Centre for Cancer Evolution

Study offers clues to blood cancer risk, revealing how gene mutations compete over time

Researchers have developed a new way to understand how genetic changes linked to blood cancer evolve in our cells, offering new insight into predicting blood cancer risk.

Barts Cancer Institute teams awarded nearly £3m from Cancer Research UK to seek novel cancer therapy targets

New AI model sheds light on high-risk skin cancer: Q&A with the authors

Researchers have developed an artificial intelligence (AI) tool that could help doctors identify which skin cancers are most likely to spread. We spoke to Professor Jun (Alex) Wang, a group leader at BCI, and Dr Emilia Peleva, a Clinical Research Fellow and dermatologist in his team, about their new study, published in npj Precision Oncology.

Rogue’ DNA rings reveal earliest clues to deadly brain cancer’s growth

An international team of scientists has revealed how rogue rings of DNA that float outside of our chromosomes – known as extrachromosomal DNA, or ecDNA – can drive the growth of a large proportion of glioblastomas, the most common and aggressive adult brain cancer. The discovery could open the door to much-needed new approaches to diagnose glioblastoma early, track its progress and treat it more effectively.

Study reveals molecules enabling bowel cancer to hijack healing processes and spread

Scientists have uncovered how bowel cancer cells imitate our gut’s natural healing processes to adapt, spread and grow. The findings researchers at Barts Cancer Institute could lead to new treatment strategies aimed at preventing cancer spread.

Smarter chemotherapy approach could delay drug resistance in ovarian cancer

Adaptive chemotherapy can prolong survival in lab models of ovarian cancer, according to new results. The findings could pave the way for a more effective and gentler approach to treating ovarian cancer that uses existing drugs in a more intelligent way.

Introducing: Dr Alastair Lamb

Welcome to our newest group leader, Dr Alastair Lamb.

Protein level predicts immunotherapy response in bowel cancer

Researchers have shown that the amount of a protein called CD74 can indicate which people with bowel cancer may respond best to immunotherapy.

Surprising ‘two-faced’ cancer gene role supports paradigm shift in predicting disease

A genetic fault long believed to drive the development of oesophageal cancer may in fact play a protective role early in the disease, according to new research published in Nature Cancer.

Shining a Spotlight on AI Research at the Barts Cancer Institute

We explore Nobel-Prize-winning research and the theory behind AI, and speak with Dr Vivek Singh, Dr Oscar Maiques and Professor Claude Chelala, three researchers using cutting-edge AI in their work at the BCI.

Professor Sarah McClelland awarded £1.5m from CRUK to study cancer’s chromosomal chaos

Congratulations to Professor Sarah McClelland, who has received a £1,500,000 Programme Foundation Award from Cancer Research UK (CRUK), to support her lab’s work at Barts Cancer Institute (BCI), Queen Mary University of London.

€9.8m ERC Synergy grant awarded to study how human tissues stay healthy as we age

Researchers at the BCI and the Crick have been awarded a €9.8m ERC Synergy grant for their pioneering 6-year project called MUTAHOME.

International study reveals four distinct types of oesophageal cancer

New research reveals that the most common type of oesophageal cancer, oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), is composed of four distinct subtypes—each of which may benefit from different treatment approaches.

Dr Mirjana Efremova awarded £1m Cancer Research UK grant to decode bowel cancer’s plastic nature

Congratulations to Dr Mirjana Efremova who has been awarded a £1m grant to use cutting-edge computational tools to study how bowel cancer adapts.

New tool predicts risk of skin cancer spread more accurately than human inspection

These results could aid the treatment of individuals most at risk of aggressive skin cancer.

BCI researchers part of international team shortlisted for Cancer Grand Challenges award

Dr Özgen Deniz and Dr Benjamin Werner are part of a team shortlisted for these prestigious awards

Researchers shed light on the mystery of liver cells’ origins

Understanding how new liver cells are created could inform how and why cell growth spirals out of control in cancer

Welcoming Professor Francesca Ciccarelli to the BCI

Professor Francesca Ciccarelli will be joining Barts Cancer Institute to lead our Centre for Cancer Genomics & Computational Biology.