Organelle Communication, Trafficking and Cancer

The endocytosis and trafficking of cell surface receptors play a critical role in signaling regulation. Beyond simply downregulating receptors to terminate signaling, endocytosis can also enhance and propagate signaling in a spatiotemporal and context-dependent manner. The full complexity of the endocytic machinery is only recently becoming apparent, with diverse endocytic and trafficking routes, involving interorganelle communication and physically discrete signaling platforms, being uncovered. These mechanisms influence nearly all aspects of cell physiology and are frequently hijacked in diseases such as cancer.

Our research aims to understand how distinct endocytic mechanisms and interorganelle communication along different trafficking routes are integrated to produce specific signaling outputs and cellular responses. Using the EGFR as a model growth factor receptor, we are investigating the molecular mechanisms regulating its endocytosis and interaction with organelles and their functions.

This watercolor art was made by Julie Polge during the
Cell-transport: Organelles transport in health and disease meeting held in Grenoble (France) in December 2024.

Our final goal is to determine how these processes influence biological responses, such as proliferation and migration, and how their dysregulation contributes to cancer. Additionally, we are investigating how genetic and non-genetic alterations of endocytic proteins play a causative role in cancer. Specifically, we are characterizing how Epsin 3, an endocytic adaptor protein frequently amplified and overexpressed in breast cancer, promotes tumorigenesis and metastatic dissemination.