Use this URL to cite or link to this record in EThOS: https://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.806098
Title: Patient-led functional genomics identifies novel drivers of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma
Author: Younger, Nicholas Thomas
ISNI:       0000 0004 9349 0343
Awarding Body: University of Edinburgh
Current Institution: University of Edinburgh
Date of Award: 2020
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Abstract:
Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) is a rare and universally lethal malignancy arising in the liver. Incidence has steadily been increasing globally yet effective therapeutics are lacking. Currently, gold standard treatment is complete resection for which a minority of patients are suitable and recurrence rates post resection are high. For the majority of patients unsuitable for surgery, standard chemotherapeutic options extend life by only 3-6 months on average. As such there is a pressing need to elucidate the genetic and molecular features of this malignancy so as to inform the development of more effective therapies. To date, a small but robust set of driver genes have been discovered and for some targeted therapies in development, with mixed results in clinical trials. This work aimed to extend the set of known driver genes by exploring the long tail of infrequently mutated genes in patient sequencing data. Through computational prediction and in vivo screening, a set of driver genes were uncovered which cooperate with the more commonly encountered oncogenic RASG12 isoforms of KRAS and NRAS. Validation studies in vivo confirmed that the membrane cytoskeleton adaptor protein Merlin, encoded by NF2, and the canonical transmembrane semaphorin receptor PLXNB2 encoded by PLXNB2 are tumour suppressors occurring at low frequency in the patient population. Mutation of these genes significantly accelerated disease progression and propagated aggressive, invasive tumour phenotypes.
Supervisor: Boulter, Luke ; Sproul, Duncan ; Mill, Pleasantine Sponsor: Not available
Qualification Name: Thesis (Ph.D.) Qualification Level: Doctoral
EThOS ID: uk.bl.ethos.806098  DOI:
Keywords: intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma ; iCCA ; K/NRAS mutants
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