Dr Helen Arthur

Helen Arthur

Molecular Cardiovascular Medicine Group
Institute of Human Genetics
Newcastle-upon-Tyne

Turning off the blood supply to tumours

Dr Helen Arthur works at the Institute of Human Genetics in Newcastle. She is studying a protein called endoglin, which helps tumours to grow a blood supply. This process, known as angiogenesis, is an essential part of the growth and spread of cancer. Finding a way to block this protein could lead to future cancer treatments.

Endoglin is found on the surface of cells forming the blood vessels that feed tumours. And high levels of the protein are found in tumours that are likely to spread aggressively through the body, and respond poorly to treatment.

lung cancer cells and blood vesselsDr Arthur and her team are investigating what happens when endoglin is removed from lung and breast cancer cells and how this affects their ability to grow and spread. The researchers are also studying the role of endoglin in blood vessel cells grown in the lab.

The results of Dr Arthur’s research will help us to understand more about the growth of blood vessels in tumours. And her work could provide important lab models for the development and testing of powerful new cancer treatments, designed to stop the growth and spread of the disease.

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