Research summary
When it come to colorectal cancer, there is an unmet need to improve patient outcomes, particularly when cancers resist chemotherapy.
Dr. Catherine O’Brien, Canada Research Chair in Translational Research in Colorectal Cancer, is basing her research on the insight that non-genetic mechanisms play a key role in driving both the formation of tumours and their ability to resist treatment. She and her research team are trying to identify and better understand what drives chemotherapy-induced “persister” cells (those that can resist treatment). They are using that information to develop new treatments that target the mechanisms that allow some cells to evade chemotherapy. As well, O’Brien and her team are investigating cancer stem-like cells, which can also resist chemotherapy.