St-pierre Yves

Biography

Professor Yves St-Pierre received his B.Sc. in Biology from the Université du Québec à Montréal in 1985 and from M.Sc. in virology at the Institut Armand-Frappier in 1987. After completing his Ph.D. in Immunology at the University of Toronto in 1991, he completed a postdoctoral pathology internship at Harvard University . Professor St-Pierre is interested in the genes involved in the growth and spread of cancer cells.

Research Interest

Our research program aims to identify the genes involved in the evolution of aggressive forms of cancer. We have demonstrated in recent years modulations of galectin-7 (Gal-7) in metastatic murine models compared to non-metastatic. Studies carried out in collaboration with clinicians from the BCLQ (Leukemic Cell Bank of Quebec) allowed us to determine that this gene was also expressed abnormally high in several types of human lymphoid cancers. This finding is rather surprising given that Gal-7 has hitherto been considered as a laminated epithelium marker. However, our work clearly demonstrated that this protein was capable of conferring an aggressive character on lymphoma cells. In fact, the inhibition of Gal-7 in lymphomas can by itself inhibit the spread of metastases to the peripheral organs. This association between Gal-7 and tumor progression is also observed in breast cancer. We have thus demonstrated that this protein is abnormally expressed in so-called "triple-negative" breast cancers. Normally, Gal-7 is expressed specifically in mammary myoepithelial cells, a type of cells believed to be the cause of high-grade breast cancers. We have thus demonstrated that this protein is abnormally expressed in so-called "triple-negative" breast cancers. Normally, Gal-7 is expressed specifically in mammary myoepithelial cells, a type of cells believed to be the cause of high-grade breast cancers. We have thus demonstrated that this protein is abnormally expressed in so-called "triple-negative" breast cancers. Normally, Gal-7 is expressed specifically in mammary myoepithelial cells, a type of cells believed to be the cause of high-grade breast cancers.