Francesc Castro-Giner
@fcastro.bsky.social
Computational biologist at ETH Zürich | Cancer genomics | Metastasis | Single cell
ORCID: 0000-0001-6111-0754
ORCID: 0000-0001-6111-0754
Reposted by Francesc Castro-Giner
The CRISPR gene scissors are only of limited use to detect cancer-causing genes in animals because the method interferes with their immune system. Researchers, however, have now shown that a few tricks can be pulled to render the gene scissors invisible to immune cells.
ethz.ch/en/news-and-...
ethz.ch/en/news-and-...
November 20, 2025 at 12:14 PM
The CRISPR gene scissors are only of limited use to detect cancer-causing genes in animals because the method interferes with their immune system. Researchers, however, have now shown that a few tricks can be pulled to render the gene scissors invisible to immune cells.
ethz.ch/en/news-and-...
ethz.ch/en/news-and-...
Reposted by Francesc Castro-Giner
I've been asked about this paper (www.nature.com/articles/s41...) enough times that I finally had to read it.
The basic claim is that mRNA vaccines had huge synergistic benefit with checkpoint blockade against lung cancer melanoma.
tl;dr it's glam-slop & everyone involved should be embarrassed
The basic claim is that mRNA vaccines had huge synergistic benefit with checkpoint blockade against lung cancer melanoma.
tl;dr it's glam-slop & everyone involved should be embarrassed
SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines sensitize tumours to immune checkpoint blockade - Nature
mRNA vaccines targeting SARS-CoV-2 also sensitize tumours to immune checkpoint inhibitors.
www.nature.com
October 30, 2025 at 3:35 PM
I've been asked about this paper (www.nature.com/articles/s41...) enough times that I finally had to read it.
The basic claim is that mRNA vaccines had huge synergistic benefit with checkpoint blockade against lung cancer melanoma.
tl;dr it's glam-slop & everyone involved should be embarrassed
The basic claim is that mRNA vaccines had huge synergistic benefit with checkpoint blockade against lung cancer melanoma.
tl;dr it's glam-slop & everyone involved should be embarrassed
Reposted by Francesc Castro-Giner
Applications now open for CRUK Clinical Academic PhD Training Programme. Join us @icr.ac.uk and The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust.
We are offering a super exciting project to investigate cytoskeletal dynamics in Circulating Tumour Cells from Breast Cancer Patients.
We are offering a super exciting project to investigate cytoskeletal dynamics in Circulating Tumour Cells from Breast Cancer Patients.
November 17, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Applications now open for CRUK Clinical Academic PhD Training Programme. Join us @icr.ac.uk and The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust.
We are offering a super exciting project to investigate cytoskeletal dynamics in Circulating Tumour Cells from Breast Cancer Patients.
We are offering a super exciting project to investigate cytoskeletal dynamics in Circulating Tumour Cells from Breast Cancer Patients.
Reposted by Francesc Castro-Giner
New blog post - AI "peer" review - the impact on scientific publishing. Some thoughts on AI manuscript assessments and potential impacts on scientific publishing www.evocellnet.com/2025/11/ai-p...
AI "peer" review - the impact on scientific publishing
It is the first time, in the second half of this year, that I am not trying to urgently deal with something. So, instead of working on some ...
www.evocellnet.com
November 18, 2025 at 4:02 PM
New blog post - AI "peer" review - the impact on scientific publishing. Some thoughts on AI manuscript assessments and potential impacts on scientific publishing www.evocellnet.com/2025/11/ai-p...
Reposted by Francesc Castro-Giner
The International Society for Evolution, Ecology and Cancer #ISEEC has now a #YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/channel/UCrC...
ISEEC
www.youtube.com
November 18, 2025 at 11:24 AM
The International Society for Evolution, Ecology and Cancer #ISEEC has now a #YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/channel/UCrC...
Reposted by Francesc Castro-Giner
Recordings from posit::conf(2025) now on YouTube: www.youtube.com/playlist?lis... #Rstats
posit::conf(2025) - YouTube
Welcome to the official playlist for posit::conf(2025)! Dive into the latest innovations, cutting-edge techniques, and inspiring insights from the premier op...
www.youtube.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:37 AM
Recordings from posit::conf(2025) now on YouTube: www.youtube.com/playlist?lis... #Rstats
Excited to share our latest publication. I'm happy to have contributed to this work — most of the credit goes to Dr. Massimo Saini.
Now online! StealTHY: An immunogen-free CRISPR platform to expose concealed metastasis regulators in immunocompetent models
StealTHY: An immunogen-free CRISPR platform to expose concealed metastasis regulators in immunocompetent models
By sidestepping Cas9 immunogenicity, the StealTHY CRISPR platform enables immune-compatible in vivo genetic screens, directly translatable to humanized cancer models. Using this immune-stealth strategy allows for the discovery of metastatic drivers and reveals the AMH-AMHR2 axis as a clinically actionable pathway for dampening carcinoma metastasis.
dlvr.it
November 7, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Excited to share our latest publication. I'm happy to have contributed to this work — most of the credit goes to Dr. Massimo Saini.
Reposted by Francesc Castro-Giner
Now online! StealTHY: An immunogen-free CRISPR platform to expose concealed metastasis regulators in immunocompetent models
StealTHY: An immunogen-free CRISPR platform to expose concealed metastasis regulators in immunocompetent models
By sidestepping Cas9 immunogenicity, the StealTHY CRISPR platform enables immune-compatible in vivo genetic screens, directly translatable to humanized cancer models. Using this immune-stealth strategy allows for the discovery of metastatic drivers and reveals the AMH-AMHR2 axis as a clinically actionable pathway for dampening carcinoma metastasis.
dlvr.it
November 7, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Now online! StealTHY: An immunogen-free CRISPR platform to expose concealed metastasis regulators in immunocompetent models
Reposted by Francesc Castro-Giner
Our own Tatiana Miti describing work where an agent-based model captures metastatic dynamics in TNBC and the resulting emerging behaviour shows how tumor cells self-organize to drive the metastasis
October 21, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Our own Tatiana Miti describing work where an agent-based model captures metastatic dynamics in TNBC and the resulting emerging behaviour shows how tumor cells self-organize to drive the metastasis
Reposted by Francesc Castro-Giner
Evidence suggests that tumor infiltration into major blood vessels, rather than metastasis alone, may be a primary driver of fatal outcomes in advanced cancer due to blood clots and organ failure. doi.org/g9649b
Tumor infiltration of major blood vessels, not metastasis, may be primary cause of cancer death
The ultimate cause of death from cancer may not be metastatic disease, as researchers have long surmised, but an infiltration of tumors into major blood vessels that cause blood clots and multiorgan failure, a one-of-a-kind clinical study led by UT Southwestern Medical Center suggests.
medicalxpress.com
October 16, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Evidence suggests that tumor infiltration into major blood vessels, rather than metastasis alone, may be a primary driver of fatal outcomes in advanced cancer due to blood clots and organ failure. doi.org/g9649b
Reposted by Francesc Castro-Giner
Meet Macarena Toll-Riera, group leader at @ibe-barcelona.bsky.social , whose passion for #evolution led her from Zürich back to @prbb.org
👉In our interview she shares insights on #WomenInScience, #Sustainability & research challenges
Have a read!👇
https://tuit.cat/pbPgm
#PRBBcommunity
👉In our interview she shares insights on #WomenInScience, #Sustainability & research challenges
Have a read!👇
https://tuit.cat/pbPgm
#PRBBcommunity
Macarena Toll-Riera (IBE): a lifetime studying evolution - El·lipse
In this interview, Macarena Toll-Riera, head of the evolutionary microbiology group (IBE: CSIC-UPF), explains her path to the field of evolution.
tuit.cat
October 2, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Meet Macarena Toll-Riera, group leader at @ibe-barcelona.bsky.social , whose passion for #evolution led her from Zürich back to @prbb.org
👉In our interview she shares insights on #WomenInScience, #Sustainability & research challenges
Have a read!👇
https://tuit.cat/pbPgm
#PRBBcommunity
👉In our interview she shares insights on #WomenInScience, #Sustainability & research challenges
Have a read!👇
https://tuit.cat/pbPgm
#PRBBcommunity
Reposted by Francesc Castro-Giner
🔥Trio Fatale: Neutrophils, NETs and Necrosis
👉 authors.elsevier.com/a/1lk-k3qNrU...
We summarized for @cp-immunity.bsky.social
"Neutrophils drive vascular occlusion, tumour necrosis and metastasis" published in @nature.com by @megeblad.bsky.social @adrover.bsky.social rdcu.be/eFdau
Congrats!
👉 authors.elsevier.com/a/1lk-k3qNrU...
We summarized for @cp-immunity.bsky.social
"Neutrophils drive vascular occlusion, tumour necrosis and metastasis" published in @nature.com by @megeblad.bsky.social @adrover.bsky.social rdcu.be/eFdau
Congrats!
September 9, 2025 at 3:20 PM
🔥Trio Fatale: Neutrophils, NETs and Necrosis
👉 authors.elsevier.com/a/1lk-k3qNrU...
We summarized for @cp-immunity.bsky.social
"Neutrophils drive vascular occlusion, tumour necrosis and metastasis" published in @nature.com by @megeblad.bsky.social @adrover.bsky.social rdcu.be/eFdau
Congrats!
👉 authors.elsevier.com/a/1lk-k3qNrU...
We summarized for @cp-immunity.bsky.social
"Neutrophils drive vascular occlusion, tumour necrosis and metastasis" published in @nature.com by @megeblad.bsky.social @adrover.bsky.social rdcu.be/eFdau
Congrats!
Reposted by Francesc Castro-Giner
We are hiring a PhD student! Are you fascinated by microbes and evolution? Come join us in Barcelona!
#WeAreHiring
📣 The #IBE_Barcelona is seeking a #PhD Student for the Evolutionary #Microbiology Lab.🔬🧫
⏳ Apply before September 30th and #JoinOurTeam!
#UnravellingEvolution #ConservingBiodiversity
✍ https://www.ibe.upf-csic.es/work-with-us/job-offers
📣 The #IBE_Barcelona is seeking a #PhD Student for the Evolutionary #Microbiology Lab.🔬🧫
⏳ Apply before September 30th and #JoinOurTeam!
#UnravellingEvolution #ConservingBiodiversity
✍ https://www.ibe.upf-csic.es/work-with-us/job-offers
September 10, 2025 at 8:39 AM
We are hiring a PhD student! Are you fascinated by microbes and evolution? Come join us in Barcelona!
Reposted by Francesc Castro-Giner
We are excited to share our latest research published in Nature Genetics, where we could detect genetic heterogeneity within circulating tumor cell clusters that can seed metastases. To do so, we tailor-made a new phylogenetic algorithm "CTC-SCITE": www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Phylogenetic inference reveals clonal heterogeneity in circulating tumor cell clusters - Nature Genetics
Phylogenetic analyses in patients with cancer and xenograft models highlight heterogeneity within individual CTC clusters, providing insights into clonal dynamics during metastasis.
www.nature.com
June 2, 2025 at 10:15 AM
We are excited to share our latest research published in Nature Genetics, where we could detect genetic heterogeneity within circulating tumor cell clusters that can seed metastases. To do so, we tailor-made a new phylogenetic algorithm "CTC-SCITE": www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Francesc Castro-Giner
Reposted by Francesc Castro-Giner
Machine learning for model parameterization:
mathematical-oncology.org/blog/machine...
@hamiscalculated.bsky.social @jmetzcar.bsky.social @stolzbernadette.bsky.social
#MathOnco #MachineLearning
mathematical-oncology.org/blog/machine...
@hamiscalculated.bsky.social @jmetzcar.bsky.social @stolzbernadette.bsky.social
#MathOnco #MachineLearning
BIRS Recap: Machine learning for model parameterization
mathematical-oncology.org
mathematical-oncology.org
April 4, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Machine learning for model parameterization:
mathematical-oncology.org/blog/machine...
@hamiscalculated.bsky.social @jmetzcar.bsky.social @stolzbernadette.bsky.social
#MathOnco #MachineLearning
mathematical-oncology.org/blog/machine...
@hamiscalculated.bsky.social @jmetzcar.bsky.social @stolzbernadette.bsky.social
#MathOnco #MachineLearning
Reposted by Francesc Castro-Giner
new out in #Nature: two cancer neuroscience papers. Number one: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Nociceptive neurons promote gastric tumour progression via a CGRP–RAMP1 axis - Nature
Functional connectivity between gastric cancer cells and sensory neurons offers a potential therapeutic target.
www.nature.com
February 20, 2025 at 8:28 AM
new out in #Nature: two cancer neuroscience papers. Number one: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Francesc Castro-Giner
oops, actually three cancer neuroscience papers, number three, very cool combination of retrograde tracing and single cell analyses: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Characterization of single neurons reprogrammed by pancreatic cancer - Nature
Nature - Characterization of single neurons reprogrammed by pancreatic cancer
www.nature.com
February 20, 2025 at 8:31 AM
oops, actually three cancer neuroscience papers, number three, very cool combination of retrograde tracing and single cell analyses: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Francesc Castro-Giner
New out in #NatureMedicine: A phase 1 trial shows that the size of #CTC clusters (which can promote metastatic spread) can be reduced by treatment with the Na+/K+ ATPase inhibitor #digoxin in patients with metastatic #BreastCancer. By Nicola Aceto et al.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Digoxin for reduction of circulating tumor cell cluster size in metastatic breast cancer: a proof-of-concept trial - Nature Medicine
This proof-of-concept phase 1 trial shows that the size of circulating tumor cell clusters (which can promote metastatic spread) can be reduced by treatment with the Na+/K+ ATPase inhibitor digoxin in...
www.nature.com
January 24, 2025 at 3:24 PM
New out in #NatureMedicine: A phase 1 trial shows that the size of #CTC clusters (which can promote metastatic spread) can be reduced by treatment with the Na+/K+ ATPase inhibitor #digoxin in patients with metastatic #BreastCancer. By Nicola Aceto et al.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Francesc Castro-Giner
How a heart medication—digoxin—might help prevent cancer spread by dissolving clusters of circulating tumor cells
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
January 24, 2025 at 2:50 PM
How a heart medication—digoxin—might help prevent cancer spread by dissolving clusters of circulating tumor cells
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Francesc Castro-Giner
Successful test in #Breast #Cancer patients: the active agent digoxin, a cardiac #Medication, dissolves clusters of circulating breast cancer cells in the blood, thus reducing the risk of #Metastases formation. ethz.ch/en/news-and-...
Dissolving clusters of cancer cells to prevent metastases
Successful test in breast cancer patients: the active agent digoxin, a cardiac medication, dissolves clusters of circulating breast cancer cells in the blood, thus reducing the risk of metastases form...
ethz.ch
January 24, 2025 at 11:18 AM
Successful test in #Breast #Cancer patients: the active agent digoxin, a cardiac #Medication, dissolves clusters of circulating breast cancer cells in the blood, thus reducing the risk of #Metastases formation. ethz.ch/en/news-and-...
Reposted by Francesc Castro-Giner
A few weeks ago, a client asked me for advice on how to make use of his new colour palette within spaghetti plots. What seemed like a simple question morphed into a full blog post!
www.cararthompson.com/posts/2025-0...
Colour can be used to emphasise different stories - pick the approach you need!
www.cararthompson.com/posts/2025-0...
Colour can be used to emphasise different stories - pick the approach you need!
Building Stories With Data - Optimising the use of colours for storytelling in a spaghetti plot
One of my clients recently asked me for tips on optimising spaghetti plots. Those plots with multiple trend lines all superimposed on top of one another, where it can often be very difficult to figure...
www.cararthompson.com
January 24, 2025 at 12:17 PM
A few weeks ago, a client asked me for advice on how to make use of his new colour palette within spaghetti plots. What seemed like a simple question morphed into a full blog post!
www.cararthompson.com/posts/2025-0...
Colour can be used to emphasise different stories - pick the approach you need!
www.cararthompson.com/posts/2025-0...
Colour can be used to emphasise different stories - pick the approach you need!
Reposted by Francesc Castro-Giner
So pleased to have the paper out, available here: www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-08423-8
For me this was discovery science as I had always hoped it would be. A lot of fun, and some proper detective work with plenty of twists & turns on the way. Brief thread below
For me this was discovery science as I had always hoped it would be. A lot of fun, and some proper detective work with plenty of twists & turns on the way. Brief thread below
January 15, 2025 at 9:44 PM
So pleased to have the paper out, available here: www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-08423-8
For me this was discovery science as I had always hoped it would be. A lot of fun, and some proper detective work with plenty of twists & turns on the way. Brief thread below
For me this was discovery science as I had always hoped it would be. A lot of fun, and some proper detective work with plenty of twists & turns on the way. Brief thread below
Reposted by Francesc Castro-Giner
I am thrilled to finally share our work on persister cancer cells: we identify distinctive features and actionable #vulnerabilities ⚡️of persister cancer cells (#DTP), and provide mechanistic insight into their low #inflammatory activity:
aacrjournals.org/cancerres/ar...
aacrjournals.org/cancerres/ar...
H4K20me3-Mediated Repression of Inflammatory Genes Is a Characteristic and Targetable Vulnerability of Persister Cancer Cells
Cell persistence and senescence are distinct states of proliferative arrest induced by cancer therapy, with persister cells being characterized by the silencing of inflammatory genes through the heter...
aacrjournals.org
January 8, 2025 at 12:08 PM
I am thrilled to finally share our work on persister cancer cells: we identify distinctive features and actionable #vulnerabilities ⚡️of persister cancer cells (#DTP), and provide mechanistic insight into their low #inflammatory activity:
aacrjournals.org/cancerres/ar...
aacrjournals.org/cancerres/ar...
Reposted by Francesc Castro-Giner
I have now also ported the color vision deficiency simulation app to Shiny live. Advantage is this runs entirely in your browser, even though you "upload" the image it never leaves your computer.
January 10, 2025 at 5:15 AM
I have now also ported the color vision deficiency simulation app to Shiny live. Advantage is this runs entirely in your browser, even though you "upload" the image it never leaves your computer.