Dr Janet Shipley

Dr Janet Shipley

Section of Molecular Carcinogenesis
The Institute of Cancer Research
Sutton

Studying faulty genes in childhood cancer

Dr Janet Shipley leads the Molecular Cytogenetics Team at The Institute of Cancer Research. She is investigating how faulty genes lead to the development of a type of childhood cancer called rhabdomyosarcoma. Some forms of this disease are very difficult to treat, so new approaches are urgently needed. Dr Shipley's research is revealing new targets for the development of drugs to improve the outcome for children with rhabdomyosarcoma.

Faulty Genes

Faults in certain genes have long been known to play an important role in the development of rhabdomyosarcoma. More recently, Dr Shipley's team discovered that another gene, MYCN, is also faulty in this disease and is associated with a worse outcome for patients.

Dr Shipley is now looking at tissue samples taken from rhabdomyosarcoma patients to investigate the potential relationship between MYCN and other gene known to be involved in the disease.

The researchers are also studying rhabdomyosarcoma cells in the lab to determine the effects of blocking the activity of some of these genes. This work could reveal how best to develop new drugs specifically targeting these genetic faults.

MicroRNAs

Dr Shipley is also focusing on the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in rhabdomyosarcoma. These little molecules are a relatively recent discovery but are now known to control the activity of many genes and play a key role in many types of cancer.

The researchers are studying over 100 rhabdomyosarcoma samples to look for miRNAs that are linked to a worse outcome for patients. In the future, these could serve as useful 'markers' allowing doctors to identify and treat children with more aggressive forms of the disease. And they may be good targets for new cancer drugs.

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