FRANCO LAB
Why we are here!
Cancer
Cancer is not a single disease, but instead a group of more than a hundred different diseases. It is defined by abnormal growth by which cells no longer respond to the signals that tell them what to do. This often leads to uncontrolled growth and sometimes metastasis, or spread of these cells outside the organ of origin. The goal of therapy is to prevent cancer cells from growing uncontrollably by selectively killing the cancers cells and preventing them from spreading. Understanding the molecular and genetic regulation of cancer cells will help us develop better more targeted therapies and improve outcomes for patients.
Tumors
We used to think that tumors were just cancer cells growing uncontrollably, and if we killed the cancer cells we could cure the patient. Unfortunately, it is not that simple. A tumor is more like a whole new, dysfunctional organ that doesn’t respond normally to cues from the outside. Tumors, in addition to having cancer cells, have normal cells including blood vessels, fibroblasts, and immune cells that the cancer cells have hijacked for their own benefit. We have done pioneering work to define stromal cells that are present in thyroid tumors, and demonstrate how these cells can help the tumors progress. We are seeking ways to manipulate the tumor microenvironment as novel therapeutic approaches to treat thyroid cancer.
Patients
We believe all lab questions can and should be patient-centric. In the Franco lab we currently have a broad interest in understanding how cancer cells and normal cells communicate in the tumor. We want to understand how this changes as patients age, and how different normal cells are recruited to tumors between pediatric and adult thyroid cancer patients. We believe this work will have important implications in improving patient outcomes in thyroid cancer, and helping to personalize care to pediatric and adult patients. With a better understanding of both the physiology and pathophysiology of the thyroid gland we can improve patient care!
