Keywords

liver cancer, tumor microenvironment, invasion, actin cytoskeleton, extracellular matrix, proteomics, invadosomes, extracellular vesicles, translational reprogramming, CRISPi/a screens

Projects

1-Translation control in HCC development and progression

This project has been awarded by La Ligue Contre le Cancer (Equipe labellisée 2023). Our project focuses in studying the role of the eIF3 complex in the initiation and the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which is the main primary liver cancer.

The eIF3 major complex of the translation machinery is composed of 13 non-identical protein subunits (eIF3a-m) most of which are dysregulated in many cancers including HCC. Our goal is to determine which eIF3 subunits are involved in carcinogenesis and HCC development but also to identify their translational targets in order to ultimately develop new therapeutic strategies. We are also studying eIF3 complex in the context of HCC invasion as we identified it as a component of invasive structures as invadosomes.


Project members

2-Molecular bases of tumor plasticity and invasion (V. Moreau / F. SALTEL)

Abnormal cell migration and invasion is a characteristic of malignant cancer cells and is one component of metastasis, the major clinical problem in cancer. The reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton is the driving force for cell migration, cell shape change, and interactions with other cells and factors in the microenvironment. Consequently, alterations in cytoskeletal signalling pathways are increasingly being recognized as important for cancer invasion and metastasis. In this context our work focuses on Rho GTPases (RhoE/Rnd3 & p190RhoGAP) and actin-binding proteins such as Fascin-1, and key matrix receptors as DDR1 and DDR2.

 


Project members

Noteworthy publications
Antagonism between wild-type and mutant β-catenin controls hepatoblastoma differentiation via fascin-1.
Gest C, Sena S, Dif L, Neaud V, Loesch R, Dugot-Senant N, Paysan L, Piquet L, Robbe T, Allain N, Dembele D, Guettier C, Bioulac-Sage P, Rullier A, Le Bail B, Grosset CF, Saltel F, Lagrée V, Colnot S, Moreau V
JHEP reports : innovation in hepatology ; 2023 Feb 01
Discoidin Domain Receptor 2 orchestrates melanoma resistance combining phenotype switching and proliferation.
Sala M, Allain N, Moreau M, Jabouille A, Henriet E, Abou-Hammoud A, Uguen A, Di-Tommaso S, Dourthe C, Raymond AA, Dupuy JW, Gerard E, Dugot-Senant N, Rousseau B, Merlio JP, Pham-Ledart A, Vergier B, Tartare-Deckert S, Moreau V, Saltel F
Oncogene ; 2022 Mar 23
Combining laser capture microdissection and proteomics reveals an active translation machinery controlling invadosome formation.
Ezzoukhry Z, Henriet E, Cordelières FP, Dupuy JW, Maître M, Gay N, Di-Tommaso S, Mercier L, Goetz JG, Peter M, Bard F, Moreau V, Raymond AA, Saltel F
Nature communications ; 2018 May 23
Identification of an inhibitory domain in GTPase-activating protein p190RhoGAP responsible for masking its functional GAP domain.
Héraud C, Pinault M, Neaud V, Saltel F, Lagrée V, Moreau V
The Journal of biological chemistry ; 2023 Jan 01
Loss of RND3/RHOE controls entosis through LAMP1 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma.
Basbous S, Dif L, Dantzer C, Di-Tommaso S, Dupuy JW, Bioulac-Sage P, Raymond AA, Desdouets C, Saltel F, Moreau V
Cell death & disease ; 2024 Jan 13

3- Cell-cell communications & Tumor microenvironment remodelling (C. BILLOTTET / J. GIRAUD / F. SALTEL / V. MOREAU)

The tumor micro-environment consists of a complex network of cellular and non-cellular components that interact dynamically to shape the behavior and progression of tumors. Understanding the essential components of the HCC tumor micro-environment, including innate immune cells, and their roles in tumor progression is crucial for developing effective therapeutic strategies.

We are working on the involvement of extracellular vesicles and chemokines in the remodeling of the tumor micro-environment, particularly in ß-catenin-mutated hepatocellular carcinomas. We also work on newly identified elements called tracks that are involved in the transfer of invasive capability between tumor cells.


Project members

Noteworthy publications
Emerging role of oncogenic ß-catenin in exosome biogenesis as a driver of immune escape in hepatocellular carcinoma.
Dantzer C, Vaché J, Brunel A, Mahouche I, Raymond AA, Dupuy JW, Petrel M, Bioulac-Sage P, Perrais D, Dugot-Senant N, Verdier M, Bessette B, Billottet C, Moreau V
eLife ; 2024 Jul 15
Minimal information for studies of extracellular vesicles (MISEV2023): From basic to advanced approaches.
Welsh JA, Goberdhan DCI, O'Driscoll L, Buzas EI, Blenkiron C, Bussolati B, Cai H, Di Vizio D, Driedonks TAP, Erdbrügger U, Falcon-Perez JM, Fu QL, Hill AF, Lenassi M, Lim SK, Mahoney MG, Mohanty S, Möller A, Nieuwland R, Ochiya T, Sahoo S, Torrecilhas AC, Zheng L, Zijlstra A, Abuelreich S, Bagabas R, Bergese P, Bridges EM, Brucale M, Burger D, Carney RP, Cocucci E, Crescitelli R, Hanser E, Harris AL, Haughey NJ, Hendrix A, Ivanov AR, Jovanovic-Talisman T, Kruh-Garcia NA, Ku'ulei-Lyn Faustino V, Kyburz D, Lässer C, Lennon KM, Lötvall J, Maddox AL, Martens-Uzunova ES, Mizenko RR, Newman LA, Ridolfi A, Rohde E, Rojalin T, Rowland A, Saftics A, Sandau US, Saugstad JA, Shekari F, Swift S, Ter-Ovanesyan D, Tosar JP, Useckaite Z, Valle F, Varga Z, van der Pol E, van Herwijnen MJC, Wauben MHM, Wehman AM, Williams S, Zendrini A, Zimmerman AJ, MISEV Consortium, Théry C, Witwer KW
Journal of extracellular vesicles ; 2024 Feb 01
Combining laser capture microdissection and proteomics reveals an active translation machinery controlling invadosome formation.
Ezzoukhry Z, Henriet E, Cordelières FP, Dupuy JW, Maître M, Gay N, Di-Tommaso S, Mercier L, Goetz JG, Peter M, Bard F, Moreau V, Raymond AA, Saltel F
Nature communications ; 2018 May 23

4- Care Management / Improve diagnosis and patient stratification (J.F. BLANC / L. CHICHE / A. JABOUILLE / F. SALTEL)

Based on an innovative methodology established in the team that combines laser microdissection and mass spectrometry, we are able to extract a proteomic profile from tumour-fixed samples. Our work aims to use this information and combine it with functional CRISPRa/i screens to identify critical players in HCC pathogenesis in order to improve liver cancer diagnosis and predict treatment response. We believe this methodology is key to improving patient stratification and developing personalised medicine.


Project members

Noteworthy publications
Proteomic Profiling of Hepatocellular Adenomas Paves the Way to Diagnostic and Prognostic Approaches.
Dourthe C, Julien C, Di Tommaso S, Dupuy JW, Dugot-Senant N, Brochard A, Le Bail B, Blanc JF, Chiche L, Balabaud C, Bioulac-Sage P, Saltel F, Raymond AA
Hepatology (Baltimore, Md.) ; 2021 Sep 01
ASS1 Overexpression: A Hallmark of Sonic Hedgehog Hepatocellular Adenomas; Recommendations for Clinical Practice.
Sala M, Gonzales D, Leste-Lasserre T, Dugot-Senant N, Paradis V, Di Tommaso S, Dupuy JW, Pitard V, Dourthe C, Sciarra A, Sempoux C, Ferrell LD, Clouston AD, Miller G, Yeh MM, Thung S, Gouw ASH, Quaglia A, Han J, Huan J, Fan C, Crawford J, Nakanuma Y, Harada K, le Bail B, Castain C, Frulio N, Trillaud H, Possenti L, Blanc JF, Chiche L, Laurent C, Balabaud C, Bioulac-Sage P, Raymond AA, Saltel F
Hepatology communications ; 2020 Apr 11
Argininosuccinate synthase 1 (ASS1): A marker of unclassified hepatocellular adenoma and high bleeding risk.
Henriet E, Abou Hammoud A, Dupuy JW, Dartigues B, Ezzoukry Z, Dugot-Senant N, Leste-Lasserre T, Pallares-Lupon N, Nikolski M, Le Bail B, Blanc JF, Balabaud C, Bioulac-Sage P, Raymond AA, Saltel F
Hepatology (Baltimore, Md.) ; 2017 Dec 01

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Team’s noteworthy publications

Silencing of RND3/RHOE inhibits the growth of human hepatocellular carcinoma and is associated with reversible senescence.
Basbous S, Paysan L, Sena S, Allain N, Hiriart JB, Dugot-Senant N, Rousseau B, Chevret E, Lagrée V, Moreau V
Cancer gene therapy ; 2022 Mar 07
Discoidin Domain Receptor 2 orchestrates melanoma resistance combining phenotype switching and proliferation.
Sala M, Allain N, Moreau M, Jabouille A, Henriet E, Abou-Hammoud A, Uguen A, Di-Tommaso S, Dourthe C, Raymond AA, Dupuy JW, Gerard E, Dugot-Senant N, Rousseau B, Merlio JP, Pham-Ledart A, Vergier B, Tartare-Deckert S, Moreau V, Saltel F
Oncogene ; 2022 Mar 23
Proteomic Profiling of Hepatocellular Adenomas Paves the Way to Diagnostic and Prognostic Approaches.
Dourthe C, Julien C, Di Tommaso S, Dupuy JW, Dugot-Senant N, Brochard A, Le Bail B, Blanc JF, Chiche L, Balabaud C, Bioulac-Sage P, Saltel F, Raymond AA
Hepatology (Baltimore, Md.) ; 2021 Sep 01
Cancer cells transfer invasive properties through microRNAs contained in collagen tracks.
Rouyer L, Normand L, Richard E, Allain N, Giraud J, Di-Tommaso S, Dourthe C, Raymond AA, Dupuy JW, Moreau K, Iggo R, MacGrogan G, Dugot-Senant N, Bouter A, Tan S, Favereaux A, Moreau V, Luco RF, Ros M, Saltel F
Cell reports ; 2025 Dec 23
Combining laser capture microdissection and proteomics reveals an active translation machinery controlling invadosome formation.
Ezzoukhry Z, Henriet E, Cordelières FP, Dupuy JW, Maître M, Gay N, Di-Tommaso S, Mercier L, Goetz JG, Peter M, Bard F, Moreau V, Raymond AA, Saltel F
Nature communications ; 2018 May 23


Partners

Team leaders

Violaine MOREAU
Research Director / DR

Frédéric SALTEL
Research Director / DR


Team members

Nathalie ALLAIN
Technician / Tech

Charles BALABAUD
Professor Clinician Emeritus / PUPH-EM

Daniel BARROSO ALVES
PhD Student / Doc

Clotilde BILLOTTET
Professor / PU

Paulette BIOULAC-SAGE
Professor Clinician Emeritus / PUPH-EM

Jean-Frédéric BLANC
Professor Clinician / PU-PH

Naomi CAYRAC
Engineer / IE

Anouk CHATEFAU
PhD Student / Doc

Laurence CHICHE
Professor Clinician / PU-PH

Nina CHOUBLIER
Research Engineer / IR

Rémi DARRACQ
PhD Student / Doc

Marie DE CRAECKER
PhD Student / Doc

Victor DE LEDINGHEN
Professor Clinician / PU-PH

Julie GIRAUD
Post PhD Researcher / Post-doc

Lucie GOURET
PhD Student / Doc

Magalie HAISSAGUERRE
Professor Clinician / PU-PH

Arnaud JABOUILLE
Researcher / CR

Clara JOLLET
PhD Student / Doc

Brigitte LE BAIL
Professor Clinician / PU-PH

Isabelle MAHOUCHE
Engineer / IE

Grégoire MANAUD
Post PhD Researcher / Post-doc

Arthur MARICHEZ
Research student / Année recherche

Violaine MOREAU
Research Director / DR

Véronique NEAUD
Technician / Tech

Myriam PETIT-ROUSSEL
Technician / Tech

Anne-Aurélie RAYMOND
Research Engineer / IR

Ibrahim SAHEBALLY
PhD Student / Doc

Frédéric SALTEL
Research Director / DR