Inhibition of the T cell-mediated steroidogenesis stimulates anti-tumor immunity and restricts tumor growth

This project was a great human adventure and we hope that our work will facilitate awareness of the risks associated with shift work and all types of chronic circadian stress on health, in particular for the prevention and follow-up of cancers.

Tarek H. Mouhieddine, MD

Ewing sarcoma is a pediatric cancer characterized by chimeric EWSR1-ETS fusion oncogenes (in 85% EWSR1-FLI1). In our recent study, we showed that EWSR1-FLI1 hijacks the developmental transcription factor SOX6, which contributes to tumor growth but also increases sensitivity toward oxidative stress.

We found that the most common polymorphism known to affect the MET gene (Asn375Ser [N375S]) increases the aggressiveness of squamous cell carcinoma of the lung, head and neck, and is unexpectedly amenable to HER2 blockers but resistant to c-Met inhibitors.