Summary:
Cancer progression involves hallmarks like uncontrolled growth, DNA damage, and stress responses, influenced by extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling. Laminins, key ECM components, such as the laminin-α2 chain encoded by LAMA2, regulate cell behavior and signaling. This project explores a possible novel role of LAMA2 in melanoma, linking its deletion or overexpression to oxidative stress, DNA damage, and tumor progression. Using melanoma spheroids and zebrafish xenograft models, we aim to assess how LAMA2 expression affects tumor behavior. This study could uncover new mechanisms in the tumor microenvironment and identify potential druggable targets for cancer therapy, especially in skin cancers like melanoma.
Funding Institution:
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
