Our research focus
Isolation and characterisation of circulating tumour cells
Liquid biopsies, which capture circulating tumour cells in the blood, are a useful, non-invasive way of monitoring tumour spread and drug response. Our laboratory studies the diversity and biological properties of cancer cells captured in blood. This helps improve the diagnosis of patients, predict drug response and, in the longer term, develop cancer treatments personalised to a patient’s specific cancer.
Follow tumour progression using cellular tracking
Each cell collected from a patient’s tumour can be labelled with tags or ‘barcodes’, allowing us to determine which subpopulations of cells in the tumour contribute to metastasis, organ specificity and drug-resistance. We are particularly interested in the effect of different microenvironments or ‘niches’ on the survival of cancer cells and the progression of disease.
Test new drugs in advanced models of metastatic breast cancer
Our laboratory is interested in developing ways to test the effect of various drugs on the survival of circulating tumour cells or metastasis. In particular, we focus on testing the effect of new targeted therapies on metastatic progression.
Fast facts
Some cancer cells have the ability to spread in the body. They can invade locally to nearby lymph nodes, to the vasculature and distant organs. This process is called metastasis. The mechanisms by which cells are able to adapt to different microenvironment are still unknown, but it appears that only a few cells from a tumour will successfully grow in distant organs and cause symptoms.
Different tumour cells in a tumour can show distinct phenotypic profiles such as gene expression, proliferation, and metastatic potential.
Drugs which specifically block the proliferation, survival or invasiveness of cancer cells, by targeting specific cellular pathways.
Recent publications
Nature
Mastering the use of cellular barcoding to explore cancer heterogeneity
DOI: 10.1038/s41568-022-00500-2
18 August 2022
MDPI
Computational Screening of Anti-Cancer Drugs Identifies a New BRCA Independent Gene Expression Signature to Predict Breast Cancer Sensitivity to Cisplatin
DOI: 10.3390/cancers14102404
13 May 2022
Science Advances
The site of breast cancer metastases dictates their clonal composition and reversible transcriptomic profile
DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abf4408
7 July 2021
Our team
Meet our researchers
- A/Prof Delphine Merino - Head, Tumour Progression and Heterogeneity Laboratory Publications
- Jean Berthelet - Postdoctoral Research Fellow Publications
- Farrah El-Saafin - Research Assistant Publications
- Sreeja Gadipally - PhD Student