WEHI PhD Completion Seminar hosted by Dr Sarah Best

Oluwaseun Fatunla
PhD Student – Brain Cancer Research Laboratory, The Brain Cancer Centre – Personalised Oncology division, WEHI

Determining Markers of Progression and Poor Survival in Lower Grade Glioma

 

Davis Auditorium

Join via SLIDO enter code #WEHIphdcompletion

Including Q&A session

Followed by refreshments in Tapestry Area

Gliomas are the most common primary brain tumours, with IDH-mutant gliomas representing a biologically distinct and clinically variable subtype. While some patients with lower-grade tumours remain stable for years, others experience rapid recurrence or malignant progression with poor outcomes. The mechanisms underlying these divergent trajectories remain poorly understood.

As an anatomical pathologist by training, I have an interest in the molecular features of gliomas destined to progress, which could impact treatment decisions for patients. My PhD has investigated the molecular and spatial evolution of IDH-mutant gliomas using matched longitudinal cohorts of tumour samples that underwent grade progression, or recurred over time at the same grade. Through a multi-omic strategy, including DNA methylation profiling, transcriptomics and spatial proteomics (multiplexed ion beam imaging), I identified distinct epigenetic and chromosomal alterations, immune microenvironmental shifts, and spatial cell phenotypes associated with grade progression versus recurrence.

These findings provide insight into the early biology of glioma evolution, highlight markers of aggressive disease, and inform strategies for risk stratification and personalised clinical intervention.

All welcome!