Cell wars - Understanding the battle against cancer

This talk will explore the exciting advancements in cancer therapy using nanoparticles. With the integration of cutting-edge technology, scientists can now target tumours more precisely and effectively. This can improve patient outcomes and reduce side effects. From early diagnosis to targeted drug delivery, nanoparticles are revolutionising how we treat cancer. This talk will delve into the science behind this innovative approach and examine how we can harness the full potential of nanoparticles in cancer therapy to improve the lives of millions of patients globally!

Breast cancer treatments push cancer cells into a sleepy state called dormancy enabling them to survive anti-cancer drugs for long periods of time. However, some dormant cells can wake up, and become resistant to treatment. The DNA in these sleepy cells seemed like a good reporter of how these characteristics become possible, but we found that dormant cells are not genetically pre-determined to become as such. Do you wonder how we develop different organs in our body if we have the same DNA in all our cells? Here, I will introduce the role of epigenetics in the evolution of cancer cells.  

My lab is based between the Departments of Life Sciences and Chemistry at Imperial, and combines techniques from both disciplines to develop new anticancer drugs. In my talk, I will provide an overview of how Imperial scientists are applying scientific advances and new technologies to ‘design’ new drugs with fewer side effects and greater activity than those that are currently available. I will include real examples from our lab, demonstrating the rapid progress in the field, and the challenges which remain.