Dr. Patrick Laprise is a regular researcher in the Oncology axis of the CHU of Quebec-Laval University Research Centre. He is also a professor in the Department of Molecular Biology, Medical Biochemistry and Pathology at Laval University. His research activities focus on understanding cell polarity in cancer. Dr. Laprise also uses the fruit fly to highlight new strategies to combat tumor progression and cancer-related complications. His works have been published in prestigious journals and have been the subject of several editorial texts. In addition, two of his discoveries have been identified as major breakthroughs by Faculty of 1000.

Understanding the cellular and molecular basis of tumor progression

The vast majority of cancers originate from epithelial tissues. These cover the surface of the body and lining of the internal cavities of organs in order to compartmentalize the body and protect it from its environment. The epithelial cells adopt an asymmetrical morphology, called epithelial polarity, which is absolutely vital to their function. The loss of epithelial polarity contributes to the invasion of cancer cells and the formation of metastases. These are often responsible for the lethality associated with cancer. The identification of proteins contributing to the loss of polarity and the characterization of their biochemical properties makes it possible to identify therapeutic strategies for combating the progression of cancer.

Use of the fruit fly in the identification of oncology therapies

Cachexia occurs in many cancer patients. This systemic syndrome is characterized by a massive loss of muscle and fat tissue, which causes significant morbidity, and may even lead to death. Our ability to understand cachexia with traditional experimental models is limited because this syndrome is difficult to model with cultured cells. Additionally, it is financially and logistically unthinkable to test thousands of potential drugs in mice. It is possible to induce tumor formation and cachexia in fruit flies. This model offers an exceptional opportunity to screen large-scale molecule libraries to identify chemical compounds that prevent tumor formation, as well as cachexia associated with cancer. Indeed, it is easy, fast and inexpensive to work with flies, compared to mammals.

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Latest news

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Banerjee SL, Lessard F, Chartier FJM, Jacquet K, Osornio-Hernandez AI, Teyssier V, Ghani K, Lavoie N, Lavoie JN, Caruso M, Laprise P, Elowe S, Lambert JP, Bisson N

EPH receptor tyrosine kinases phosphorylate the PAR-3 scaffold protein to modulate downstream signaling networks

Journal Article

Cell Rep, 40 (1), 2022.

Abstract | Links:

Biehler C, Rothenberg KE, Jette A, Gaude HM, Fernandez-Gonzalez R, Laprise P

Pak1 and PP2A antagonize aPKC function to support cortical tension induced by the Crumbs-Yurt complex

Journal Article

Elife, 10 , 2021.

Abstract | Links:

Biehler C, Wang LT, Sevigny M, Jette A, Gamblin CL, Catterall R, Houssin E, McCaffrey L, Laprise P

Girdin is a component of the lateral polarity protein network restricting cell dissemination

Journal Article

PLoS Genet, 16 (3), 2020.

Abstract | Links:

Dziengelewski C, Rodrigue MA, Caillier A, Jacquet K, Boulanger MC, Bergeman J, Fuchs M, Lambert H, Laprise P, Richard DE, Bordeleau F, Huot ME, Lavoie JN

Adenoviral protein E4orf4 interacts with the polarity protein Par3 to induce nuclear rupture and tumor cell death

Journal Article

J Cell Biol, 219 (4), 2020.

Abstract | Links:

Dubois EL, Guitton-Sert L, Béliveau M, Parmar K, Chagraoui J, Vignard J, Pauty J, Caron MC, Coulombe Y, Buisson R, Jacquet K, Gamblin C, Gao Y, Laprise P, Lebel M, Sauvageau G, D d'Andrea A, Masson JY

A Fanci knockout mouse model reveals common and distinct functions for FANCI and FANCD2

Journal Article

Nucleic Acids Res, 47 (14), 2019.

Abstract | Links:

Dionne U, Chartier FJM, Lopez de Los Santos Y, Lavoie N, Bernard DN, Banerjee SL, Otis F, Jacquet K, Tremblay MG, Jain M, Bourassa S, Gish GD, Gagne JP, Poirier GG, Laprise P, Voyer N, Landry CR, Doucet N, Bisson N

Direct Phosphorylation of SRC Homology 3 Domains by Tyrosine Kinase Receptors Disassembles Ligand-Induced Signaling Networks

Journal Article

Mol Cell, 70 (6), 2018.

Abstract | Links:

Gamblin CL, Parent-Prevost F, Jacquet K, Biehler C, Jette A, Laprise P

Oligomerization of the FERM-FA protein Yurt controls epithelial cell polarity

Journal Article

J Cell Biol, 217 (11), 2018.

Abstract | Links:

Sollier K, Gaude HM, Chartier FJ, Laprise P

Rac1 controls epithelial tube length through the apical secretion and polarity pathways

Journal Article

Biol Open, 5 (1), 2015.

Abstract | Links:

Charrier LE, Loie E, Laprise P

Mouse Crumbs3 sustains epithelial tissue morphogenesis in vivo

Journal Article

Sci Rep, 5 , 2015.

Abstract | Links:

Loie E, Charrier LE, Sollier K, Masson JY, Laprise P

CRB3A Controls the Morphology and Cohesion of Cancer Cells through Ehm2/p114RhoGEF-Dependent Signaling

Journal Article

Mol Cell Biol, 35 (19), 2015.

Abstract | Links:

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Active projects

  • Mécanismes moléculaires orchestrant la transition épithélio-mésenchymateuse, from 2023-04-01 to 2026-03-31
  • Molecular mechanisms defining the size of biological tubes in vivo, from 2020-04-01 to 2025-03-31
  • Role and regulation of EPB41L5 in cancer-promoting cellular processes, from 2023-04-01 to 2028-03-31

Recently finished projects

  • Exploration of a novel therapeutic strategy impeding triple-negative breast cancer growth and progression, from 2022-04-01 to 2023-03-31
  • Projet de recherche portant sur l'exploration de nouvelles stratégies thérapeutiques pour combattre les cancers agressifs , from 2022-05-27 to 2023-05-26
Data provided by the Université Laval research projects registery