Contact information
LOCATION
Radiobiology Research Institute, Churchill Hospital, Headington, Oxford
Research groups
Collaborators
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Alastair Lamb
Associate Professor
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Ian Mills
John Black Professor of Prostate Cancer, Interim Head of Department, Group Leader
Sandy Figiel
MSc, PhD
Postdoctoral Researcher
RESEARCH SUMMARY
Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed malignancy and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths amongst men. Prostate cancer is a highly heterogeneous disease with variable clinical outcomes. Defining the transition from benign to malignant tissue and understanding genetic changes within tumours is fundamental to improve early diagnosis of cancer.
My research focuses on the understanding of the cellular mechanisms of prostate cancer progression and metastases development. I joined NDS to work on the Spatial Prostate Assessment and Circulating Environment (SPACE) study, a translational research programme based on the identification of drivers of progression in localised prostate cancer, incorporating spatial transcriptomics of whole prostate and tracking of cancer clonal evolution.
I also focus on the relationships between epithelial-mesenchymal transition, ion channels and fatty acids in pre-clinical models and clinical samples, using in particular organotypic culture.
Recent publications
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Spatial transcriptomic analysis of virtual prostate biopsy reveals confounding effect of tissue heterogeneity on genomic signatures.
Journal article
Figiel S. et al, (2023), Mol Cancer, 22