Research
Cancer Metastasis and Genomics Group (CMG)
The overarching goal of his research group at UoB is to
understand how cancer cells spread (metastasis) and identify novel translatable
pathways/targets to treat metastatic disease.
Nearly 90% of cancer related deaths is due to metastasis.
Cancer metastasis is defined as a process in which cancer cells spread to
distant tissues and organs generating tumours away from the original site. The
complex metastatic process relies on cancer cells penetrating the surrounding
tissue, gaining access to circulatory system, and seeding and growth in distant
organs.
The group focuses on elucidating molecular mechanisms underpinning
cancer metastatic process within the context of two broader research themes:
Theme 1: Sugars, Cell Adhesion, and Migration
Altered cell attachment (adhesion) to the Extra Cellular
Matrix (ECM), which is a meshwork of proteins that holds the cells in place, is
a hallmark of cancer cells. We investigate how addition of sugars to signalling
proteins (process known as sialylation) influences cancer cell behaviour such
as their attachment to ECM, invasion, and migration.
Theme 2: Epigenetics of Stem Cell Biology and Cancer
Epigenetic programs are crucial to maintain the homeostasis
of embryonic and adult stem cells. Our previous work has demonstrated that a healthy
epigenetic program is required for embryonic development and to maintain lineage
specific transcriptional output during adult stem cell homeostasis. Altered epigenetic
signalling and associated transcriptional programs are commonly observed during
cancer metastasis.
We investigate the epigenetic programs required
for stem cell homeostasis (development and adult stem cells) and aim to understand
how cancer cells leverage these epigenetic programs during metastatic
progression.
