Dr Pedro Monteiro
Group Leader
Overview
My research focuses on elucidating the mechanisms underlying cancer cell invasion. In particular, I'm interested in the role of plasma membrane dynamics in mediating cancer cell interaction with its immediate environment, notably by allowing cancer cells to remodel and cleave the extracellular matrix, thus leading to cell breakage into the surrounding environment.
Key Publications
A mechanosensitive caveolae-invadosome interplay drives matrix remodelling for cancer cell invasion. Nature Cell Biology. (2023) 25, 1787–1803. PMID: 37903910
Centrosome amplification fine tunes tubulin acetylation to differentially control intracellular organization. EMBO J. (2023) Aug 15;42(16):e112812. PMID: 37403793
Intersection of TKS5 and FGD1/CDC42 signaling cascades directs the formation of invadopodia.
Journal of Cell Biology. (2020) Sep 7;219(9). PMID: 32673397
LINC complex-Lis1 interplay controls MT1-MMP matrix digest-on-demand response for confined tumor cell migration. Nature Communications. (2018) Jun 22;9(1):2443. PMID: 29934494
Endosomal WASH and exocyst complexes control exocytosis of MT1-MMP at invadopodia.
Journal of Cell Biology. (2013) 203(6):1063-79. PMID: 24344185
Major Funding
- 2025-2028: Barts Charity Research Project Grant – Unravelling mechanisms of mechanical adaptation during cancer cell invasion – £355,000
Biography
- 2010: MSc in Molecular and Cellular Biology – University Pierre and Marie Curie (Paris, France)
- 2014: PhD in Cancer Cell Biology – Institut Curie (Paris, France). Investigating metalloprotease MT1-MMP trafficking in breast cancer cell invasion.
- 2015: Postdoctoral researcher – Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London (London, UK). Studying the intracellular consequences of centrosome amplification during cell invasion.
- 2019: Senior Postdoctoral Researcher – Institut Curie (Paris, France). Deciphering the interplay between invadopodia and caveolae during breast cancer cell invasion.
- 2025: Established group leader at the Barts Cancer Institute and Senior Lecturer at Queen Mary University of London (London, UK).