“Crown-like structures” in breast tumours could hinder treatment
Cancer scientists from the Faculty of Medicine have discovered ‘crown-like structures’ surrounding breast tumours in overweight and obese patients could hinder their response to therapy.
The findings of could potentially be used to improve personalised treatment for patients with HER2 positive overexpressed breast cancer.
The study, was led by Professors Stephen Beers, Ramsey Cutress and Dr Charles Birts at the Centre for Cancer Immunology, and published in Scientific Reports . It was funded by grants from Against Breast Cancer, Cancer Research UK, Breast Cancer Now and World Cancer Research Fund UK.
The team is now looking at ways to change the behaviour of these crown-like structures to improve responses to breast cancer therapy.
Related Staff Member
Professor Stephen Beers BSc (Hons) Biochemistry, PhD Biochemistry
Professor Stephen Beers is Professor of Immunology and Immunotherapy at the Centre for Cancer Immunology in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Southampton.
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Professor Ramsey Cutress BM BCh, MA, PhD, FRCS (Gen Surg)
Ramsey Cutress is Professor of Breast Surgery within Medicine at the University of Southampton.
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Dr Charles Birts BSc (Hons), PhD
Dr Charles Birts joined the School of Biological Sciences as an Against Breast Cancer funded lecturer in 2018. His research is focused on investigating the effect of metabolic and immunologic targeting on breast cancer development. This work involves developing novel antibody-based therapies for targeting secondary breast cancers.
Career History
2018-present:
Lecturer in Antibody Therapeutics. University of Southampton, UK.
2017-2018:
European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism Research Fellow. University of Southampton, UK.
2014-2017:
Faculty of Medicine Career Track Fellow. University of Southampton, UK.
2011-2014:
Senior Postdoctoral Research Fellow. University of Southampton, UK.
2007-2014:
Postdoctoral Research Fellow. University of Southampton, UK.
Academic Qualifications
2003-2007:
BBSRC sponsored PhD in Biochemistry. University of Southampton, UK.
2000-2003:
BSc (Hons) Biochemistry and Pharmacology. University of Southampton, UK.
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