Research Interests Overview
Soft Tissue Sarcomas
Soft tissue tumours are a heterogeneous group of mesenchymal tumours that frequently exhibit features of differentiating soft tissues such as striated skeletal muscle (known as rhabdomyosarcomas) and fat (liposarcomas). They account for around 8% of all cancers in childhood and 1% in adults, although the histological spectrum of sarcoma types is different in these age groups. Soft tissue sarcomas are associated with considerable morbidity and mortality.
Aim: To increase understanding of the underlying molecular biology in rhabdomyosarcomas and liposarcomas that will lead to identifying prognostic markers and more effective therapeutic approaches for individual patients.
Testicular germ cell tumours of adolescents and adults
Evidence supports the derivation of testicular germ cell tumours from primordial germ cells or gonocytes. Testicular germ cell tumours are the most common solid malignancy in young adult Caucasian men with two histological subtypes, the seminomas and non seminomas.
Although largely curable, long-term risks are associated with their treatment, including cardiovascular disease and secondary malignancies.
Sarcoma Molecular Pathology Team
The current aims of the Team are to identify therapeutic targets and/or molecular markers that will aid the treatment of patients with specific types of soft tissue sarcomas as well as continuing a more minor interest in testicular germ cell tumours.
