Clare Scott-Projects

Clare Scott-Projects

Researcher: 
Professor Clare Scott

Projects

Last modified: 
Thu, 15/02/2018 - 10:33am

Tailoring new treatments to DNA repair defects in aggressive ovarian cancer

Half of the aggressive ovarian cancer subtype, high-grade serous cancer (HGSC), have abnormalities in DNA repair and should be susceptible to new PARP inhibitor therapy, yet not all those respond.

By developing new models of studying human ovarian cancers in the laboratory (patient-derived xenografts, PDX, which have abnormal DNA repair), we are exploring which markers predict which ovarian cancers will respond best to these exciting new treatments and most importantly, how to prevent resistance to PARP inhibitors in some of these cancers.

Treatment approaches for targeting the proliferative subclass of high-grade serous ovarian cancer using patient-derived xenograf

High-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSC), can be divided into four subgroups based on molecular characteristics. One of these, the ‘C5’ or ‘proliferative’ subgroup, is defined by MYCN pathway activation and may be associated with stem cell like behavior.

We have generated a cohort of ‘C5-like’ PDX and are exploring new therapeutic options to target this subclass of HGSC.

A new model for proliferative high-grade serous ovarian cancer development

The C5 high/Proliferative subgroup of high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSC) is defined by MYCN pathway activation. We are studying the first steps leading to the development of these cancers. We are developing new models with altered expression of genes in this pathway in female reproductive organs.

By studying these, we hope to identify early changes to help us to design better detection of or treatment of these cancers.