Offering Better, More Personalized Cancer Treatments
Our ability to understand and manage cancer has greatly improved over the past 50 years. Yet the disease remains difficult to treat because of its complex biology.
Tumours can harbour hundreds of genetic mutations in their DNA and contain a host of different cell types—including distinct cellular microenvironments within each tumour or between tumours and surrounding normal tissue. These genetic factors and cellular environments fight to control normal cell behaviour or promote tumour growth.
As Canada Research Chair in Adult Tissue Stem Cell Niches, Dr. Rama Khokha is drawing on her experience in tumour biology, genomics, proteomics, biology and experimental therapies to build a deep molecular understanding of the role that cancer microenvironments play in patient care.
With a specific focus on breast and bone cancers, Khokha and her research team dissect the niche of adult tissue stem cells, which are known to contribute to the origin and complexity of cancer and even treatment resistance. Their work is revealing the molecular basis of how tumours develop, grow and spread—the keys to understanding how to improve cancer treatment.
Khokha is also developing experimental models and genetic technologies to discover and test cancer-causing genes for use as new treatment targets. Ultimately, her work is laying the foundation for personalized medicine that will improve diagnosis and treatment at early stages of cancer and enhance patient care at every stage of the disease.