Nerve-to-Cancer Mitochondrial Transfer: A Key Driver of Metastasis
Dr. Simon Grelet is an Assistant Professor at the University of South Alabama. His research focuses on tumor cell plasticity and primary tumor neurogenesis—specifically how cancer cells adapt to and interact with their environment during metastasis. His lab uses advanced genomic techniques and CRISPR-based tools to uncover the molecular mechanisms driving tumor progression and cancer–nerve communication, with the goal of identifying new therapeutic strategies to prevent cancer spread.
Dr. Grelet will present his recent work titled “Nerve-to-Cancer Mitochondrial Transfer: A Key Driver of Metastasis.” This study explores how cancer cells that receive mitochondria from neurons within primary tumors gain enhanced metastatic capabilities—revealing a novel role for the nervous system in supporting cancer progression and metastatic potential.
