The Osteosarcoma Metastasis Network (OMeNet) came together following the Children with Cancer UK and BCRT sponsored 1st International Osteosarcoma Symposium in London, which highlighted the need for increased collaboration across groups with track records in osteosarcoma research.
The Bone Cancer Research Trust has funded ICONIC, a UK wide collaborative project dealing mainly with clinical aspects of osteosarcoma. In addition the Sarcoma GeCIP has been set up to explore molecular data from sarcoma (including osteosarcoma) patients as part of the 100,000 Genomes Project, to identify and better define the different tumours based on the genetics, appearance and response to treatment. However, no such collaboration exists for preclinical research – until now.
In order for any of the outcomes from the above pioneering projects to be translated for patient benefit and treatments, further pre-clinical research will inevitably be needed. In recognition of this, OMeNet has identified key research strategies to explore and interrogate particular aspects of the metastatic process in osteosarcoma. OMeNet will pave the way for faster and more accurate translation of novel findings from ICONIC and the Sarcoma GeCIP, as well as setting the standard for future pre-clinical research into osteosarcoma and other primary bone cancer metastasis.
Founding members of OMeNet:
Prof Alison Gartland
Prof Alison Gartland obtained her PhD at The University of Liverpool, and then completed Post-Doctoral Researcher positions at IGMM, CNRS France and University of Massachusetts Medical School, USA. She is a Professor of Bone and Cancer Cell Biology at The University of Sheffield with expertise in purinergic signalling, bone and cancer cell biology, in vitro and in-vivo murine models of Musculoskeletal disorders. Her principal research area focus is on developing fundamental understanding of the basic cellular, molecular and genetic mechanisms responsible for musculoskeletal disease and both primary and secondary bone cancer. Prof Gartland has over 50 publications in leading journals in the field of bone and cancer and has also authored several book chapters on human bone cell culture techniques and osteosarcoma. Current projects include looking at the mechanisms of breast cancer metastasis to bone, osteosarcoma chemoresistance and metastasis, and screening for new drug treatments. Prof Gartland is also passionate about engaging Medical Student in research and raising awareness of rare diseases especially primary bone cancer conditions early on in their curriculum.
Professor Gartland has previously been awarded funding by
the Bone Cancer Research Trust. Her
project can be found here
Prof Agi Grigoriadis
Professor Grigoriadis obtained his PhD at the University of
Toronto, identifying novel multipotent skeletogenic mesenchymal stem cell
populations, and received a MRC Canada Fellowship for postdoctoral work at the
IMP in Vienna where he established transgenic models of bone cancer and
metabolic bone disease
He is a Professor of Bone and Cartilage Cell Biology at King’s
College London and is interested in how bone and cartilage tissues are formed
during embryonic development and in the post-natal remodelling skeleton, and
how deregulated molecular mechanisms drive metabolic bone disease, in
particular, skeletal cancers.
He has a particular interest in identifying signalling
pathways and novel therapeutic targets involved in osteosarcoma growth and
metastasis using in vivo models.
Professor Grigoriadis has previously received funding from
the Bone Cancer Research Trust for several research projects, which can be found
here
Professor Grigoriadis presented his work at the 1st
International Osteosarcoma Research Symposium.
A video of his presentation can be viewed here.
Mr Kenny Rankin
Mr Kenny Rankin is a Clinical Fellow and Honorary Consultant in
Orthopaedic Oncology with special interests in the basic science of
musculoskeletal oncology, in particular osteosarcoma. He is an
orthopaedic surgeon, treating patients within the North of England Bone and Soft
Tissue Tumour Service hosted at the Newcastle upon Tyne University Hospitals
NHS. Foundations Trust.
His research focuses on the evaluation of cell surface proteins
and enzymes relevant to sarcoma and exploration of the extra cellular matrix in
solid cancers. He has a
particular interest in developing patient derived xenograft models of osteosarcoma
to better understand osteosarcoma progression and metastasis, with the ultimate
aim of developing new treatments.
Mr Rankin has previously been awarded funding by BCRT. His projects can be found here
Mr Rankin presented his work at the 1st International Osteosarcoma Research Symposium. A video of his presentation can be viewed here.
Dr Katie Finegan
Dr Finegan’s research group investigates the mechanisms by
which mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) regulate cancer biology and
therapeutic response. Using a combination of established pharmacological
inhibitors, novel pre-clinical mouse models, human samples and in vivo techniques,
her group’s central aim is to translate findings at the molecular level into
valid therapeutic avenues and/or biomarkers of cancer progression and therapy
response. I have two ongoing projects working on osteosarcoma. These
projects use orthotopic pre-clinical models and novel in vivo molecular imaging
techniques to understand how a particular MAPK (called ERK5) controls the
metastatic spread of osteosarcoma and its response to chemotherapy
Dr Finegan presented her work at the 1st International Osteosarcoma Research Symposium. The video of her presentation can be found here.
Dr Darrell Green
Dr Darrell Green is a Lecturer in Medicine and Group Leader at Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia. He heads the RNA Biology / Bone Cancer Laboratory situated at the birthplace of “RNA silencing” on the Norwich Research Park and has access to state-of-the-art sequencing platforms and a clinical trials unit. His research combines genetics, cell and molecular biology with next generation sequencing and bioinformatics to study non-coding RNA in bone cancer, circulating tumour cells plus other biological processes. Darrell has a strong interest in understanding the cellular and molecular biology of metastasis and has developed several technologies to isolate and profile metastatic cells in patient blood.
Dr Helen Roberts
Dr Helen Roberts (nee Owen) gained a PhD from the University
of Glasgow whilst based at the Roslin Institute, where she investigated the
molecular events surrounding steroid-induced skeletal growth retardation.
Following this, Dr Roberts moved to the University of Sheffield where she
investigated epigenetic biomarkers which were able to predict cancer
progression. She has since coordinated research projects both at KU Leuven in
Belgium, where she researched the role of epigenetics and autophagy in critical
illness-induced bone loss, and at Barts and the London School of Medicine and
Dentistry where she used genome-wide molecular profiling to identify epigenetic
biomarkers associated with inflammation and immune suppression in critically
ill patients. Dr Roberts is currently a Senior Lecturer in Life Sciences at
Middlesex University, and coordinates a research track investigating the
epigenetic regulation of aberrant cellular behaviour and subsequent skeletal
tissue morbidity. She has a particular interest in the role of epigenetics and
autophagy in the regulation of osteosarcoma metastasis and chemoresistance.
Dr Roberts has previously been awarded research funding from
the Bone Cancer Research Trust, which can be found here
Dr Roberts presented her work at the 1st
International Osteosarcoma Research Symposium.
A video of her presentation can be viewed here