Our Research Focus
Differentiation Grade and Colorectal Cancer
Our laboratory investigates the transcriptional mechanisms by which cellular and tissue differentiation is disturbed during colorectal tumorigenesis. We have identified a number of key transcription factors which are deregulated during this process, and we are using this information to investigate ways differentiation can be reprogrammed in tumour cells as well as how this may impact current treatment regimens.
Discovery of biomarkers to targeted therapies
Through access to clinical trial samples provided by our long-term collaborator A/Prof Niall Tebbutt, our laboratory has a translational research program aimed at discovering the biomarkers predictive response to targeted therapies in gastrointestinal cancers. Agents we are investigating include anti-angiogenic therapeutics (avastin), EGFR inhibitors (cetuximab), BRAF inhibitors and mTOR inhibitors, in the treatment of colorectal cancer, gastric cancer and cholangiocarcinoma.
Improving the use of targeted therapies in GI cancers
Our laboratory is committed to identifying mediators of resistance to current targeted therapies in GI cancers, such as BRAF + EGFR inhibitors in BRAF mutant colorectal cancer and KRAS + EGFR inhibitors in KRAS mutant colorectal cancer. This is achieved by combining these drugs with other drugs such as epigenetic agents (HDAC inhibitors).
Recent Publications
Fast facts
A small, functional unit of our DNA, containing the information, or “instructions” to produce other functional units, such as proteins.
The process the cell uses to transfer the information contained within the DNA into a format which can be used to inform the production of proteins.
Cancer is a genetic disease. When a gene is mutated, the gene may become unable to provide the right information and instructions to the proteins it informs. The cell is therefore unable to perform its proper job. This can lead to cancer.
Molecules consisting of amino acids, which the cells in the human body need to function properly. Each cell may have thousands of different proteins, each with its own instructions for that cell or those with which it interacts. When the proteins work together they ensure the cell does its job.
Developmental Cell
Ehf controls mammary alveolar lineage differentiation and is a putative suppressor of breast tumorigenesis
DOI: 10.1016/J.DEVCEL.2024.04.022
5 August 2024
Cell Death & Disease
BCL-XL inhibitors enhance the apoptotic efficacy of BRAF inhibitors in BRAFV600E colorectal cancer
DOI: 10.1038/S41419-024-06478-Z
1 March 2024
Cell Death & Differentiation
Epithelial de-differentiation triggered by co-ordinate epigenetic inactivation of the EHF and CDX1 transcription factors drives colorectal cancer progression
DOI: 10.1038/s41418-022-01016-w
1 November 2022
Our team
- Prof John Mariadason - Head, Oncogenic Transcription Laboratory
- Ian Luk - Laboratory Manager
- Fiona Chionh - Clinician Scientist | Postdoctoral Research Fellow
- Rebekah Crake - Postdoctoral Research Fellow
- Laura Jenkins - Postdoctoral Research Fellow
- Niall Tebbutt - Honorary Clinician
- Andrew Weickhardt - Honorary Clinician
- David Williams - Honorary Clinician
- David Lau - Honorary Clinician
- Stan Kacmarczyk - Honorary
- Camilla Reehorst - Honorary
- Jack Collin - PhD Student
- Kristen Needham - PhD Student
- Biswadeep Sen - PhD Student
- Charles Uy - PhD Student