Paediatric Solid Tumour Biology and Therapeutics Group

Professor Louis Chesler’s group is investigating the genetic causes for the childhood cancers, neuroblastoma, medulloblastoma and rhabdomyosarcoma. 

Research, projects and publications in this group

Our group's aim is to improve the treatment and survival of children with neuroblastoma, medulloblastoma and rhabdomyosarcoma.

The goal of our laboratory is to improve the treatment and survival of children with neuroblastoma, medulloblastoma and rhabdomyosarcoma, three paediatric solid tumours in which high-risk patient cohorts can be defined by alterations in a single oncogene. We focus on the role of the MYCN oncogene, since aberrant expression of MYCNis very significantly associated with high-risk in all three diseases and implies that they may have a common cell-of-origin.

Elucidating the molecular signalling pathways that control expression of the MYCN oncoprotein and targeting these pathways with novel therapeutics is a major goal of the laboratory. We use a variety of innovative preclinical drug development platforms for this purpose.

Technologically, we focus on genetically engineered cancer models incorporating novel imaging (optical and fluorescent) modalities that can be used as markers to monitor disease progression and therapeutic response.

Our group has several key objectives:

  • Mechanistically dissect the role of the MYCN oncogene, and other key oncogenic driver genes in poor-outcome paediatric solid tumours (neuroblastoma, medulloblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma).
  • Develop novel therapeutics targeting MYCN oncoproteins and other key oncogenic drivers
  • Develop improved genetic cancer models dually useful for studies of oncogenesis and preclinical development of novel therapeutics.
  • Use such models to develop and functionally validate optical imaging modalities useful as surrogate markers of tumour progression in paediatric cancer.

Professor Louis Chesler

Clinical Senior Lecturer/Group Leader:

Paediatric Solid Tumour Biology and Therapeutics Professor Louis Chesler (Profile pic)

Professor Louis Chesler is working to understand the biology of children’s cancers and use that information to discover and develop new personalised approaches to cancer treatment. His work focuses on improving the understanding of the role of the MYCN oncogene.

Researchers in this group

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Email: [email protected]

Location: Sutton

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Phone: +44 20 3437 6124

Email: [email protected]

Location: Sutton

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Phone: +44 20 8722 4186

Email: [email protected]

Location: Sutton

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Phone: +44 20 3437 3501

Email: [email protected]

Location: Sutton

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Email: [email protected]

Location: Sutton

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Phone: +44 20 8722 4361

Email: [email protected]

Location: Sutton

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Location: Sutton

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Phone: +44 20 3437 6118

Email: [email protected]

Location: Sutton

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Email: [email protected]

Location: Sutton

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Email: [email protected]

Location: Sutton

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Email: [email protected]

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Location: Sutton

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OrcID: 0000-0003-3977-7020

Phone: +44 20 3437 6109

Email: [email protected]

Location: Sutton

I obtained an MSci in Biochemistry from the University of Glasgow in 2018. In October 2018 I joined the labs of Dr Michael Hubank and Professor Andrea Sottoriva to investigate the use of liquid biopsy to monitor clonal frequency and emergence of resistance mutations in paediatric cancers.

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Email: [email protected]

Location: Sutton

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Email: [email protected]

Location: Sutton

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Email: [email protected]

Location: Sutton

Professor Louis Chesler's group have written 113 publications

Most recent new publication 4/2025

See all their publications

Vacancies in this group

Working in this group

Postdoctoral Training Fellow

  • Chelsea
  • Structural Biology
  • Salary Range: £45,600 - £55,000 per annum
  • Fixed term

Under the leadership of Claudio Alfieri, we are seeking to appoint a Postdoctoral Training Fellow to join the Molecular Mechanisms of Cell Cycle Regulation Group at the Chester Beatty Laboratories, Fulham Road in London. This project aims to investigate the molecular mechanisms of cell cycle regulation by macromolecular complexes involved in cell proliferation decisions, by combining genome engineering, proteomics and in situ structural biology. For general information on Post Doc's at The ICR can be found here. Key Requirements The successful candidate must have a PhD in cellular biochemistry and experience in Cryo-EM and CLEM is desirable. The ICR has a workforce agreement stating that Postdoctoral Training Fellows can only be employed for up to 7 years as PDTF at the ICR, providing total postdoctoral experience (including previous employment at this level elsewhere) does not exceed 7 years Department/Directorate Information: The candidate will work in the Molecular Mechanisms of Cell Cycle Regulation Group within the ICR Division of Structural Biology headed by Prof. Laurence Pearl and Prof. Sebastian Guettler. The division has state-of-the-art facilities for protein expression and biophysics/x-ray crystallography, in particular the Electron Microscopy Facility is equipped with a Glacios 200kV with Falcon 4i detector with Selectris energy filter and the ICR has access to Krios microscopes via eBIC and the LonCEM consortium. We encourage all applicants to access the job pack attached for more detailed information regarding this role. For an informal discussion regarding the role, please contact Claudio Alfieri via Email on [email protected]

Data Scientist

  • Sutton
  • Cell and Molecular Biology
  • Salary Range: £39,805 to £49,023 per annum
  • Fixed term

Under the guidance of Professor Trevor Graham, we are seeking to recruit a Data Scientist to support Data Science research across the ICR. The successful candidate will particularly work on the analysis of spatial data including multiplex immunohistochemistry, H&Es and spatial transcriptomics. About you The successful candidate must have: A PhD in quantitative subject, or likely to be awarded PhD in the near future. Research experience equivalent to PhD level will be considered. Undergraduate degree, or Masters or equivalent in a quantitative subject. Skills in bioinformatics computing coding, in languages including R, Python and other scripting languages as is appropriate. Experience of using high performance computing (HPC) systems for scientific computing. Experience of computational biology research methodologies pertinent to the role. Department/Directorate Information The Data Science Committee is chaired by Professor Trevor Graham, providing academic leadership of data science at the ICR to maximise the impact of our cancer research, by applying innovative data science and computation tools (in addition to our traditional areas of strength) to tackle the important cancer questions and ensuring infrastructure is considered to enable this. What we offer A dynamic and supportive research environment Access to state-of-the-art facilities and professional development opportunities Collaboration with leading researchers in the field Competitive salary and pension We encourage all applicants to access the job pack attached for more detailed information regarding this role. For an informal discussion regarding the role, please contact Prof Trevor Graham [email protected].

Industrial partnership opportunities with this group

Opportunity: A novel test for predicting future cancer risk in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Commissioner: Professor Trevor Graham

Recent discoveries from this group

10/04/25

The Institute of Cancer Research, London, strongly welcomes the decision by NICE to recommend the targeted breast cancer drug, capivasertib, in combination with fulvestrant, for treating the most common type of advanced breast cancer with specific biomarker alterations (PIK3CA, AKT1 or PTEN).

The judgement makes this new drug combination available for 1,100 patients a year on the NHS in England and Wales with hormone receptor (HR) positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2) negative breast cancer, which has advanced or spread following treatment.

The new drug is suitable for patients' tumours with mutations or alterations in the PIK3CA, AKT1 or PTEN genes – found in approximately half of patients with this form of breast cancer. The treatment could eventually benefit around 3,000 patients a year. The treatment could eventually benefit around 3,000 patients a year.

The recommendation follows the approval of capivasertib by the Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in July 2024.

A first-in-class drug

Capivasertib (trade name Truqap ) is a first-in-class drug that works by blocking the activity of the cancer driving protein molecule AKT.

Capivasertib was discovered by AstraZeneca subsequent to a collaboration with Astex Pharmaceuticals (and its collaboration with The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) and Cancer Research Technology Limited).

Working in the Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, Professor Nicholas Turner  of the ICR and The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust headed the international phase III CAPItello-291 trial, which led to its approval. The trial was sponsored and funded by AstraZeneca.

Results from the CAPItello-291 trial showed that capivasertib doubled the time it took for cancer to progress in people with advanced HR positive, HER-2 negative breast cancer with tumours PI3K, AKT, or PTEN alterations – from 3.1 months for patients who received hormone therapy alone, to 7.3 months for those who received hormone therapy combined with capivasertib.

Participants on the trial had experienced their cancer recur or progress despite standard hormone treatments, and the majority had also previously been treated with a CDK4/6 inhibitor – a class of drugs that stop cancer cells from multiplying. 

In the UK, patients with advanced HR-positive HER-2 negative breast cancer are otherwise offered the option to continue to receive fulvestrant hormone therapy, which is often ineffective when given on its own, or chemotherapy, a treatment which carries debilitating side effects. There is great need for new treatment options.

Targeting the AKT protein

The development of capivasertib followed years of fundamental research at the ICR, aimed at understanding how the AKT protein is regulated. The AKT protein had been identified as an attractive target for anti-cancer drugs, due to its involvement in the growth and survival of cancer cells. In 2002, ICR scientists cracked and published the 3D structure of AKT and showed how the protein is activated.

Researchers in the ICR’s Centre for Cancer Drug Discovery, with funding from Cancer Research UK, then worked in collaboration with Astex Pharmaceuticals to design small-molecule inhibitors which would target AKT, based on its 3D structure.

In 2005, a series of prototype drug compounds discovered by the ICR and Astex was shown to have very promising activity against a range of human tumours grown in mice and was licensed to AstraZeneca. Then, in 2010, AstraZeneca announced its discovery of capivasertib and began to develop the drug as a potential treatment for various forms of cancer.

The initial clinical development of capivasertib was centred on an early-phase trial which was led by the ICR and its partner hospital The Royal Marsden. Subsequently, phase II studies were completed in the UK in collaboration with the UK Cancer Research Network.

The trials used biomarkers that were developed at the ICR to show proof of concept that the AKT protein was inhibited by capivasertib.

Patient case study – ‘My doctors say it is working and I feel that it is too – I feel so well.’

Elen smiles in sunlight

 

Elen, from Anglesey, worked as an NHS nurse and in social care for 30 years. She was diagnosed with primary invasive lobular breast cancer in 2008. After treatment which gave her eight years cancer-free, the disease has since returned in her bones, stomach and bowel. She has been taking capivasertib since February this year. She said:

“My nurses have described it to me as ‘groundbreaking’ and a ‘gamechanger’ – and for me it has been brilliant. I have had no side effects and it is much kinder than previous drugs I have been on. It is the only drug I have ever been able to take at the recommended dose without needing any adjustments. I am doing well on it. It has not affected my energy levels and my cancer markers are down, one of them by 50%. My doctors say it is working and I feel that it is too – I feel so well. It has given me hope. I would like to get at least two good years out of it.”

‘One of the most effective drugs we have seen’

Professor Nicholas Turner, Professor of Molecular Oncology at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, and Consultant Medical Oncologist at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, who led the CAPItello-291 trial, said:

“This positive NICE recommendation means that thousands of NHS patients with advanced breast cancer with these specific biomarkers can now receive this innovative targeted treatment to keep their cancer from progressing for longer. It’s an immensely rewarding moment to see this drug provide patients with a treatment option and precious extra time with their families.

“It is now crucial that advanced breast cancer patients have their cancer tested to identify those who could benefit from this capivasertib combination.”

‘A triumph’

Professor Kristian Helin, Chief Executive of The Institute of Cancer Research, London, said:

"This announcement is a triumph that will improve treatment for these patients with the most common type of advanced breast cancer. Around half of patients with this kind of breast cancer have mutations in one or more of the genes and for these patients, capivasertib can halt disease progression. I’m delighted that access to the drug is being expanded to NHS patients in England and Wales who are in desperate need of better options. 

“The approval is also a significant achievement for the ICR, and a great success story for British science. Decades of discovery science work and a major drug discovery project by ICR researchers, along with a crucial partnership with Astex Pharmaceuticals, paved the way to the discovery of capivasertib by AstraZeneca.”

‘Immensely gratifying’

Professor Paul Workman, former Chief Executive of The Institute of Cancer Research, London, and former Director of the Centre for Cancer Drug Discovery, and an active researcher in the AKT drug discovery project, said:

“I am delighted to celebrate this landmark moment and see capivasertib become available on the NHS. The drug’s discovery and development, following early fundamental research, has been a long scientific journey for myself, and the outstanding teams of scientists at the ICR, Astex and AstraZeneca. It’s immensely gratifying that years of collaboration have contributed to this new cancer drug, which has the potential to improve the lives of so many NHS patients living with advanced breast cancer."