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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: [email protected].