Breaking the HGF-cMET axis in medulloblastoma: development of small non-sugar glycosaminoglycan (GAG) mimics as anti-metastatic drugs.

Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common malignant paediatric brain tumour accounting for about 20% of all childhood brain cancers. Unfortunately, mortality from MB patients still remains significant and intensification of nonspecific therapy is unlikely to offer additional benefits, highlighting the need of new targeted therapies.

Experimental data have demonstrated that hepatocyte growth factor/Scatter factor (HGF/SF) and its receptor, the tyrosine kinase MET, act as powerful mediators for medulloblastoma cancer dissemination and its inhibition may represent a valuable strategy for targeted therapeutic intervention. In this collaborative project with our MedChem department, the candidate will identify and characterise new glycomimetics as inhibitors of the HGF-MET axis, advancing the discovery of a novel anti-metastatic targeted treatment to prevent metastatic spreading of medulloblastoma.