Kato De Clercq
Doctoral fellow – Molecular and Cellular Oncology lab (UGent) – Inflammation Research Center (IRC) – Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology
Principal investigator: prof. Geert Berx (PhD)
Research focus
Ovarian carcinosarcoma (OCS) is the most aggressive histological subtype of ovarian cancer. The poor prognosis can be attributed to diagnosis at an advanced disease stage and the frequent emergence of therapy resistance. OCS tumours are uniquely characterized by a biphasic growth pattern consisting of epithelial carcinoma and mesenchymal sarcoma components. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is considered to be the crucial process in the formation and stabilization of this type of tumour. EMT is a dynamic and reversible process by which epithelial cells lose cell-cell contacts and acquire mesenchymal features.
Using patient samples, PDX models, single cell transcriptomics and functional biology we aim to gain understanding of the molecular mechanisms that drive the dual aetiology of OCS.
Contact & links
- Lab address: Molecular and Cellular Oncology Lab, Technologiepark 71, 9052 Ghent
- Molecular and Cellular Oncology Lab
- Kato De Clercq is interested to receive invitations for talks or presentations