The cancer cell adhesome consists of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs), growth factor receptors (GFR), adapter and signaling proteins, which mutually and cooperatively interact. The impact of these tightly regulated CAM/GFR interactions has not been described for the interrelation between cellular radiosensitivity and cancer cell-induced angiogenesis. Using the area vasculosa model of the chicken embryo, we aim at systematically investigating (i) the spatio-temporal relation between the sprouting of new vessels through cancer cell secreted growth factors in dependence on adhesome proteins as well as (ii) the cancer cell radiosensitivity at different stages of the angiogenic process in dependence on adhesome proteins.
Using a high throughput RNAi screen, novel cancer cell adhesome molecules influencing vessel induction, tumor growth and radiosensitivity will be established. These candidates will be subjected to more in-depth analyses to unravel the underlying molecular mechanisms and the therapeutic exploitability.