Pfizer recognizes Catalan scientist Albert Santamaria for his research on cancerous stem cells
He has participated in a study that has identified a special type of stem cell present in breast cancer that is involved in the metastasis process.
By Biocat
The Swiss subsidiary of Pfizer has recognized the work of young scientist Albert Santamaria in research on cancerous stem cells with the award given out each year by their Research Foundation.
Santamaria holds a PhD in Biology from the University of Barcelona (UB). Since 2009, he has worked at the Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), at the Lausanne School of Life Sciences (EPFL). His scientific interests include cancerous stem cells, the metastasis process and the relationship between tumor cells and the microenvironment.
Dr. Santamaria is one of the authors of the study Interactions between cancer stem cells and their niche govern metastatic colonization (Nature 481, 85–89, 2012) carried out at ISREC. The work has identified a special type of stem cell present in breast cancer that is responsible for tumor metastasis. Specifically, these cells express components of the extracellular matrix in healthy cells of the organ they colonize in order to grow as metastasis. The importance of these findings lies in the fact that they open the doors for the development of innovative therapeutic approaches to fighting the disease, given that they show it is possible to halt the process of metastasis by inhibiting the production of fibroblastic matrix components.
"We find that periostin, a component of the extracellular matrix expressed by normal tissue in response to factors secreted by tumor cells, is needed to maintain stem cells and blocking its function helps prevent metastasis,” explains Albert Santamaria.
Since 1992, the Pfizer Switzerland Research Foundation awards have recognized 237 young scientists. Each award comes with a cash prize of €12,000.