Martin, Tracey - Cardiff University

个人简介

I have an international reputation for research in the role of Tight Junctions in the process of cancer metastasis. After a PhD in molecular Biology at Cardiff University, I began a Post-doctoral career at The University of Wales College of Medicine, investigating the role of Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF) on endothelia. This led to the opportunity to examine HGF and its antagonist NK4 in cancer. Since 1998, I have been involved in researching the role of tight junctions in cancer (during metastasis) and in endothelia (during angiogenesis). My research interests include investigating how tight junctions can be modulated to control cancer cell dissociation and invasion, together with a continued interest in angiogenic factors and their role in metastasis. I also have a special interest in the mechanisms whereby HGF can control tight junction assembly and function in both cancer and endothelia. Other research interests include the interaction of cancer cells in cell-adhesion and cell-signalling and in how the cell adhesion molecule VE-cadherin is involved in angiogenesis.

研究领域

Cell junctions as mediators or barriers to cell dissemination and the regulators thereof The Tight Junction (TJ) is a region where the plasma membrane of adjacent cells forms a series of contacts that appear to completely occlude the extracellular space thus creating an intercellular barrier and intramembrane diffusion fence. In epithelial cells the TJ functions in an adhesive manner and can prevent cell dissociation whereas TJs in endothelial cells function as a barrier through which molecules and inflammatory cells can pass. A considerable body of now work exists on TJ and their role in a number of diseases. TJs have become recognised as key players in cancer metastasis. Early studies suggested a link between the reduction of TJ proteins and tumour differentiation and increasing experimental evidence has emerged to place TJs in the frontline as the structure that cancer cells must overcome in order to metastasize. Interaction and penetration of the vascular endothelium by dissociated cancer cells is an important step in the formation of cancer metastases. Changes in both tumour and endothelial cells are necessary for successful growth and spread of cancer cells and that these changes are somewhat similar. A change in cancer cells by up-regulation or down-regulation of relevant TJ proteins results in loss of cell–cell association, cell contact inhibition, leading to uncontrolled growth, loss of adhesion to and degradation of the basement. These must be a concurrent loss of cell–cell association in the endothelium and modulation of TJ proteins involved in facilitating the passage of the cancer cells through this barrier. We have shown there is a differential expression of a number of transmembrane TJ proteins, notably Occludin, Claudin-5 and the Nectin and that they are correlated with the disruption of TJs in tumours. Modulation of expression of these proteins results in key changes in barrier function leading to the progression of cancer and progression of metastasis.

近期论文

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Telford, E., Jiang, W. G. and Martin, T. A. 2017. HAVcR-1 involvement in cancer progression. Histology and Histopathology 32, pp. 121-128. (10.14670/HH-11-817) Gu, Y.et al. 2016. NHERF1 regulates the progression of colorectal cancer through the interplay with VEGFR2 pathway. Oncotarget (10.18632/oncotarget.13949) pdf Liu, R.et al. 2016. Epithelial protein lost in neoplasm-α (EPLIN-α) is a potential prognostic marker for the progression of epithelial ovarian cancer. International Journal of Oncology 48(6), pp. 2488-2496. (10.3892/ijo.2016.3462) Zhao, H.et al. 2016. The role of JAM-B in cancer and cancer metastasis (Review). Oncology Reports 36, pp. 3-9. (10.3892/or.2016.4773) pdf Zhao, H.et al. 2016. The clinical implications of RSK1-3 in human breast cancer. Anticancer Research 36(3), pp. 1267-1274. Martin, T.et al. 2016. Metastasis to bone in human cancer is associated with loss of occludin expression. Anticancer Research 36(3), pp. 1287-1294. Yang, X.et al. 2016. The impact of TIMM17A on aggressiveness of human breast cancer cells. Anticancer Research 36(3), pp. 1237-1241. Zhao, H.et al. 2016. Effect of junctional adhesion molecule-2 expression on cell growth, invasion and migration in human colorectal cancer. International Journal of Oncology 48(3), pp. 929-936. (10.3892/ijo.2016.3340) pdf Gu, Y.et al. 2016. NHERF1 regulates the progression of colorectal cancer through the interplay with VEGFR2 pathway. Oncotarget pdf Liu, R.et al. 2015. Metastasis suppressor 1 expression in human ovarian cancer: the impact on cellular migration and metastasis. International Journal of Oncology 47(4), pp. 1429-1439. (10.3892/ijo.2015.3121) Jia, W.et al. 2015. Expression of the Epithelial-Mesenchymal-Transition (EMT) markers, Twist, Slug, Snail, E- and N-cadherins and the association with clinical and pathological features of human pituitary adenomas [Abstract]. European Journal of Cancer 51(S3), pp. S592-S593. (10.1016/S0959-8049(15)30055-1)