Cellular Signalling in Cancer Metastasis

Dr. Hasseb Zubair's research interest is focused on the signalling pathways that control cancer development and progression. Recently, using a combination of RNA-sequencing and bioinformatics tools he has demonstrated the potential cellular networks perturbed by c-MYB in pancreatic cancer. c-MYB has been identified to exert oncogenic properties to different types of cancer, however the molecular pathways underlying these phenotypes are not completely understood. Dr Zubair's research team are now underway to investigate the role of the c-MYB-modulated signalling pathways in progression and metastasis. In a much recent accomplishment, his research article has been accepted in the journal Cancer Research in which he has demonstrated a novel signalling axis responsible for the stabilization and up regulation of c-MYC transcription factor in pancreatic cancer. In addition, Dr. Zubair has been studying the cancer therapeutic and preventive properties of natural products. He has demonstrated that mobilization of endogenous cellular copper ions by these plant derived antioxidant leads to the generation of reactive oxygen species which act as proximal DNA damaging agents inducing cell death.