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Bart Westendorp and his team study DNA replication. They use the latest technologies, such as single cell sequencing, live cell imaging, and flow cytometry. They study multiple cancer types, including ovarian, liver and bladder cancer.

Understanding the heterogenous behavior of stem cells and cancer cells

Cell division is essential for embryonic development and (re)generation of tissues. It is highly controlled, and when these control mechanisms are defect, cancer may arise. Cancer starts with one single cell that can divide uncontrollably. However, this does not mean that its daughter cancer cells are all the same. In fact, we know now that cancer cells within one tumor are very heterogeneous. Tumor cells can acquire new mutations that may change their behavior. In addition, cancer cells can change their own gene expression. This enables them to become insensitive to a therapy. Some individual cancer cells manage to adjust their DNA replication so that they can divide despite the therapy. To help solving this problem, cell biologist Bart Westendorp and his team study DNA replication and the molecular mechanisms of cancer drug resistance.

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