The major research themes of the Cell Signalling and Molecular Pathology section have a significant overlap with research in the Cancer Biomarkers and Prevention section as these areas of research are inextricably linked.  Cross-collaboration between the two Sections allow the facilitation of novel and potentially ground-breaking research. 

Research in the Cell Signalling and Molecular Pathology Section currently includes:

Ectopic expression of ZEB proteins induces EMT in a bladder cancer cell line RT112. ZEB1 or SIP1 proteins were transiently expressed in RT112 cells. Cells were analyzed by double immunofluorescence to detect ZEB proteins (red) and cadherins or beta-catenin (green). Blue, DAPI staining. Sayan et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2009;106:14884-9.

• The influence of dietary chemopreventive agents on deregulated cell signalling pathways (Maggie Manson);
• Regulation of B-cell survival and proliferation in health and disease, focusing on post-transcriptional regulation of BCL2 family pro-survival proteins and in collaboration with Dr Ferrigno in the University of Leeds, developing BCL6 as a drug target (Simon Wagner);
• Investigating the role of novel translocation partner genes in cancer development and their potential as clinical markers or therapeutic targets (Yin-Fai Lee);
• Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), in particular reorganisation of the actomyosin network and  the role of S100 proteins (Marina Kriajevska), and interactions between EMT and other molecular pathways controlling cancer cell proliferation, senescence or survival (Eugene Tulchinsky);
• Identification of  genetic and epigenetic changes in tumour cells that act as biomarkers in the development and progression of human cancers (Howard Pringle);
• Genome-wide analysis of plasma DNA from breast cancer patients using SNP arrays and analysis of circulating RNA, focussing on detection of micro RNAs (Jacqui Shaw);
• DNA copy number and microRNA  expression as tissue and blood-based biomarkers to aid diagnosis and to provide more accurate prognosis for melanoma patients (Gerald Saldanha).

Microscopic slide of colon cancer cells

The range of tumour types involved in these studies includes colon, pancreas, B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, melanoma, lung, and breast. 

Approaches include in vitro models using primary cells and established cell lines, micro-dissection of tumour cells, FACS analysis and sorting, overexpression and knockdown of proteins, genomics, proteomics, real time PCR, and immunocytochemistry. 

Members of academic staff based in the Cell Signalling and Molecular Pathology Section are:

Professor M Manson (Section Head)

Research within the Section is funded from a variety of sources, including Cancer Research UK, Cancer Prevention Research Trust, the Hope Foundation for Cancer Research,  Kay Kendall Leukaemia Fund, Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research, Lymphoma Research Trust, and the Pathological Society of Great Britain & Ireland.