Aïsha Devreker

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide, accounting for approximately 10% of all cancer cases. Despite advancements in screening and therapy, many patients relapse due to therapy resistance. This resistance has been associated with non-canonical differentiation, which is a process that gives rise to cell types that are normally not present in the intestine. Regenerative stem cells are one example of alternative cell types in cancer and they exist in equilibrium with normal stem cells. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition is considered to be a crucial process in this non-canonical differentiation. EMT is a dynamic and reversible process by which epithelial cells lose cell-cell contacts and acquire mesenchymal features.
In our research, we aim to identify important signaling pathways and genetic mutations that can facilitate non-canonical differentiation. We also want to gain understanding of the underlying mechanisms by which EMT causes non-canonical differentiation. This is performed by using mouse models, organoid models, single cell RNA sequencing, confocal microscopy, and epigenomics.  
 

• Lab address: Molecular and Cellular Oncology Lab, Technologiepark 71, 9052 Ghent
• Molecular and Cellular Oncology Lab 
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• Aïsha Devreker is interested to receive invitations for talks or presentations