Download 1 - POST-DOCTORAL POSITION

POST-DOCTORAL POSITION
BIOCHEMISTRY, CELL BIOLOGY & CANCER
Contract Temporary, 2 yrs
Annual salary: € 50 400, depending on experience. The candidate must not have more than 3 years of previous post-doctoral
training.
Employer: Inserm
Research group: Team 11 'Tumour radioresistance: from signaling pathways to therapy' headed by E. Cohen-Jonathan Moyal
and Ch. Toulas
Workplace: Inserm U1037, Cancer Research Center of Toulouse, Toulouse, France
Skill area: Biochemistry, Cell Biology and Cancer Research
Since January 2011, our team is one of the twelve funding groups of the Cancer Research Center of Toulouse (INSERM UMR
U1037). Our team aims to decipher the mechanisms involved in resistance to treatments in cancer, more particularly to
radiotherapy. One of our main objectives is to develop translational research directly based from our basic science findings to
early phase clinical trials.
In the context of a project that is part of the Cancer Pharmacology of Toulouse Oncopole & Region (CAPTOR) research program,
the postdoctoral researcher will dissect the mechanisms involved in cancer cell resistance to treatment in colorectal cancer
focusing mainly on the dialogue between the epithelial cells and the cancer-associated fibroblasts, and whether the fibroblast
bystander effect modulates the epithelial response to treatments.
The position is expected to start on June/July, 2013.
Background
Despite the reputation of colorectal cancer as a curable disease, and a thorough characterization of the mutations involved in the
adenoma-carcinoma sequence, the observation that CRC remains the second most common cause of cancer-related death
worldwide suggests that currently available treatments are unable to eliminate all the cancer cells. Rectal cancer, with about
15,000 new cases per year, represents approximately a ¼ of colorectal cancers. Surgery is a frequent form of treatment for
colorectal cancer (CRC) with a success rate of approximately 40% over a 5 year period. However, recurrence following surgery is a
major problem and is often the ultimate cause of death. In rectal cancer management, the introduction of total laparoscopic
excision (TME) is a major advance in the therapeutic approach of this cancer to drastically reduce local recurrence and
significantly improve the survival of patients. However, several studies show that despite TME, some patients develop local
recurrence. Preoperative radiotherapy is increasingly practiced before TME and in particular became a standard neoadjuvant
therapy for advanced stages of the disease. However, even in this case, local recurrence is about 10% and the recurrence distance
remains close to 20%. The distant recurrence suggests in particular an important role of the tumor microenvironment in the
tumor metastatic process.
Aim of the project
In collaboration with the Surgery department and the Anatomopathology department of the Rangueil Hospital, we were able to
established human fibroblast and epithelial primocultures. These cells and human tumor epithelial cell lines are used in 2D and
3D models. Thus, combining classical 2D cultures, 3D ex-vivo but also xenograft models with molecular and cellular approaches
(e.g., transcriptomics, proteomics, tissue engineering, FACS, cellular immunological assays…), the successful candidate will
determine the cellular and molecular events involved in the epithelial cancer cells resistance and in the fibroblast bystander
effect impact on this resistance.
Context of the laboratory
The CRCT (http://crct.univ-tlse3.fr/) is a public research centre co-funded by the Inserm, the CNRS, and the University of
Toulouse. It provides an excellent environment to perform state-of-the-art cancer research. Several scientific and technological
facilities are available on-site (www.genotoul.fr). Research teams host trainees of various nationalities, ranging from
undergraduate students to post-doctoral fellows. External seminars and lab meetings are held in English. The CRCT is located in
Toulouse, a lively city in the South West of France, 1-hr away from Paris by plane and with the 2nd largest student population just
after Paris.
Candidate-profile
Candidates should be highly motivated and have a good working knowledge of English. They must be able to work within a team,
in a collaborative and multidisciplinary research program, and to independently organize their workload. International candidates
are encouraged to apply. Prior knowledge and research experience in biochemistry and cell biology is mandatory. Additional
expertise in tissue engineering and cancer research would be beneficial.
Applicants should email a CV, a short statement of research interests plus the names of two references with contact information
to Dr. Audrey Ferrand: audrey.ferrand@inserm.fr.