Jeroen Verstappe

Colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide. Unfortunately, the prognosis for the patient significantly lowers when tumor cells spread or become resistant to chemotherapy. Both metastasis and chemoresistance have been linked to the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. This is a process where epithelial cells lose contacts with their neighboring cells and become invasive and motile and is driven by several transcription factors including ZEB1 and ZEB2.

In our research we aim to elucidate the downstream pathways by which ZEB1 and ZEB2 drive colorectal cancer initiation, progression and metastasis. This is performed by combining novel mouse models with state of the art techniques such as single cell RNA sequencing, flow cytometry, confocal microscopy and organoid research. 
 

•  “Intrinsic balance between ZEB family members is important for melanocyte homeostasis and melanoma progression” Cancers, 2020 (PMID: 32796736)
   

• Lab Address: Molecular and Cellular Oncology Lab, Technologiepark 71, 9052 Ghent
• Molecular and Cellular Oncology Lab
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• Jeroen Verstappe is interested to receive invitations for talks or presentations