IRIC - Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer

Published on July 2, 2025

The Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) recently announced the results of the 2025 Breakthrough Team Grants: Transforming the Future of Metastatic Cancer competition. Philippe Roux, Scientific Director and Director of IRIC’s Cell Signalling and Proteomics Research Unit, is part of a multidisciplinary, multi-centre team receiving $6.5 million in funding to understand and target ovarian cancer dormancy.

CCS Breakthrough Team Grants support diverse research teams who combine their talents and expertise to transform the lives of people living with metastatic cancers. The program aims to better understand the biology and mechanisms associated with cancer cell dormancy, and to better support people with advanced or metastatic disease throughout their disease. Three projects were approved in the most recent competition, out of a total of 17 submitted, for total funding of $17.8 million.

Understanding and targeting ovarian cancer dormancy

How can we prevent cancer recurrence after treatment has been completed? Tumors can indeed reappear, particularly high-grade serous carcinomas (HG), which account for 70% of ovarian cancer cases. It is certain cancer cells, which have become dormant following treatment, that cause recurrence by reawakening. The CCS-funded research project aims to study how these cells become dormant, and to develop personalized treatments to prevent dormancy and recurrence.

The recipient research team is made up of researchers from three provinces, who will share the funding: Francis Rodier (CRCHUM, Montréal), Philippe Roux (IRIC, Montréal), David Andrews (Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto), David Cook (Ottawa University), Jeanette Boudreau (Dalhousie University, Halifax), Anne-Marie Mes-Masson (CRCHUM, Montréal), Diane Provencher (CRCHUM, Montréal), Helen MacKay (Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto), Kurosh Rahimi (CRCHUM, Montréal) et Elizabeth Tremblay (CRCHUM, Montréal).

Identifying vulnerabilities in cells undergoing treatment

To understand dormant cells, the team will map the molecular phenotypes of tumor samples collected during and shortly after treatment. In particular, Philippe Roux’s laboratory will help characterize surface proteins and molecules secreted by cancer cells.

The team will also attempt to identify new vulnerabilities present in dormant cells and their local environment, with a view to targeting them. To this end, Philippe Roux and members of his laboratory will analyze the signaling networks and interactions that enable cells to communicate with each other.

Once the specific weak spots of each tumor have been identified, the team will attempt to exploit them to prevent recurrence. The project could thus enable the development of new treatment options, improving the prognosis for sufferers of the disease.