What

This project investigates how breast cancer cells adapt to survive the harsh, nutrient-deprived, and hypoxic conditions of the tumor microenvironment. It focuses on understanding how stress factors and growth factor signals, specifically Receptor Tyrosine Kinases (RTKs), coordinate to rewire cellular signaling and metabolism in estrogen receptor-positive breast tumors.  

Why

Most breast cancer deaths occur when tumors develop therapy resistance and metastasize. For the prevalent ER-positive subtype, this progression severely drops survival rates. By uncovering the molecular mechanisms driving tumor adaptation and metabolic flexibility, I aim to identify novel therapeutic vulnerabilities to improve patient outcomes.  

How

I will culture breast cells in conditions mimicking the stressed tumor microenvironment, including hypoxia and glucose deprivation. The study combines functional assays with advanced multi-omics technologies and bioinformatics to map pathway changes. Finally, findings will be validated using clinically relevant patient-derived organoid models.  

Martin Murmann Voldby

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