Joining forces: combining expertise to stop cancer growth
What do a chemist with a background in enzymes and neurodegenerative disease and a biologist who’s worked with cancer stem cells have in common? In the case of Dr Saul Michue-Seijas and Loren Waters (BSc 2020, MRes 2021), they have a common goal of eradicating brain tumours.
Glioblastoma is the most common form of brain cancer in adults, and often a patient survives less than 15 months from diagnosis. For these fast-growing tumours, current treatment involves a combination of surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy.
Those of us who have watched loved ones go through these treatments know that they can be very harsh. The limited selectivity of chemo and radiotherapy means that there are many upsetting side effects, as healthy cells are affected as well as the cancerous cells. What’s worse is that stem-like glioblastoma cells can be left behind after treatment, and so often the tumour grows back.
Loren and Saul are two early-career researchers, supported by donors and fundraisers, to bring their skills and experience together to develop a new treatment.
Saul’s knowledge of enzymes is one part of this collaboration.
“In my research into rare childhood neurodegenerative diseases, I’ve been targeting an enzyme (acid ceramidase (ACDase)) located in the part of the cell responsible for recycling waste material and regulating cellular processes. When this enzyme goes into overdrive, it leads to accumulation of lipids that become harmful to the cells and eventually leads to the development of disease.
"What makes illnesses of the brain particularly hard to treat is what is called the blood-brain barrier. It’s a natural protective layer that regulates the passage of molecules into the brain and prevents harmful substances in the blood like toxins, viruses, and bacteria from entering the central nervous system.
"We’ve been developing inhibitors – small molecules which can cross this blood-brain barrier. We want to use them to treat cells in the brain. The inhibitors bind to the ACDase enzyme and block its activity, preventing the development of disease.
"As we were researching the complex role of ACDase in regulating cellular processes and its involvement in different diseases, we began to ask questions about the application of this research to brain cancer, a disease that relies on cell growth.”
Loren’s experience with cancer stem cells was exactly what the project needed.
“My background is in biology and oncology (cancer) at the Medicines Discovery Institute at Cardiff University, working with cancer stem cells and leukaemia.
"The inhibitors that Saul was talking about have so much potential. We want to remove and eradicate the cancer, using our inhibitors to slow and stop cancer cell growth.
"We are using patient stem cells and using the research on ACDase to develop a specific target for a combination of treatment. We hope this will be less harsh and more effective than the current avenues.”
As well as their potential to prevent the growth of cancer cells, Loren and Saul have spotted another advantage of using these inhibitors in cancer treatment.
“We think that the inhibitor Saul has been working on makes the cells more sensitive to radiotherapy too, so we think we could do a bigger job with less treatment – and with fewer side effects.”
Although much of their work is done in lab coats behind screens and microscopes, both researchers are motivated by the impact this research has on patients.
“Drug discovery really excites me as I can see clearly the impact on people’s lives”, Saul affirms.
“We’re really grateful for the opportunity to do this research – we strongly believe we can improve treatment and give something back to the patients who have allowed us to use their samples, providing hope and future impact.”
"We are thankful to have the Medicines Discovery Institute here in Cardiff University, as without their facilities, resources, and support from our PIs (Dr Heulyn Jones (MChem 2009, PhD 2013), Dr Helen Waller-Evans and Dr Florian Siebzehnrubl), we wouldn't be able to carry out this research."
And both understand the difference that donors and fundraisers make in this potentially transformative research.
“You allow a proof of concept in a small lab context and may kickstart something far bigger. Saul and I are both early on in our careers – we couldn’t do these projects without the seedcorn funding from donors."
Seedcorn funding refers to the financial support provided to a project to help it get off the ground and develop its potential. It's like planting a seed to grow into a larger project.
Thanks to donors and fundraisers, Loren and Saul’s collaborative research may pioneer new therapies in a field where treatment has not changed for over a decade.
"We want to say thank you to donors and fundraisers that are making this research possible – it’s encouraging for us that other people care about this, not just researchers.”
Dr Saul Michue-Seijas and Loren Waters (BSc 2020, MRes 2021)
Find out more
Learn more about cancer research at Cardiff University and how you can support our researchers as a donor or fundraiser.
