Breast cancer most often kills by spreading to the brain, where hormone therapies fail. This research reveals a signaling pathway that drives tumor growth in both pre- and postmenopausal settings. Identifying alternative activators of this pathway opens new therapeutic opportunities for deadly brain metastases.

Cancer cells survive extreme oxidative stress by importing lipoproteins that deliver vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant. This creates a fire-resistant shield that prevents ferroptotic cell death. Blocking vitamin E delivery or lipoprotein uptake removes this protection, revealing a new vulnerability that could influence tumor growth and treatment response.

My research investigates collagen-binding receptors on breast cancer cells as potential biomarkers to distinguish harmless early-stage tumours from aggressive ones. Using genetically matched 3D cancer models, the project identifies how receptor activity affects invasion and collagen organization, aiming to reduce overtreatment and support clearer clinical decisions for early breast cancer patients.

My research investigates tiny particles released by metastatic cancer cells—messengers that help cancer hide from the immune system. By capturing and analysing these particles, the study aims to uncover how they evade detection and to develop new strategies that “teach” the immune system to recognise and neutralise them, leading to safer, more effective cancer therapies.

This research investigates a novel two-drug therapy for ovarian cancer that kills cancer cells without harming healthy tissues and partially reactivates the suppressed immune system. The PhD work explores how this immune “reawakening” occurs, aiming to identify new strategies to enhance it and create more effective, resistance-proof treatments.