Course teacher
Cancer & Pharmaceutical Sciences
Cancer Sciences MPhil/PhD MDRes
Study Mode: Full time / Part time
Professor Claire Wells
Associate Dean for Doctoral Studies
- Professor in Cancer Cell Biology
Research interests
- Biomedical and life sciences
- Cancer
Biography
Professor Claire Wells' research interests:
The Wells laboratory is interested in how cancer cells are able to dissociate from the primary tumour, invade the surrounding tissue and subsequently metastasise to distal sites. Tissue invasion and migration require cancer cells to reorganise their actin cytoskeleton as well as adhere to and degrade the surrounding extracellular matrix. It is well established that cytoskeletal rearrangement, cell adhesion formation and turnover is regulated by Rho GTPases, Rho, Rac and Cdc42. PAKs are serine/threonine kinases that operate downstream of Rho GTPases to control cytoskeletal organisation and substratum adhesion. The PAK family can be sub-divided into two groups; Group 1 PAKs (1-3) and Group 2 PAKs (4-6) based on sequence homology and members of both groups are activated by growth factor signalling pathways. We use live cell imaging, biochemical and molecular approaches to investigate the role of PAK family kinases in cancer cell migration, adhesion and invasion.
The Wells Lab belongs to:
Research
Invasion and Metastasis Research Group
The Invasion and Metastasis Research Group is interested in how cancer cells are able to dissociate from the primary tumour, invade the surrounding tissue and subsequently metastasise to distal sites.
Programme in Gastrointestinal Cancer
The Programme in GI Cancer focuses on GI tract diseases, mostly cancer and oesophago-gastric cancer. This group spans a broad field of interests, promoting collaborative working within KCL, nationally and internationally.
From Developmental Biology to Regenerative Medicine
Understanding organ development and tissue regeneration provides a framework for elucidating disease mechanisms as well as for developing new therapeutics.
Cancer Biology
Cancer Biology
News
Aggressive cells in pancreatic cancer offer potential for treatment
A collaboration between King’s and Queen Mary University of London identified amoeboid cells driving the spread of pancreatic cancer for the first time,...
Researchers find novel treatment strategy for pancreatic cancer in cross-discipline collaborative study
A new cross-discipline collaborative study presents a novel treatment strategy for pancreatic cancer providing hope for next generation cancer treatment.
Events
Inaugural Lecture: Professors Dusko Ilic & Claire Wells
Inspiring talks from some of our brightest minds
Please note: this event has passed.
Research
Invasion and Metastasis Research Group
The Invasion and Metastasis Research Group is interested in how cancer cells are able to dissociate from the primary tumour, invade the surrounding tissue and subsequently metastasise to distal sites.
Programme in Gastrointestinal Cancer
The Programme in GI Cancer focuses on GI tract diseases, mostly cancer and oesophago-gastric cancer. This group spans a broad field of interests, promoting collaborative working within KCL, nationally and internationally.
From Developmental Biology to Regenerative Medicine
Understanding organ development and tissue regeneration provides a framework for elucidating disease mechanisms as well as for developing new therapeutics.
Cancer Biology
Cancer Biology
News
Aggressive cells in pancreatic cancer offer potential for treatment
A collaboration between King’s and Queen Mary University of London identified amoeboid cells driving the spread of pancreatic cancer for the first time,...
Researchers find novel treatment strategy for pancreatic cancer in cross-discipline collaborative study
A new cross-discipline collaborative study presents a novel treatment strategy for pancreatic cancer providing hope for next generation cancer treatment.
Events
Inaugural Lecture: Professors Dusko Ilic & Claire Wells
Inspiring talks from some of our brightest minds
Please note: this event has passed.