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Department of Biochemistry

 
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The molecular aetiology of colorectal cancer (CRC) is well known: the mutant, oncogenic form of the Wnt signaling pathway drives the malignant transformation of intestinal epithelial stem cells leading to tumorigenesis. The primary research interests of the lab are to uncover essential regulatory nodes within oncogenic Wnt signaling.

At the core of the research programme are two tractable models of CRC to analyze roles for cellular signaling pathways, in particular the oncogenic Wnt signaling pathway. One of these models is a genetically engineered mouse (GEM) to model CRC, a disease that currently lacks suitable in vivo models. Importantly, this GEM encompasses the genetically coded ability to inducibly inhibit oncogenic Wnt signaling in tumours.

We are also interested in the role of the tumour suppressor adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) in CRC etiology. In addition to Wnt pathway regulation, APC plays a key role in maintaining epithelial cell polarity. Mutational inactivation of APC, the root cause of intestinal epithelial tumour development, may therefore compromise both Wnt pathway regulation and epithelial cell- and tissue-polarity. We are examining these APC-mediated functions using organotypic epithelial cultures to understand their involvement in preventing tumorigenesis.

 

 

Contact details

Research Group Leader  Marc de la Roche​

Email  mad58@cam.ac.uk

Location  Sanger Building

Opportunities

The de la Roche Group is accepting enquiries from prospective interns, undergraduate students, postgraduate students and postdoctoral researchers.