“FMRP in cancer” Study of the role of the FMRP protein in tumor progression

Project objectives

This project aims to study the role of the FMRP (Fragile X Messenger Ribonucleoprotein) protein in cancer and tumor progression. The ultimate aim is to propose this protein as a possible new marker of tumor progression and/or therapeutic response.

Rationale and results: FMRP is an mRNA binding protein which in neurons regulates the gene expression of proteins involved in the functioning and development of synapses and in particular in the remodeling of the actin cytoskeleton and in cell adhesion, mechanisms which are also fundamental in invasion and tumor progression. In the last ten years, in fact, it has been discovered that FMRP plays an important role in various types of neoplasms and its expression levels often correlate with various aspects of tumor progression. In particular, we have studied this protein in breast cancer (Lucà et al., 2013), in melanoma (Zalfa et al., 2017) and in iCCA intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (Carotti et al., 2021), demonstrating that it plays a key role in the mechanisms of membrane plasticity that underlie tumor invasiveness and metastasis processes. 

We are currently focusing on: 1) characterization of the molecular mechanism by which FMRP increases the invasiveness of iCCA tumor cells; 2) characterization of its target mRNAs; 3) expression of FMRP and its targets in the various stages of progression of iCCA (healthy tissue, tumor in situ, primary iCCA, locoregional metastases and distant metastases).

Start and end date

Project Manager

Coordinating institution of the project

Other institutions involved in the project

• University of Navarra in Pamplona, ​​Spain 
• University of Lausanne, Switzerland 
• University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy.