Experimental Pathology
Head of group: Dr Ian Paterson
The Experimental Pathology Group has a longstanding interest in the pathogenesis of oral cancer.
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Oral cancer is a major world health problem and is a devastating disease. For further information, follow the links: CR(UK) Oral Cancer Foundation; FAQs head and neck cancer. In the main, the disease is attributable to tobacco and alcohol. In India and South East Asia, for example, there are some 257,000 new cases each year [40% of all malignancies] which, in the main, is attributable to betel quid chewing [tobacco, areca nut, lime, spices wrapped in the leaf of the betel vine]. By contrast, in the UK the disease is less common with nearly 4000 new cases annually [2% of all cancer cases] and in this case heavy smoking and drinking are the main risk factors. |
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The disease has a devastating effect. Presentation is late, treatment causes physical deformity and psychological scarring and some 5-10% of patients who have had removal of the cancer develop secondary primary malignancies. The mortality rate has not improved for 30 years and 5 year survival rates are worse than cancer of the breast and uterine cervix. Sadly, the incidence of the disease is increasing.
Examples of oral squamous cell carcinoma in the West:
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It is now essential to develop new therapeutic modalities based on an understanding of the molecular mechanisms associated with tumour progression, that process in which normal cells undergo the transition from normality to malignancy. This is the focus of the Bristol Experimental Pathology Research Group. Their work relates specifically to understanding the basic molecular mechanisms that drive oral cancer development and spread. The long-term aim is to inhibit key molecular pathways that are essential in oral cancer and, in so doing, develop new therapeutic modalities to inhibit this most debilitating disease.
Staff
- Professor Stephen S Prime [Experimental Pathology]
- Dr Ian Paterson [Senior Lecturer in Cancer Studies]
- Dr Angela Hague [Senior Lecturer in Cancer Studies]
- Dr Maria Davies [Lecturer in Cancer Studies]
- Dr Jason Mansell [Lecturer in Oral Biology]
There are a variable number of postdoctoral scientists and PhD students at any one time. The Research Group is supported by 3 Research Technicians.
Education
'Students work with non-clinical scientists to address important clinical questions'.
Commitment to postgraduate education within the Division is strong. Whilst there is an absence of taught postgraduate courses, the majority of students undertake MSc/PhDs by laboratory-based research. Staff members provide close supervision in cell and molecular techniques.
Current Research
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To identify and test potential therapies/therapeutic targets for squamous cell carcinoma in preclinical models.
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To develop novel strategies for securing human osteoblast maturation upon biomaterials.
Current research projects include:
- Mechanisms of TGF-ß-induced tumour suppression and promotion
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The development of small molecule TGF-ß antagonists to inhibit metastatic breast cancer
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Model of TGF-β bound to its signalling receptors |
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The role of Bag-1 proteins in oral carcinogenesis and keratinocyte differentiation and apoptosis
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Identification of novel markers of oral epithelial tumour progression
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Development of in vitro and in vivo assays of tumour cell behaviour
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The influence of the tumour stroma on oral cancer development and progression
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α-SMA activity in normal |
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α-SMA in cancer-associated fibroblasts |
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Differences in gene expression in oral cancers associated with smoking and those attributed to the chewing of betel quid
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Mode of action of chemopreventative agents
MTT assay showing decrease in viable cells in response to curcumin:
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CONCENTRATION OF CURCUMIN [μm] |
CURCUMA LONGA |
- Mechanisms of osteoblast differentiation
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Professor John Eveson has an international reputation on the histopathology of salivary gland tumours, for which he is an adviser to the World Health Organisation.
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World Health Organisation Global Data on Incidence of Oral Cancer
Locale
The Group is privileged to work in recently refurbished [2007] cell and molecular research laboratories and, in the main, enjoy the privacy of individual office space. Both staff and students have individual access to the Internet and library services.
National Collaborators
- Professor Ken Parkinson; Barts and the London, University of London
- Professor Nalin Thakker; University of Manchester
- Dr David Dawbarn and Dr Shelley Thomas; University of Bristol
- Dr John Marshall, Cancer Research [UK]; Barts and the London, University of London
- Professor Gareth Thomas, Cancer Research [UK]; Barts and the London, University of London
- Dr Paul Murray, Cancer Research [UK]; University of Birmingham
- Dr Victor Lopes, Cancer Research [UK]; University of Birmingham
- Professor Ian Day; University of London
- Professor Graham Packham; University of Southampton
- Professor Craig McArdle; University of Bristol
- Professor James Uney; University of Bristol
- Dr Ann Williams; University of Bristol
International Collaborators
- Dr Lalage Wakefield; National Institute of Health, USA
- Dr Sok Ching and Dr Teo Soo-Hwang; Cancer Research Initiatives Foundation, Malaysia
- Professor Carsten Carlberg; University of Kuopio, Finland
- Professor Shou-Ching Tang; University of Colorado School of Medicine, USA