BACKGROUND TO THE RESEARCH PROJECT

There is evidence from current research work undertaken in this lab that a protein called ERK5 can promote the progression of osteosarcoma. Clinical studies have also revealed a strong link between ERK5 signalling and outcomes for osteosarcoma patients.  A recent study of samples from osteosarcoma patients showed that high levels of ERK5 correlated with disease progression (87% of patients), resistance to chemotherapy (53% of patients), and was detected in 70% of metastases, where it correlated with decreased overall survival.  

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BACKGROUND TO THE RESEARCH PROJECT

The most common bone cancer in young people is osteosarcoma. It is an aggressive cancer and unfortunately treatment hasn't progressed much in 40 years. This team at Southampton have created a laboratory model of osteosarcoma to try and better understand how this disease arises from normal bone cells and to test potential new therapies to prevent the growth of this cancer. 

The origin of osteosarcoma cells in bone is still unknown, and this lack of understanding prevents early detection of this disease. Bone grows from specialised cells located in the bone marrow (the soft, jelly-like tissue found in the centre of most bones). In Hannah’s PhD project, the team were interested to see if there were differences between the cells of the bone marrow from distinct locations of the long thigh bone and whether these differences might impact their ability to initiate disease. 

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