Project 50.1: Targeting pancreatic cancer invasion with novel therapeutics
Lead Research Organisation:
King's College London
Department Name: Cancer Studies
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer (PC) survival is devastatingly low with few patients surviving more than 5 years post
diagnosis due to the prevalence of metastatic disease. Currently treatment options have limited
efficacy with no drugs specifically targeting the pathways implicated in metastasis and thus novel
therapeutic approaches are urgently required. We have recently completed a 3D spheroid screen, in
the presence of stromal cells, of clinically approved drugs to identify those that can be repurposed to
block PC invasion. We now need to validate these hits and elucidate the molecular mechanism that
underpins suppression of invasion.
One of our top hits was an anti-fibrinolytic, an exciting and novel discovery. Our preliminary data
suggests impacts on both cancer and stromal cells; we now need to untangle the molecular pathways.
We also want to test if this inhibitor blocks invadopodia activity in PC cells. Invadopodia are specialised
cancer cell structures that facilitate invasion. This project aims to bring together our screen discoveries
with our existing expertise in invadopodia biology to develop novel therapeutics to target pancreatic
cancer invasion.
diagnosis due to the prevalence of metastatic disease. Currently treatment options have limited
efficacy with no drugs specifically targeting the pathways implicated in metastasis and thus novel
therapeutic approaches are urgently required. We have recently completed a 3D spheroid screen, in
the presence of stromal cells, of clinically approved drugs to identify those that can be repurposed to
block PC invasion. We now need to validate these hits and elucidate the molecular mechanism that
underpins suppression of invasion.
One of our top hits was an anti-fibrinolytic, an exciting and novel discovery. Our preliminary data
suggests impacts on both cancer and stromal cells; we now need to untangle the molecular pathways.
We also want to test if this inhibitor blocks invadopodia activity in PC cells. Invadopodia are specialised
cancer cell structures that facilitate invasion. This project aims to bring together our screen discoveries
with our existing expertise in invadopodia biology to develop novel therapeutics to target pancreatic
cancer invasion.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
| Claire Wells (Primary Supervisor) | |
| Charlotte Brown (Student) |
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MR/N013700/1 | 01/10/2016 | 30/09/2025 | |||
| 2289407 | Studentship | MR/N013700/1 | 01/10/2019 | 30/09/2023 | Charlotte Brown |