Epigenetics Team

Team Leader: Professor Robert Brown

Location: Sycamore House, Sutton

Section: Section of Medicine

DNA hypermethylation and epigenetic silencing of tumour suppressor genes play a major role in the aetiology of human cancers. As well as affecting disease progression, epigenetic gene silencing influences response to treatment and drug resistance. Thus, reversal of gene methylation and/or epigenetic silencing has the potential to cause suppression of tumour growth and to increase the ability of tumour cells to undergo apoptosis induced by chemotherapeutic drugs and hence overcome drug resistance.

We have an ongoing programme of research characterising epigenetic mechanisms and compounds which can target epigenetic silencing. We are evaluating these targets and compounds in animal models and identifying biomarkers which can be used to optimise the design of clinical trials.