Centre for Cancer & Inflammation
Led by Professor Fran Balkwill
Our centre focuses on the links between cancer and inflammation. The overarching hypothesis that drives our research is that the inflammatory mediators and cells found in cancer are more likely to enhance than inhibit tumour progression; hence modulating these cells and mediators should be of therapeutic benefit.
Our aim is to translate our laboratory research in chronic inflammation and the tumour microenvironment into new treatments for cancer, especially ovarian and pancreatic cancer. We have been involved in several Phase I and Phase II clinical trials of cytokine antagonists and are currently planning other trials involving novel targets in the cancer microenvironment.
We also have a strong commitment to public engagement via the University's Centre of the Cell, an innovative and successful science centre and science outreach project for young people .
Please click here for all Senior Researchers in the Centre for Cancer and Inflammation.
Life in the Centre
Follow the links below to get a sense of what life is like for researchers in our centre.
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Juliana Candido |
Carla Milagre |
Facilities
Laboratory facilities include:
- Cytokine profiling in human and experimental samples using multiplex systems
- Gene expression arrays
- Expertise in a wide range of mouse models of cancer and of inflammation
- Analysis of cellular metabolism
Results and Discoveries
Our recent discoveries and results include:
- The identification of CD4+ T cells as mediators of TNF-α’s action in human ovarian cancer and mouse ovarian cancer models
- Definition of a ‘TNF’ network in high-grade serous and clear cell carcinoma of the ovary. This network is subject to autocrine regulation in the malignant cells but has paracrine actions on angiogenesis and the leukocyte infiltrate.
- Study of one member of the TNF network, IL-6, as a therapeutic target in relapsed high grade serous and clear cell carcinoma of the ovary with a Phase II clinical trial, a range of pre-clinical studies and pharmacodynamic study of plasma samples from the trial patients.
- Demonstrating how NF-κB orchestrates the tumor promoting phenotype of TAMs and how these cells can be reeducated.
- Demonstrating for the first time the therapeutic potential of macrophage plasticity.
- Demonstrating the functions for proton channels in B cells and demonstrated the importance of ROS in BCR signaling and downstream metabolism.
