Molecular Oncology

What we do

The basic research group is focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms that govern cancer cell metastasis and resistance to therapies, the principle reasons why patients die from their tumours. We aim to translate these findings into new therapies which the clinical group is then testing in the context of phase I-III trials. Although the main focus is on lung and trophoblastic tumours we are mechanism driven.

Why it is important

Lung cancer is the commonest cancer killer and although trophoblastic cancers are frequently cured there are still a significant number of affected patients that die. In both these tumour types as well as all other cancers, the cause of death is nearly always because of drug resistant metastatic disease. Consequently understanding these processes is crucial to help develop new therapies that might improve survival.

How it can benefit patients

By discovering new targets that mediate resistance to therapy and metastasis, we hope to be able to develop new drugs that block these processes. These agents will potentially enhance the efficacy of existing treatments and the targets may also help serve as biomarkers to select the most appropriate patient for such new treatments

Summary of current research

We have three drug discovery programmes running and two clinical trials open. Please see the London Lung Cancer Alliance for more information on our research.

Our researchers