Back to RESEARCH

Principal Investigator

RÜEGG Curzio

Full Professor of
Pathology

Clinical Medicine

Questions addressed

The main research interest of the laboratory is the study of tumor-host interaction. There is growing evidence that the normal tissue co-opted and modified by the growing tumor, provide essential cues to tumor maintenance, dormancy, growth, invasion and metastasis. Specifically, we are using in vivo and in vitro experimental models to investigate the following aspects of tumor - host interaction:
► Tumor microenvironment
How do cells of the microenvironment and bone marrow-derived cells, promote tumor invasion and metastasis? How do therapeutic interventions, in particular radiotherapy, modify the tumor microenvironment and how do these modifications impact tumor behavior?
► Tumor angiogenesis
How do angiogenic vessels modulate tumor dormancy? How do tumors adapt to inhibition of angiogenesis? Can we exploit pro-angiogenic bone marrow-derived cells to monitor tumor angiogenesis?
► Tumor metastasis
How do disseminated cells interact with normal tissue at metastatic sites, in particular in the brain? We are complementing experimental projects with clinical-translational studies aimed at validating experimental results in patients, in collaboration with various oncology centers.
We are complementing experimental projects with clinical-translational studies aimed at validating experimental results in patients, in collaboration with various oncology centers.