"Our project - says Dr. Squadrito - aims to explore how liver metastases from colorectal cancer "manipulate" the immune system cells present in the liver, such as hepatic macrophages".
In particular, we aim to characterize how the presence of the tumor affects the expression of a particular class of RNA, the microRNAs (miRNAs) which in turn regulate genetic programs within the cell. By restoring the correct expression of miRNAs through genetic engineering techniques, we hope that macrophages could be reprogrammed towards a healthy phenotype [the morphological and functional characteristics of an organism, Ed.] thus restoring the anti-tumor immune response.