DOI: 10.1097/01.OTU.0000394906.53426.bd
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Issn Print: 1742-8009
Publication Date: 2011/02/01
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Excerpt
Experts from four world class research groups have come together to collaborate on an initial two-year research project – the Cancer Stem Cell Consortium – to unravel the role of cancer stem cells in the development, growth and spread of tumours in breast, prostate and head and neck cancers.
The research groups are led by Professor Fiona Watt, deputy director of Cancer Research UK's Cambridge Research Institute; Dr Robert Clarke, senior lecturer at the Paterson Institute for Cancer Research and The University of Manchester; Professor Norman Maitland, director of the YCR Cancer Research Unit and professor of molecular biology at the University of York; and Professor Alan Clarke, professor of genetics at Cardiff University.
The Cancer Stem Cell Consortium will develop tests and models to refine a common set of known proteins – or biomarkers – present on cancer stem cells across three different tumour types for future drug discovery programmes. The team will also identify new biomarkers as potential targets for the development of new cancer drugs.
Professor Fiona Watt, deputy director of Cancer Research UK's Cambridge Research Institute and leader of the consortium, said:
‘At the moment there is limited information on the ways scientists could target cancer stem cells. But I hope that knowledge generated by our team of experts will help in the development of potential new therapies to treat difficult to beat cancers.’
The project will receive £500,000 from Cancer Research UK for two years: the scientists hope to attract industry support as well. In return industry partners will benefit through access to the consortium's latest discoveries and intellectual property and share Cancer Research UK's expertise in translating scientific discoveries into new cancer treatments.
Once the early development phase is complete, the industrial partner can choose to develop any joint discoveries into compounds with potential to be taken into early clinical trials.
Profits from the success of any of the projects will be shared between the charity and the research partners involved, with Cancer Research UK re-investing any proceeds in its future research work.
Harpal Kumar, Cancer Research UK's chief executive, said: ‘Cancer stem cells represent an exciting new frontier in our efforts to beat cancer. We urgently need to find new and effective ways to target these cells. This early research will pave the way for our scientists to develop more treatments and help more people survive a diagnosis of cancer – especially people who have aggressive cancers or for whom conventional treatments do not prevent the cancer returning.
