Within the Section of Experimental Oncology we aim to translate biological information into clinical application. We work closely with surgeons, oncologists, cytogeneticists and pathologists using a range of preclinical models and human tumour samples to study basic tumour biology and to test and validate hypotheses related to clinical application.
Maggie Knowles’s group use a range of technologies to identify markers than can be applied to classify bladder tumours, predict clinical behaviour and that may represent targets for individualised therapies. Much work involves the characterisation and functional analysis of oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes implicated in bladder cancer.
Anne Kiltie’s group are relating changes in the DNA repair capacity in human bladder cancers to response to radiotherapy in the clinic. DNA damage signalling and DNA repair proteins associated with clinical outcome may help to guide choice of treatment in the future. The group is also investigating the functional effects of germline variants in DNA repair genes on bladder cancer risk.
The primary focus of work in Sue Burchill’s group is the biology and genetically regulated cellular programs involved in the induction and resistance of the Ewing’s sarcoma family of tumours (ESFT) to cell death, with the aim of identifying molecules that may aid development of novel therapeutics. Since metastases and recurrence pose the major challenges for management and successful treatment of patients with ESFT, we are particularly interested in targeting and monitoring this disease.