Prof Bass Hassan

Bass Hassan

Department of Medical Oncology
Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine
Oxford

Blocking growth signals to beat cancer

Professor Bass Hassan at The Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine is investigating the faulty signals that drive cancer cell growth. He is also developing new cancer treatments that aim to block the action of these key growth signals.

His research is currently focusing on a protein called IGF-II (insulin-like growth factor II). IGF-II belongs to a large family of 'growth factors' - chemical signals in the body that can encourage the growth of both normal cells and cancer cells. Increased levels of IGF-II have been linked to the development of several types of cancer, including bowel, liver, bone and childhood cancers.

In particular, his team are investigating how IGF-II promotes cancer cell growth and how to block its action. They have developed an experimental drug that acts as a tiny pair of molecular handcuffs, that 'lock up' IGF-II and prevent it acting on cancer cells. This IGF-II 'trap' is based around the growth factor's naturally-occurring receptor, which binds exclusively to IGF-II in the body. This design will help to ensure that the trap only mops up IGF-II.

The researchers have already shown that this approach can reduce cancer cell growth in the lab and plan to study this potential new treatment in patient clinical trials in the future.

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