Neural precursor tumorigenesis by persistent Notch signaling

Eva Zacharioudaki ORCID 0000-0002-1641-9645; Chrysanthi Voutyraki ORCID 0000-0003-0943-0384, Vassiliki Kapoulea

From transcriptome and ChIP-seq analysis on the primary larval lesions as well as allografted tumours, we concluded that NB tumours arise by repression of many pro-differentiation genes in the early NB progeny. Subsequently, allografting triggers a major metabolic switch and the onset of cellular stress; we are trying to understand how this reprogramming contributes to the malignant phenotype. We are further investigating how the chromatin landscape changes as neural precursors progress to malignancy and how these tumour masses interact with host cells, primarily haemocytes (macrophage-like cells). Here we are collaborating with an expert on fly haemocytes, Dr. Angela Giangrande (IGBMC, Strasbourg).