'Unlocking' Cancer Cells-New Advances From The University Of Leicester, UK
At a public lecture to be given on 20 November, entitled 'Knock and the Door will be opened' Professor Andrew Tobin will describe how cutting edge medical research aims to tackle the scourge of cancer.
Professor Tobin and his team for the University's Department of Cell Physiology and Pharmacology are examining a family of cell surface proteins that they believe could play a critical role in targeting cancer cells.
The proteins- G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) - exist in hundreds of different types in the body. Said Professor Tobin: "When we are frightened, and our hear beats faster, this is because adrenaline activates one type of GPCR in the heart.
"When we feel depressed, anxious or elated GPCRs are at work. Pain can be both perceived and relieved through the action of GPCRs. When we smell our favourite dinner, see a movie or taste a glass of champagne, GPCRs are centrally involved, receiving information and passing it on to other cells. They are everywhere and involved in nearly every biological process."
Professor Tobin said it was possible to target specific cells in the body because different GPCRs present on the target cells can be activated or inhibited by specific drugs.
"When a GPCR is stimulated, there is an explosion of activity in the cell that results in the cell contracting, releasing hormones, moving or conducting an electrical current. It is as if the flood gates have been opened. It is our aim to harness this activity in the development of new anti-cancer drugs. By stimulating the correct GPCRs on cancer cells we aim to change the activity of the cell in a way that helps chemotherapeutic drugs to work specifically on the cancer cells. Understanding GPCRs as gateways to the activity of a cell will help in the design of these new anti-cancer drugs."
Professor Tobin's inaugural lecture will explore how cell activity can be controlled by stimulating GPCRs and how this can be used in the treatment of disease. It will also assess the problem of how illness can be tackled where there is no GPCR- for example, malaria.
"Knock and the Door Will Be Opened" GPCRs - the Gateway to the Cell - takes place on 20 November 2007 at 5.30pm in the Ken Edwards Lecture Theatre 1. It is open to the public and free.
University of Leicester
- A member of the 1994 Group of universities that share a commitment to research excellence, high quality teaching and an outstanding student experience.
- Ranked top for student satisfaction in England (jointly with Oxford) among mainstream universities (average score of 4.4 out of 5 for overall satisfaction)
- Ranked as a Top 20 university by The Sunday Times University Guide, The Guardian University Guide and the UK Good University Guide
- One of just 23 UK universities to feature in world's top 200- Shanghai Jiao Tong International Index, 2005-07.
- Short listed University of the Year in 2007 by The Sunday Times and Short listed Higher Education Institution of the Year - THES awards 2005 and 2006 - Students' Union of the Year award 2005, short listed 2006
Founded in 1921, the University of Leicester has 19,000 students from 136 countries. Teaching in 18 subject areas has been graded Excellent by the Quality Assurance Agency- including 14 successive scores - a consistent run of success matched by just one other UK University. Leicester is world renowned for the invention of DNA Fingerprinting by Professor Sir Alec Jeffreys and houses Europe's biggest academic Space Research Centre. 90% of staff are actively engaged in high quality research and 13 subject areas have been awarded the highest rating of 5* and 5 for research quality, demonstrating excellence at an international level. The University's research grant income places it among the top 20 UK research universities. The University employs over 3,000 people, has an annual turnover of £184m, covers an estate of 94 hectares and is engaged in a £300m investment programme- among the biggest of any UK university.
http://www.leicester.ac.uk
"Deblocarea" celule canceroase-nou avans, de la Universitatea din Leicester, Marea Britanie - 'Unlocking' Cancer Cells-New Advances From The University Of Leicester, UK - articole medicale engleza - startsanatate