Principal Investigator Frank Gertler
The spread of cancer from a primary tumor to secondary sites requires tumor cells to invade adjacent tissues and migrate towards blood vessels. Working with our collaborator, John Condeelis (Albert Einstein College of Medicine), we have found that Ena/VASP proteins are upregulated during breast cancer invasion in vivo. Ena/VASP proteins are concentrated in invadopodia, specialized matrix-secreting protrusions found in invasive cells. We are currently examining the role of Ena/VASP in tumor cell invasion in vitro and in vivo. Interestingly, we have identified new Ena/VASP interacting proteins that are also concentrated in invadopodia.