i) Identification of prognostic biomarkers and novel targets for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients

Individualized treatment decisions are difficult in HNSCC due to the lack of prognostic and predictive biomarkers. Poor HNSCC survival rates clearly indicate a need for new and better therapies. Ailles and her team are working to identify prognostic biomarkers for patient stratification in HNSCC using genomic characterization of primary tumor tissues in combination with their functional behavior in tumor engraftment assays in immune-compromised mice. They are focused on identifying novel targets, pathways, and candidate drugs for the treatment of the most aggressive HNSCC tumors using patient-derived xenografts.

ii) Epigenetics in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC)

The Ailles team uses primary patient-derived cultures and xenografts to study the epigenetic deregulation occurring in ccRCC. More specifically, they focus on identifying the downstream effects on target genes and pathways, and identifying small molecules with rapid clinical translational potential.

iii) Targeting cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in solid tumors

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are known to play a role in promoting cancer proliferation, invasion, and chemo-resistance through acquisition of an “activated” state. The Ailles team has developed methods for the isolation of CAFs from primary patient-derived tumors and carried out molecular characterization of these tumours to identify molecular interactions between CAFs and cancer cells that may represent therapeutic targets. They have demonstrated functional heterogeneity within the CAF population, and are continuing to investigate strategies for epigenetic reprogramming of CAFs to a less activated state.