R&D project manager

• Jan 2020 - Present

Prental leave

• Apr 2019 - Jan 2020

Research scientist

• Apr 2016 - Apr 2019

As a postdoctoral fellow in the group of Laila Ritsma, my research project is to explore intracellular signaling pathways involved in cellular dormancy (also termed quiescence) in breast cancer. Cellular dormancy is the capacity of a single cancer cells to enter a reversible cell cycle arrest. This phenomenon is dynamic as dormant cancer cells can revert and start proliferating years or even decades after the resting phase and can lead to metastases formation and patient relapse. Those cells are resistant to current chemotherapies and some targeted therapies such as Tamoxifen. Up to now, there is no therapy available allowing to target single dormant cancer cells. To successfully complete this project and study cellular dormancy from a dynamic point of view, I'm using intravital microscopy as a tool of choice. Intravital microscopy is a microscopy technique that allows visualization of cancer cells in a living organism, at subcellular level and over several weeks. Therefore I can visualize dormant cancer cells behavior (morphology, division, migration) and re-activation. In parallel, I have setup a 3D culture assay allowing me to investigate the role of genes/signaling pathways in dormancy induction and re-activation. All together, the results should allow us to better understand how this complex process is regulated and identify new targets allowing specific elimination of dormant cancer cells. Techniques used: - 3D culture of murine cell lines D2A1 and D2OR (Matrigel on Top assay) -RNA interference and CRISPR/Cas9 -Optical microscopy (fluorescence, confocal, live cell imaging) -Fluorescent reporters such as FUCCI4, DiI or H2B Dendra2 -Experimental liver metastasis assay -Intravital microscopy This project is supported by NWO, leiden university funds, Leiden university medical center, CGC and Oncode Institute. Show less

PhD student in Developmental biology and Oncology

• Oct 2011 - Nov 2015

Title: Evaluation of the therapeutic activity of a new LIM Kinases inhibitor "Pyr1" in breast cancer As a PhD student in the Lab of Dr. Laurence Lafanechère, I have characterized the antitumor and antimetastatic activity of a new LIM Kinases inhibitor "Pyr1". By combining in vitro and in vivo experiments I have shown that Pyr1 has an antitumoral effect and is active on chemotherapy resistant models. In collaboration with the group of Prof. Jacco van Rheenen (Hubrecht Institute, the Netherlands), I have performed intravital microscopy experiments allowing to study Pyr1 effect on the different stages of the metastatic process. Opposed to what has been found in vitro, Pyr1 doesn't affect cancer cell migration/invasion but prevent metastasis development. Altogether these results indicate that LIMK inhibitors, such as Pyr1, may represent a pharmacological alternative for taxanes resistant tumors. Moreover, they could be potent agents to reduce the size of metastasis. This work has been published in Cancer Research in 2016 (Prunier et al., Cancer Research, 2016) Link to the PhD manuscript: http://www.theses.fr/2015GREAV052 Show less

Guest Researcher

• Nov 2013 - May 2014

Au cours de ma thèse, j'ai eu l'opportunité de réaliser une mobilité de 6 mois aux Pays-Bas dans le laboratoire du Prof. Jacco van Rheenen (Hubrecht Institute, The Netherlands). Jacco van Rheenen est un expert dans la maitrise de la technique de microscopie intravital pur visualiser le processus cancéreux et notamment la dispersion métastatique. Mon travail au sein de son laboratoire à consisté à étudier le comportement des cellules tumorales en présence de Pyr1. Sur des enregistrements répétés pendant deux semaines j'ai quantifié la vitesse et la distance parcourue des cellules. Ces expériences m'ont permis de montrer que Pyr1 n'affecte pas la migration des cellules tumorales au cours des étapes précoces du processus tumoral cependant il induit un changement morphologique important. Ces résultats ont été publiés dans Cancer Research en 2016 (Prunier et al., Cancer Res., 2016) et sont décrit dans mon manuscrit de thèse. Show less

Master student Internship

• Feb 2011 - Jul 2011

As a master student in the Lab of Dr. Laurence Lafanechère, I have investigated if LIM Kinases expression could be an indicator of cell invasiveness. I found that, rather than LIM Kinases expression itself, it is LIM Kinases pathway output - as assessed by the phosphorylation state of one of a LIM Kinases substrate, cofilin - that correlates with cell invasiveness. LIM Kinases shows high activity in breast cancer cell lines. This activity is higher in metastatic breast cancer cells. I then tested the inhibitory effect of Pyr1, a novel LIM Kinases inhibitor developed in our team, on both cofilin phosphorylation and cell mobility. We found that although Pyr1 was not able to totally abolish cofilin phosphorylation in higher invasive cells, it was always able to inhibit cell mobility. Our results strongly suggest that Pyr1 inhibitory effect on cell motility does not result directly from its effect on LIM Kinases phosphorylation of cofilin. They indicate that either other targets of Pyr1 or other substrates of LIM Kinases are involved in the supression of cell mobility. Finally, these results emphasize the therapeutic interest of Pyr1. Show less

Master student Internship

• Apr 2010 - Aug 2010

As a master student in the Lab of Dr. Thierry Douki, I have participated to the evaluation of the consequences of aging and chronic and/or acute photo-exposure on DNA repair in human skin fibroblasts. This work has been published in Mutation Research in 2012 (Prunier et al., Mutation Research, 2012) As a master student in the Lab of Dr. Thierry Douki, I have participated to the evaluation of the consequences of aging and chronic and/or acute photo-exposure on DNA repair in human skin fibroblasts. This work has been published in Mutation Research in 2012 (Prunier et al., Mutation Research, 2012)

Bachelor student Internship

• Jan 2009 - Jan 2009

As a bachelor student in the Lab of Jérôme Garin, I have been introduced to the quantification of proteins in biologic samples using mass spectrometry. As a bachelor student in the Lab of Jérôme Garin, I have been introduced to the quantification of proteins in biologic samples using mass spectrometry.