Research Interests Overview

In Professor Isacke's team a focus is placed on tumour cells in the context of their cellular and non-cellular environments in order to understand the molecular basis of breast cancer progression and to identify targets for prognostic/therapeutic design.

The team work on the following projects:

The pericyte receptor endosialin in tumour angiogenesis

Understanding the recruitment, activation and function of pericytes during tumour angiogenesis.

Tumour and metastasis suppressor genes

Identification of key tumour and metastasis suppressor genes in breast cancer.

Myoepithelial differentiation in basal-like breast tumours

The aim of this project is to assess the molecular mechanisms regulating cell fate decisions made by normal myoepithelial cells and breast cancer stem cells.

Functional and therapeutic implications of the receptor tyrosine kinase RET in breast cancer

This study is investigating the role of RET in the functional regulation of ERa and in the response and resistance to endocrine therapies.

An intraductal approach to the identification of breast cancer biomarkers

This project aims to identify biomarkers for the early diagnosis of women at high risk of breast cancer.

The breast cancer stroma

This project aims to understand the mechanisms by which tumour cells recruit and activate stromal cells and the impact of stromal activation on tumour progression and metastasis and the response to therapies.

Further information on Professor Isacke's research projects can be found on the Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research Centre website