Louis Goutte

Ovarian cancer is often diagnosed at an advanced stage. While initial platinum-based chemotherapy (carboplatin) is effective, most patients experience devastating relapses due to drug resistance. Traditionally, resistance is studied within cancer cells. However, the tumor microenvironment — particularly Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts (CAFs) — acts as a powerful shield against these drugs.
During my PhD, I aim to uncover how this "shield" intercepts and neutralizes chemotherapy. My research focuses on tracking the physical accumulation of platinum within the TME and decoding the molecular mechanisms CAFs use to sequester and detoxify the drug. By identifying these specific vulnerabilities, we aim to design targeted therapies that break this CAF-mediated protection and restore carboplatin sensitivity.
To ensure clinical relevance, these strategies are evaluated using primary patient-derived ex vivo tumor models under dynamic millifluidic perfusion, paving the way for more effective treatments.
 

• 2026 – present: PhD student at the Laboratory of Experimental Cancer Research (Ghent University, Belgium) & FWO/KOTK fundamental research fellow.
• 2023 – 2026: Diplôme d'Ingénieur (MEng/MSc equivalent) in Chemistry and Biotechnology (ChemBioTech) at ECPM-ESBS (University of Strasbourg, France).
• 2021 – 2023: Classes Préparatoires aux Grandes Écoles (CPGE PCSI-PC) at Collège Stanislas (Paris, France) – Intensive two-year undergraduate program preparing for competitive entrance exams to French engineering schools.
   

• Lab address: 
  Laboratory of Experimental Cancer Research, 
  Department of Human Structure and Repair, 
  Campus UZ Gent, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, The Core, entrance 37, 9000 Gent, Belgium 
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• Louis Goutte is interested to receive invitations for presentations or talks