Postgraduate Student

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   Choroid plexus carcinomas (CPCs) are rare, aggressive malignant tumours of the central nervous system occurring mainly in children under the age of one. While advances in the clinical and molecular stratification have enabled risk-adapted treatment planning and improvements in outcome for many types of childhood brain tumours, there has not been equivalent progress for children with CPC. In order to elucidate a coordinated therapeutic strategy for children with CPC, it is imperative to develop in vitro and in vivo models to improve our understanding of the mechanisms underlying tumourigenesis. 

   During my PhD, I have managed to develop a genetically engineered mouse model (GEMM) that mimics CPC human disease and I am in the process of testing five early-stage candidate therapies using our established pre-clinical mouse hospital. I am also using this model to achieve a better understanding of CPC tumour biology in a spatial/temporal way by deploying different histological and molecular techniques.

   All these efforts will all build up to an improved understanding of CPC formation and the transformation of the choroid as well as new and improved treatments for patients affected by choroid plexus carcinoma. Not only are we looking for a “standard of care” that is currently inexistent for CPC, but we are also looking for one that will have minimal side effects and, therefore, not jeopardise the future of these children.

Work address: 
Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute University of Cambridge Li Ka Shing Centre Robinson Way Cambridge CB2 0RE
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