Prof Ron Laskey

avatar

Cancer Cell Unit
Hutchison/MRC Research Centre
Cambridge

Detecting cancer by understanding how cells divide

Professor Ron Laskey is Honorary Director of the MRC Cancer Cell Unit at the Hutchison/MRC Research Centre in Cambridge. He is world-renowned for his research into understanding how DNA is copied inside cells - a fundamental process in normal and cancer cells. In July 2009, Professor Laskey was awarded the Royal Medal by the Royal Society for his pivotal contributions in this field. The results of his research are laying the foundations for developing new ways to detect cancer.

Understanding how cells divide

Professor Laskey's team is studying how DNA is copied, or replicated, inside our cells when they divide to form two 'daughter' cells - a process that often goes wrong in cancer cells.

DNA replication involves several key proteins, some of which are known as 'MCM' proteins. Cancer cells tend to divide at a high rate, and make copies of their DNA as they do so. So MCM proteins are often found in high levels in cancer cells, and this can distinguish them from healthy cells.

The team is also studying several other proteins involved in DNA replication, so that they can better understand this process and how it goes wrong in cancer.

Detecting cancer

In collaboration with Dr Nick Coleman, also based at the MRC Cancer Cell Unit, Professor Laskey is exploiting the fact that cancer cells have high MCM levels to develop sensitive new tests for the disease.

These could help doctors to diagnose people with cancer earlier, which would greatly improve their chances of successful treatment.

Using a special antibody that can stick to MCM proteins, the team has successfully detected cancer and pre-cancerous cells in a variety of tissues and bodily fluids. These include cervical smears, sputum (spit), urine and stool samples.

This approach could potentially be used to diagnose many different cancers - including cervical, lung, mouth, bladder and bowel cancer.

Several of these tests are currently being evaluated in large scale clinical trials.

icon-a-z-20x20

Visit our A-Z topic pages

 

If you want to help support more research like this, please visit our Donate Now page.