Research

My laboratory-based research programme explores a link between alternative pre-mRNA splicing (AS), a ubiquitous post-transcriptional gene regulatory mechanism, and prostate cancer (PCa) phenotypes.  During AS, coding (exons) and non-coding (introns) regions of a gene are shuffled to create protein isoforms with different functions.  AS is regulated by trans-acting RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), and tightly coupled to transcription. We are studying the link between dysregulation of transcriptional and intracellular signalling processes and AS, mediated by RBPs. 

Our translational research examines how blood-derived liquid biopsy molecular biomarkers can be used to improve treatment outcomes for PCa patients. With NHS colleagues, we are investigating minimally-invasive surgical alternatives to chemotherapy for metastatic testicular cancer to reduce the therapy burden and toxicity. In collaboration with the Wolfson Institute of Preventative Medicine, we are exploring how minimally-toxic chemo-preventative strategies may reduce PCa progression on active surveillance.

Other Activities

• 2021 to date - Deputy Programme Director, MSc in Laparoscopic Surgery & Surgical Skills, Barts Cancer Institute
• 2021 to date - Module Lead, CAN7028 Laparoscopic Skills, Barts Cancer Institute
• 2021 to date - Module Lead, CAN7026 Laparoscopic Skills Suturing Skills, Barts Cancer Institute
• 2019 to date - Member: National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) Germ Cell Tumours Research Group
• 2019 to date - Member: NCRI Advanced Prostate Cancer Research Group
• 2019 to date - University College London Urology Clinical Academic Board

Major Funding

• 2021-2024 - NIHR/Health Education England Academic Clinical Fellowship, 'Machine learning-led prostate cancer liquid biopsy biomarker panel discovery,' ~£200,000 (Role: PI)
• 2021-2024 - Barts Charity Large Project Grant, THERATEST (THERApy de-escalation in TESTicular cancer), £143,000 (Role: PI)
• 2021-2023 - MRC DTP in Translational Immunology, Inflammation and Cancer, 'Identification of splicing-driven putative neoantigens using proteomics informed by transcriptomics', £80,000 (Role: PI) 

Recent Publications

Protocol for a prospective study evaluating circulating tumour cells status to predict radical prostatectomy treatment failure in localised prostate cancer patients (C-ProMeta-1) Al-Hammouri T, Almeida-Magana R, Lawrence R et al. BMC Cancer (2023) 23(7)

Treatment de-escalation for stage II seminoma Wood GE, Chamberlain F, Tran B et al. Nature Reviews Urology (2023) 20(7) 502-512

The potential of using circulating tumour cells and their gene expression to predict docetaxel response in metastatic prostate cancer Davies CR, Guo T, Burke E et al. Frontiers in Oncology (2023) 12(7)

Understanding and managing the cardiovascular risks of androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer Atalar K, Rajan P Nature Reviews Urology (2023) 20(7) 3-4

Retzius-sparing technique independently predicts early recovery of urinary continence after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy Kadhim H, Ang KM, Tan WS et al. Journal of Robotic Surgery (2022) 16(7) 1419-1426

Feasibility of aspirin and/or vitamin D3 for men with prostate cancer on active surveillance with Prolaris® testing. Dinneen E, Shaw GL, Kealy R et al. BJUI Compass (2022) 3(2) 458-465
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/36267207

FOXA1 regulates alternative splicing in prostate cancer Del Giudice M, Foster JG, Peirone S et al. Cell Reports (2022) 40(7)

Safety of androgen therapy in men with prostate cancer Rajan P, Tharakan T, Chen R Best Practice and Research: Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism (2022) 36(7)

Management of stage II seminoma: a contemporary UK perspective Alifrangis C, Nicol DL, Shamash J et al. Scottish Medical Journal (2022) 67(7) 126-128

Feasibility and safety of radical prostatectomy for oligo-metastatic prostate cancer: the Testing Radical prostatectomy in men with prostate cancer and oligo-Metastases to the bone (TRoMbone) trial Sooriakumaran P, Wilson C, Rombach I et al. BJU International (2022) 130(7) 43-53

Team

• Mr Esteban Gea (with Professor Conrad Bessant)
• Miss Antara Labiba (with Professor Conrad Bessant)

• Dr Pinky Kotecha

• Mr Ben Lamb
• Mr James Dilley

• Mr Kerem Atalar

Biography

Key qualifications