The project’s objective is to identify cancer stem cells (CSCs), also referred to as cancer initiating cells, and to define their biological properties. In the long term, it aims to develop a "smart bomb" approach to treating the root of cancers such as breast cancers, leukemias and brain cancers. Such an approach may improve anti-cancer therapy and reduce harmful side effects, thereby increasing survival rates and quality of life for cancer patients.

This project uses human tumours and mouse cancer models to study: the genetic changes that distinguish aggressive tumors from more benign ones, and the genetic and biological “malfunctions” which can lead to the development and activities of CSCs. The project addresses these questions by dissecting the cellular pathways that direct the characteristics of tumor cells and cancer stem cells vs. normal cells.

The project team hopes that their research will eventually increase survival rates and improve quality of life for patients with breast cancer, leukemia and brain tumors. The project aims to develop new "biomarkers" that may help to reserve the most aggressive cancer treatments for patients with the highest risk of failing conventional therapies. These conventional cancer therapies do not specifically target CSCs and therefore the project team is trying to better understand how to target these cells. Ultimately, this research may lead to the development of targeted cancer therapies with better efficacy and fewer side effects than those currently used.