Understanding Cancer
The healthy cells of the mammary gland behave differently depending on developmental stages. They can be very mobile during puberty when the mammary gland is developing, but in adulthood these cells become much more stationary. By better understanding the molecular ‘machines’ that switch that cell behaviour, we hope to inhibit the spread of breast cancer in the body.
Dr. Ing Swie Goping, CRINA member since 2014
Professor, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry
Cancer develops when changes within cells cause uncontrolled cell growth or division. These changes, or mutations, cause normal cells to become cancerous, tumours to grow, and allow cancer to spread within the body. Our scientists are studying differences between cancer cells and normal cells, learning how they are able to evade the immune system, and how to prevent, detect or reverse these changes.
Here’s how we’re doing it
- Discovering how external factors like age, diet, or environmental exposure may influence genes involved in initiating cancer
- Exploring DNA damage and repair
- Studying anti-tumour immune mechanisms
- Limiting tumour progression by inhibiting the formation of new blood vessels
- Learning how cancer progresses to metastatic disease
- Understanding how all of the different cells in the cancer influence tumour growth and metastasis
- Exploring how gut bacteria influence cancer
