Rita Leblans

Over the past decade, circulating cell-free nucleic acids (cfNAs) in blood have emerged as valuable non-invasive biomarkers for precision oncology. Despite advancements in the field, it remains unclear how intra-tumoral heterogeneity and plasticity are reflected in cfNAs, and which tumor clones/cell states release these molecules in blood plasma. With this project I aim to gain a better understanding in the origin of cfNAs.

To this end, in my PhD project I will use cellular barcoding in mouse models of two tumor types in which plasticity occurs, i.e. epithelial-mesenchymal transition in triple-negative breast cancer and epigenetic plasticity in neuroblastoma under therapeutic pressure. In these barcoded models, I will integrate single-cell and spatial transcriptomics of the tumor tissues with sequencing data of matching plasma derived cfNAs. Altogether, it will allow to trace the barcode lineages, cell state and spatial niche of tumor cells that release cfNA into the bloodstream. Ultimately, the aim is to get fundamental insights into the mechanisms underlying cfNA release by tumor cells, further steering the development and interpretation of novel liquid biopsy assays. 
 

• Master of Science in Bioscience Engineering: Cell and Gene Biotechnology
   

• Lab address:  VIB Center for Medical Biotechnology
  UGent Department of Biomolecular Medicine
  Technologiepark-Zwijnaarde 75 - 9052 Gent – BELGIUM
• TOBI lab