Vousden lab

Tumour and Host Metabolism Laboratory

Our research focuses on how changes in metabolism affect cancer development and progression.  

In addition to cancer cell intrinsic alterations, we study the cross talk between tumour and normal cells in the cancer microenvironment. We also investigate how cancer affects the whole body, including the influence of primary tumours on distant organs and the interplay between cancers and systemic conditions such as obesity, cachexia and aging.

Cancer cells depend on the ability to access the nutrients that they need to grow, divide and survive. Our past work examined the role of the tumour suppressor p53 in regulating cancer cell metabolism and the ability of tumour cells to survive nutrient starvation. This work has now expanded to an exploration of how changes in diet could help to limit cancer progression, focusing on dietary depletion of specific amino acids. Part of the response to such approaches reflects changes in oxidative stress, and we have used pancreatic cancer models to show the effect of modulation of reactive oxygen species on tumour progression. Our work seeks to understand the effects of antioxidants on tumorigenesis, and to look for cancer-specific vulnerabilities that could be harnessed for effective cancer treatment.