During the development of oral cancer (OC), cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) create a supporting niche by maintaining a bi-directional cross-talk with cancer cells, mediated by classically secreted factors and nanometer-sized vesicles, called exosomes. Little is known about the molecular alterations in CAFs that determine their unique functional properties and how exosomes contribute to OC progression. On September 29, 2015, Beckman Coulter announced that it is sponsoring a new educational webinar titled “Proteome Profiling of the Tumor Microenvironment: Role of Human Primary-Fibroblast-Derived Exosomes in Oral Cancer Progression,” with Simona Principe (photo), Ph.D., post-doctoral fellow at the Princess Margaret Cancer Center, University Health Network in Toronto, Canada. The webinar will present an investigation into stromal heterogeneity in oral cancer and detail how Dr. Principe was able to conclude that fibroblast-secreted exosomes affect OC cells’ growth, motility, and glucose metabolism. The data provides a foundation to investigate how the tumor microenvironment affects OC progression. Presenter Simona Principe completed her Ph.D. in Immunopharmacology in Italy (2011) and she is currently conducting postdoctoral research in the lab of Dr. Thomas Kislinger at the Princess Margaret Cancer Center. Her research interest focuses on applying proteomics technologies to investigate cancer biology. In particular, she studies the role of secreted extracellular vesicles as novel intracellular signaling mediators within the tumor microenvironment that support cancer progression and metastasis. Since 2012, she has published 5 papers/reviews in the field of proteomics and exosomes.The complimentary webinar, hosted by LabRoots, will be presented on October 8, 2015, at 8:00 am Pacific Time, 11:00 am Eastern Time.Login Or Register To Read Full Story