In recognition of Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, we spoke with Dr Michelle Lockley, Group Leader and clinical researcher in BCI’s Centre for Cancer Cell and Molecular Biology. Dr Lockley’s research group focuses on improving treatments for women with ovarian cancer, particularly for those whose tumours are resistant to chemotherapy.
We spoke with Dr Sarah McClelland and senior postdoctoral researcher in her group, Dr Nadeem Shaikh, about the team’s most recent paper, published in Cancer Research, which set out to explore the mechanisms of chromosomal instability in high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma – the most common type of ovarian cancer. The study sheds light on how these mechanisms may be able to be targeted to overcome treatment resistance in this cancer type.
Researchers have found that melanoma cells fight anti-cancer drugs by changing their internal skeleton (cytoskeleton) – opening up a new therapeutic route for combating skin and other cancers that develop resistance to treatment.