SPOTLIGHT ON DR GIULIA BIFFI
Affiliations:
Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute
Research focus:
Our lab investigates the biology of non-cancerous stromal cells in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, which comprise up to 90% of the tumour mass and contribute to cancer progression. We focus on understanding how cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) interact with the cancer cells and how we can stop tumour-promoting interactions to develop new treatments.
Recent advance from the lab:
We are dissecting the functional heterogeneity of CAFs by identifying and targeting signalling pathways differentially activated in distinct CAF subsets. We recently discovered an ERBB-activated myofibroblastic CAF subset that promotes local metastatic dissemination in pancreatic cancer.
Giulia Biffi
Key challenge for the field:
At least some CAF subsets can interconvert, so to determine their respective functions we need new models that will prevent CAF plasticity. Our laboratory has recently generated some first-of-kind ‘CAF-locked’ models, which will be game-changing for our future studies.
Most exciting basic or clinical breakthrough in the past few years:
Although evidence over several years suggested that CAFs were promising therapeutic targets, CAF-depleting strategies had not translated into effective treatments. In 2017 we discovered that CAFs are not a uniform population, providing a potential explanation for these seemingly contrasting observations. Deconvoluting this previously unappreciated level of complexity will be needed in order to design effective combination strategies for pancreatic cancer and other malignancies.
Key publications:
Steele N.G., Biffi G. et al.Clin Cancer Res (2021).
Biffi G. & Tuveson D.A. Physiol Rev (2021).
Published July 2022