Abstract IA015: Combined single cell atlasing and organoid modeling reveal progressive plasticity during human colorectal cancer metastasis

Abstract

Abstract Metastatic cancers invariably relapse due to the emergence of therapy resistant subclones that are capable of self-renewal, slow cell-cycling, tumor re-initiation and therapy resistance. However, the molecular mechanisms that underpin the phenotypic plasticity of metastasis stem cells, their relationship to tumor initiating cancer stem cells and macrometastasis, and the co-evolution of the immune response to dynamically emerging tumor regenerative states are not understood. We are adopting a patient-derived functional biospecimen approach combining (1) hypothesis-generation using transcriptomics, epigenomics and spatial/histological analysis of patient samples of primary and metastatic gastrointestinal (GI) cancer with (2) mechanistic dissection in cutting-edge patient-derived organoid models, including co-cultures with immune/stromal cells, and (3) genetically engineered and orthotopic transplantation models of metastatic GI cancer. By profiling, lineage tracing and genetically interrogating the evolving transcriptomic and chromatin landscapes of regenerative metastatic states, we are defining the molecular mechanisms that underpin the phenotypic plasticity of metastatic cancer, and the co-evolution of the tumor microenvironmental response to dynamically emerging tumor regenerative states. Our approach is unveiling crucial signaling nodes required for metastatic plasticity that can be therapeutically targeted to improve outcomes for patients with advanced cancer. Citation Format: Karuna Ganesh. Combined single cell atlasing and organoid modeling reveal progressive plasticity during human colorectal cancer metastasis [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Colorectal Cancer; 2022 Oct 1-4; Portland, OR. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(23 Suppl_1):Abstract nr IA015.