Genetics & Evolution of Cancer

Understanding the genetic basis of cancer has helped us to identify the precise mechanisms that underpin disease, helping us to track the progressively aggressive evolution of some cancers in response to treatment. These insights continue to drive the development of prognostic biomarkers and identification of clinically meaningful new drug targets.

Theme Leads: Professor Jude Fitzgibbon, Professor Trevor Graham
Key Cancer Types:  lymphoma, colorectal, oesophageal, pancreatic, prostate, breast
Research Focus
Research Focus

To understand the mechanisms underpinning genetic instability, the natural history and response to treatment of premalignant diseases, and the genetics of both blood and solid cancers. Mechanistic, genomic and evolutionary insights drive predictive biomarker development and the identification of new drug targets. This is made possible by significant investment in collections of clinically annotated cancer specimens and core bioinformatics support, which has provided an unrivalled opportunity to trace the genetic-clinical evolution of cancer over time. We not only seek to understand cancer genetics, but to apply this to patient outcomes, with the aim of improving diagnosis and stratifying personal treatment plans, to minimise treatment failure and maximise survival.

The main areas of focus are as follows:

  • Precision medicine in haematological malignancies
  • Modelling cancer evolution
  • Genome instability
Key Achievements
Key Publications
Key Senior Researchers:

Professor Nicholas Lemoine
Professor Claude Chelala
Dr Pedro Cutillas
Dr Jeff Davies
Dr Gabriella Ficz

Dr Susana Godinho
Professor John Gribben
Professor David Kelsell
Professor Yong-Jie Lu
Dr Sarah Martin

Dr Sarah McClelland
Dr Stuart McDonald
Dr Jessica Okosun
Professor Yaohe Wang

Operations Manager: Gavin Craig

Explore our other Research Themes
Cancer Prevention & Risk Reduction
Screening & Early Diagnosis
Targeting Tumour Cells
Targeting the Tumour Microenvironment