Developing improved therapeutic strategies targeting GC

Gastric cancer is associated with poor patient outcome due to advanced stage at diagnosis and lack of treatment options. Most deaths from GC occur as a result of recurrence of disease following surgery and/or treatment. We have recently identified SFRP4 (secreted frizzled related protein 4) as a gene which is highly expressed in GC and is involved in the invasion and ultimately recurrence of gastric cancer. We hypothesise that inhibition of SFRP4 will reduce the invasive capacity of the cancer resulting in better patient outcome. This project will test the efficacy of a novel neutralizing antibody targeting SFRP4 using in vitro and potentially in vivo model systems. This project would involve cell culture, molecular biology and, potentially, animal model systems. Relevant publications: 1. Busuttil, R.A. et al. (2020) SFRP4 drives invasion in gastric cancer and is an early marker of recurrence Gastric Cancer Dec 4. doi: 10.1007/s10120-020-01143-8. 2. Busuttil RA et al. (2018) An orthotopic mouse model of gastric cancer invasion and metastasis. Sci Rep. Jan 16;8(1):825. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-19025-y.