Mohamed Bentires-Alj

Breast development, cancer and metastasis

Each year, breast cancer is diagnosed in over one million women worldwide and more than 400,000 lives are lost to this disease. Metastasis is the most serious step in cancer progression and its underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms are still poorly understood. An improved understanding of breast cancer initiation and progression, drug resistance and the factors determining metastatic spread is urgently needed. New therapies are likely to result from a more thorough understanding of the differentiation program of the cells originating the cancer; the genetic and epigenetic alterations that transform these cells; the metabolism of cancer cells, and their interactions with the stroma.
Our research is therefore aimed at understanding the basic biochemical and cell biological mechanisms of cell fate in the normal and neoplastic breast, of metastasis, and of resistance to targeted therapy.
We use a combination of reverse and forward genetics, genomics and proteomics, 3D culture and in vivo models as well as multiphoton intravital imaging.

» Eight lines of attack in breast cancer research


Images of co-cultures of human mammary epithelial cells and stroma.

Additional information
FMI report pages for Mohamed Bentires-Alj

Contact
Mohamed Bentires-Alj
Gabi Gruber