The GIGA-Cancer unit is composed of several laboratories sharing a common interest in the study of the mechanisms involved during cancer development and progression. More particularly, GIGA-Cancer researchers investigate the molecular mechanisms implicated during tumor invasion and metastases through the study of several protease families (metalloproteases, ADAMTs,...) that degrade the extracellular matrix. They also examine the role of several extracellular matrix components such as the SIBLINGs (Small integrin-binding ligand N-linked proteins) during the several steps of cancer progression.

GIGA-CANCER groups also have a special interest in the study of angiogenesis, a key biological process that allows the neovascularization of malignant lesions, enabling their local growth and facilitating the dissemination of cancer cells. Finally, GIGA-Cancer is involved in projects aiming to identify new accessible cancer biomarkers which could be the bases for targeted cancer therapies.

Head of the thematic research unit Agnès Noël

Research projects

• Evaluation of the molecular mechanisms underlying physiological and pathological angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis
• Contribution of proteases and their inhibitors during tumour progression.
• Implication of Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transitions in the metastatis progression.
• Research of biomarker metabolites implicated in the development of the age-related macular degeneration.
• Role of small integrin-binding ligand N-linked dlycoprotins (SIBLINGs) during tumor invasion, metastases and angiogenesis
• Epigenetic control of angiogenesis
• Identification of accessible biomarkers in cancer for the development of targetted therapy
• Identification of new diagnostic and pronostic biomarkers for prostate cancer using proteomic approaches
• Therapeutic evaluation of the use of peptides derived from the prolactin/GH family
• Characterisation of the mechanism of action of peptides derived from the prolactin/GH family
• Search for new modulators of angiogenesis
• Role of natural immunity (NK cells and TCRgd) in anti-tumor and anti-viral responses (research model: uterine cervical cancer associated with HPV infection)
• Néoangio
• Treatment of skin carcinoma using original phototherapy
• Topical drug delivery for the treatment of HPV induced pre-cancerous lesions (Colvir)
• Study of the molecular and cellular mechanisms responsible for epithelial metaplasia and for its progression to cancer
• Contribution to the study of local inflammation in epithelial metaplasia and its evolution in cancer
• In vitro and in vivo analysis of cetuximab and let-7 miRNA combination on tumorigenesis parameters in colorectal cancer cell lines
• Combined molecular analysis and evaluation of several genetic biomarkers of colorectal cancer
• Analysis of the function of the Yin Yang 1 (YY1) transcription factor in colorectal tumorigenesis
• VEGFs -VEGFRs pathways
• Anti-angiogenic potentials of ADAMTS-2
• Signaling by small G proteins of the Rho family
• Acquired and inherited cardiovascular pathologies
• Mechanisms controlling the differentiation and the functions of marrow mesenchymal cells in vivo and after in vitro amplification: potential role of VEGF and VEGF receptors

Research units

→ Tumour and development biology See more
   Jean-Michel Foidart, Agnès Noël

→ Metastases Research See more
    Vincent Castronovo, Akeila Bellahcene

→ Pathology
    Jacques Boniver, Philippe Delvenne

→ Molecular biology & genetic engineering See more
    Joseph Martial, Ingrid Struman

→ Laboratory of connective tissues biology See more
   Alain Colige

→ Histology - Cytology
    Marie-Paule Defresne

→ Human genetics See more
    Vincent Bours

   Laboratory of cellular and molecular epigenetics See more
   Luc Willems

 Advisory Board

• Jacques Ghysdael, Institut Curie Paris, France
• Yvan de Launoit, Institut Pasteur, Lille, France
• Giulia Taraboletti, Mario Negri Institute for pharmacological Research, Bergamo, Italy
• Pascal Barbry, CNRS, Sophia Antipolis, France

Significant publications

Paupert J, Sounni NE, Noel A.
Lymphangiogenesis in post-natal tissue remodeling: Lymphatic endothelial cell connection with its environment.
Mol Aspects Med. 2011;32:146-158 

Pirotte S, Lamour V, Lambert V, Alvarez Gonzalez ML, Ormenese S, Noël A, Mottet D, Castronovo V, Bellahcène A.
Dentin matrix protein 1 induces membrane expression of VE-cadherin on endothelial cells and inhibits VEGF-induced angiogenesis by blocking VEGFR-2 phosphorylation.
Blood. 2011 Feb 24;117(8):2515-26 

Lecomte J, Louis K, Detry B, Blacher S, Lambert V, Bekaert S, Munaut C, Paupert J, Blaise P, Foidart JM, Rakic JM, Krane SM, Noel A.
Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal cells and mmp13 contribute to experimental choroidal neovascularization.
Cell Mol Life Sci. 2011;68:677-686 See more

El Hour M, Moncada-Pazos A, Blacher S, Masset A, Cal S, Berndt S, Detilleux J, Host L, Obaya AJ, Maillard C, Foidart JM, Ectors F, Noel A, Lopez-Otin C.
Higher sensitivity of Adamts12-deficient mice to tumor growth and angiogenesis.
Oncogene 29(20): 3025-32 (2010) See more.

Bellahcène A, Castronovo V, Ogbureke KU, Fisher LW, Fedarko NS.
Small integrin-binding ligand N-linked glycoproteins (SIBLINGs): multifunctional proteins in cancer.
Nat Rev Cancer. 2008 Mar;8(3):212-26. Review.

Bruyère F, Melen-Lamalle L, Blacher S, Roland G, Thiry M, Moons L, Frankenne F, Carmeliet P, Alitalo K, Libert C, Sleeman JP, Foidart JM, Noël A.
Modeling lymphangiogenesis in a three-dimensional culture system.
Nat Methods. 2008; 5(5):431-7.

Herens C, Lambert F, Quintanilla-Martinez L, Bisig B, Deusings C, de Leval L.
Cyclin D1-negative mantle cell lymphoma with cryptic t(12;14)(p13;q32) and cyclin D2 overexpression.
Blood, 2008, 111 : 1745-46.

Kesteloot F, Desmoulière A, Leclercq I, Thiry M, Arrese JE, Prockop DJ, Lapière CM, Nusgens BV, Colige A.
ADAM metallopeptidase with thrombospondin type 1 motif 2 inactivation reduces the extent and stability of carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic fibrosis in mice.
Hepatology. 2007 Nov;46(5):1620-31.

Mineur P, Colige AC, Deroanne CF, Dubail J, Kesteloot F, Habraken Y, Noël A, Vöö S, Waltenberger J, Lapière CM, Nusgens BV, Lambert CA.
Newly identified biologically active and proteolysis-resistant VEGF-A isoform VEGF111 is induced by genotoxic agents.
The Journal of Cell Biology, 2007, 179,6;1261-1273.


See all the GIGA publications