Oral Cancer

The group aims to develop molecular tools for early diagnosis and prediction of responses to radio and chemotherapy. A number of genetic pathways are commonly deregulated in head and neck cancers including the p53 family, the inhibitors of apoptosis proteins (IAPs), as well as kinases including EGFR and PKC-beta. We are investigating these pathways as possible therapeutic targets for the development of small molecule inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies, peptides and microRNAs.

Research interests:

• Tumour specific induction of cell death by the viral proteins Apoptin and E1A and identification of tumour specific kinases 
• Role of p53 family members including p73 and p63 in cancer metastasis and resistance to therapies
• Development of novel gene and protein delivery systems including secretable protein transduction peptides and polymers.
• Combination therapy using novel targeted agents including TRAIL and inhibitors of IAPs (SMAC mimmetics)
• Identification of the mechanisms of response to radio- and chemo-therapeutic agents in human papillomavirus associated oropharyngeal cancer in order to exploit these pathways to improve the management of all head and neck cancers
• Identification of molecular markers including microRNAs predictive of radioresistance in head and neck cancers.