Centre for Cancer Evolution

In this Centre, we employ unbiased high-throughput sequencing, mass spectrometry and multispectral imaging of tumour samples to gain unique insights into cancer evolution, genetics and cell signalling through from premalignancy to metastatic disease. Our ambition is to see translation of new knowledge into improvements in early cancer detection and precision medicine.

Centre Description

In the Centre for Cancer Evolution, we employ unbiased high-throughput sequencing, mass spectrometry and multispectral imaging of tumour samples to gain unique insights into cancer evolution, genetics and cell signalling through from premalignancy to metastatic disease.

We are internationally recognised for our work on lymphoma, leukaemia and gastrointestinal cancers, and the creation of computational tools to extract maximum value from Big Data.

Our ambition is to see translation of new knowledge into improvements in early cancer detection and precision medicine.

Centre Details

Centre Address:

John Vane Science Centre,
Charterhouse Square,
London EC1M 6BQ

Research groups


Professor Francesca Ciccarelli

Professor of Cancer Genomics

Dr Mirjana Efremova

Senior Lecturer

Dr Alastair Lamb

Clinical Reader in Prostate Cancer Evolution

Professor Michelle Lockley

Clinical Professor of Medical Oncology, Honorary Consultant

Professor Sarah McClelland

Professor of Cancer Cell Biology and Genomics

Stuart McDonald

Professor Stuart McDonald

Professor of Gastrointestinal Biology

Professor Jun Wang

Professor in Genomics and Data Science

Dr Benjamin Werner

Reader in Somatic Evolution

A Muller plot, depicting how different cell populations (clones) grow, acquire mutations and compete over time (from left to right).

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.

Publications   5 May 2026

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.

General News   30 September 2025

Key Publications

  • Chromosomal instability and genomic alterations in cholangiocarcinoma from Northeastern Thailand. J Pathol (2025)267(3):261–274. PMID: 40952339
  • Concerted changes in Epithelium and Stroma: a multi-scale, multi-omics analysis of progression from Barrett’s Esophagus to adenocarcinoma. Dev Cell (2025)60(20):2807–2824.e7. PMID: 40695287
  • Extrachromosomal DNA-Driven Oncogene Spatial Heterogeneity and Evolution in Glioblastoma. Cancer Discov (2025)15(10):2078–2095. PMID: 40920091
  • Adaptive Therapy Exploits Fitness Deficits in Chemotherapy-Resistant Ovarian Cancer to Achieve Long-Term Tumor Control. Cancer Res (2025)85(18):3503–3517. PMID: 40299825
  • Enhanced metastasis risk prediction in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma using deep learning and computational histopathology. NPJ Precis Oncol (2025)9(1):308. PMID: 40897830
  • Phenotypic heterogeneity and plasticity in colorectal cancer metastasis. Cell Genom (2025)5(7):100881. PMID: 40393458
  • A constitutive interferon-high immunophenotype defines response to immunotherapy in colorectal cancer. Cancer Cell (2025)43(2):292–307.e7. PMID: 39824178
  • Clinical Implications of Basic Research: Exploring the Transformative Potential of Spatial ‘Omics in Uro-oncology. Eur Urol (2025)87(1):8–14. PMID: 39227262
  • The integrated molecular and histological analysis defines subtypes of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Nat Commun (2024)15(1):8988. PMID: 39419971
  • Targeted assembly of ectopic kinetochores to induce chromosome-specific segmental aneuploidies. EMBO J (2023)42(10):e111587. PMID: 37063065
  • The evolutionary dynamics of extrachromosomal DNA in human cancers. Nat Genet (2022)54(10):1527–1533. PMID: 36123406
  • Spatially resolved clonal copy number alterations in benign and malignant tissue. Nature (2022)608(7922):360–367. PMID: 35948708
  • Clonal Transitions and Phenotypic Evolution in Barrett’s Esophagus. Gastroenterology (2022)162(4):1197–1209.e13. PMID: 34973296