Our group focuses on understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms that mediate resistance to anti-cancer therapies in breast cancer. Using state-of-the-art mouse models of cancer, as well as quantitative molecular and cellular approaches, we are interested in dissecting the microenvironmental cues that orchestrate specific tumour responses and metastasis formation.
Chemotherapy elicits pro-metastatic extracellular vesicles in breast cancer models. Nature Cell Biology (2019) 21(2):190-202. PMID: 30598531
Periostin limits tumor response to VEGFA inhibition. Cell Reports (2018) 22(10):2530-2540. PMID: 29514082
Cancer: Metastasis risk after anti-macrophage therapy. Nature (2014) 6;515(7525):46-7. PMID: 25337881
MicroRNA-520/373 family functions as a tumor suppressor in estrogen receptor negative breast cancer by targeting NF-κB and TGF-β signaling pathways. Oncogene (2012) 31(37):4150-63. PMID: 22158050
My group focuses on understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms that mediate resistance to chemotherapy, mainly in breast and ovarian cancer. Using state-of-the-art mouse models of cancer, as well as quantitative molecular and cellular approaches, we are interested in dissecting the microenvironmental cues that orchestrate specific tumour responses and metastasis formation after chemotherapy. More specifically, we are interested in understanding how inflammation - and tumour-associated myeloid cells in particular - is linked to chemoresistance, in order to develop new therapeutic approaches for the treatment of metastatic gynecological cancers. Current projects in the lab include:
O4 Mechanisms of lung cancer hyper-progression promoted by PD-1 immune checkpoint blockade Martinez-Usatorre A, Kadioglu E, Cianciaruso C et al. Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer (2020) 8(10) a5.1-a5a5
Chemotherapy elicits pro-metastatic extracellular vesicles in breast cancer models Keklikoglou I, Cianciaruso C, Güç E et al. Nature Cell Biology (2019) 21(7) 190-202
Periostin Limits Tumor Response to VEGFA Inhibition Keklikoglou I, Kadioglu E, Bissinger S et al. Cell Reports (2018) 22(7) 2530-2540
CSF1/CSF1R signaling blockade triggers release of matrix-degrading proteases in mouse models Bissinger S, Schmittnaegel M, Keklikoglou I et al. JOURNAL FOR IMMUNOTHERAPY OF CANCER (2017) 5(11)
http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000460207200090&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=612ae0d773dcbdba3046f6df545e9f6a
MicroRNA-206 functions as a pleiotropic modulator of cell proliferation, invasion and lymphangiogenesis in pancreatic adenocarcinoma by targeting ANXA2 and KRAS genes Keklikoglou I, Hosaka K, Bender C et al. Oncogene (2015) 34(7) 4867-4878
Perivascular M2 macrophages stimulate tumor relapse after chemotherapy Hughes R, Qian BZ, Rowan C et al. Cancer Research (2015) 75(7) 3479-3491
A distinct subset of perivascular macrophages drive tumour relapse after chemotherapy Russell H, Qian B, Keklikoglou I et al. CLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL METASTASIS (2015) 32(11) 184-184
http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000351601900012&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=612ae0d773dcbdba3046f6df545e9f6a
MicroRNA-30c-2-3p negatively regulates NF-κB signaling and cell cycle progression through downregulation of TRADD and CCNE1 in breast cancer Shukla K, Sharma AK, Ward A et al. Molecular Oncology (2015) 9(7) 1106-1119
Cancer: Metastasis risk after anti-macrophage therapy Keklikoglou I, De Palma M Nature (2014) 515(7) 46-47
Role of angiopoietin-2 in adaptive tumor resistance to VEGF signaling blockade Rigamonti N, Kadioglu E, Keklikoglou I et al. Cell Reports (2014) 8(7) 696-706
For additional publications, please click hereI studied Biology at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Greece). During my undergraduate studies, I trained with Prof George Mosialos to characterise the role of certain aminoacids of TRAF5 and TRAF6 molecules in NF-kB signalling activation. In 2008, I moved to Heidelberg (Germany) for my postgraduate studies in molecular and cellular biology at the Ruperto-Carola University of Heidelberg. I joined the laboratory of Prof Stefan Wiemann at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) where I completed my PhD on the identification of novel miRNAs that regulate NF-kB signalling in breast and pancreatic cancer.
In 2012, driven by my curiosity and interest in understanding the role of tumour microenvironment in modulating tumour responses to therapies, I moved to Lausanne (Switzerland) to join the laboratory of Prof Michele De Palma at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL). During my postdoctoral training in De Palma’s lab I identified extracellular matrix- and vesicle-mediated mechanisms of resistance to anti-angiogenic and cytotoxic therapies, respectively, through alterations in the accumulation and function of tumour-associated myeloid cells.
In 2019 I moved to London to start my own lab at Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London (UK) within the Centre for Tumour Microenvironment.