Academic Staff
Dr. David Qualtrough
BSc: Biotechnologyy (1994) University of Central Lancs
PhD: (1998) University of Sheffield
Research Fellow
Contact Details
Dept. of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol,
School of Medical Sciences, Bristol, BS8 1TD
Tel: +44 (0)117 33 12046 (internal 12046)
Fax: +44 (0)117 33 12091
Email: david.qualtrough@bristol.ac.uk
Past Research
Tumour Biology. Role of developmental signalling pathways in germ cell tumours. The effect of dietary agents (sodium butyrate) on homeobox-containing genes in the differentiation of colorectal cancer cells. The role of Hedgehog signalling in colorectal tumour cell survival and differentiation.
Current Research
The role of the actin-bundling protein Fascin in the progression of colorectal tumours.
Dynamic rearrangements of the actin cytoskeleton are required for several cellular processes and these include adhesion and motility. Decreased cell-cell adhesion, changes in cell-matrix adhesion and increased cell motility are all necessary for cancer cells to invade surrounding tissues and metastasise to other organs. The actin-bundling protein Fascin is not expressed in the epithelial cells of the normal human colon but it is dramatically overexpressed in the epithelial component of invasive colorectal cancers. Using an in vitro model we have demonstrated that Fascin expression increases colorectal cancer cell motility.
We are now using combined in vivo and in vitro approaches to determine at what stage during colorectal tumourigenesis Fascin becomes overexpressed and whether this expression promotes the progression of the tumour cells to a more advanced and aggressive state. We are studying the expression of Fascin in the early stages of colorectal cancer development to pinpoint the stage at which overexpression occurs. We are also studying the relationship between Fascin expression, tumour type, and the invasive front of tumours as they progress from benign polyps to malignant carcinomas. These in vivo experiments are being mirrored in vitro by functional studies of the ability of Fascin to promote migration and invasion in pre-malignant cell culture model systems.
Present co-workers
- Prof. M. Pignatelli
- Dr Mohammed Khan
- Dr Nahida Banu
Recent Publications
Banu, N., Buda, A., Chell, S., Elder, D., Moorghen, M., Paraskeva, C., Qualtrough, D. and Pignatelli, M. (2007) Inhibition of COX-2 with NS-398 decreases colon cancer cell motility through blocking epidermal growth factor receptor transactivation: possibilities for combination therapy. Cell Prolif. 40(5), 768-779.
Qualtrough, D., Kaidi, A., Chell, S., Jabbour, H.N., Williams, A. and Paraskeva, C. (2007) Prostaglandin F2α stimulates motility and invasion in colorectal tumour cells. Int. J. Cancer 121(4), 734-740.
Kaidi, A., Qualtrough, D., Williams, A.C. and Paraskeva, C. (2006) Direct transcriptional upregulation of cyclooxygenase-2 by hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1 promotes colorectal tumour cell survival and enhances HIF-1 transcriptional activity during hypoxia. Cancer Res. 66(13), 6683-6691.
Chell, S.D., Witherden, I.R., Dobson, R.R.H., Moorghen, M., Herman, A., Qualtrough, D., Williams, A.C. and Paraskeva, C. (2006) Increased EP4 receptor expression in colorectal cancer progression promotes cell growth and anchorage independence. Cancer Res. 66, 3106-3113.
Chell, S.D., Patsos, H.A., Qualtrough, D., H-Zadeh A-M., Hicks, D.J., Kaidi, A., Witherden, I.R., Williams, A.C. and Paraskeva, C. (2005) Prospects in NSAID-derived chemoprevention. Biochem. Soc. Transacts. 33, 667-671.
Qualtrough, D., Buda, A., Gaffield, W., Williams, A.C. and Paraskeva, C. (2004) Hedgehog signalling in colorectal tumour cells: induction of apoptosis with cyclopamine treatment. Int. J. Cancer 110(6), 831-837.
Buda, A., Qualtrough, D., Jepson, M.A., Martines, D., Paraskeva, C. and Pignatelli, M. (2003) Butyrate downregulates alpha2beta1 integrin: a possible role in the induction of apoptosis in colorectal cancer cell lines. Gut 52(5), 729-734.
Qualtrough, D., Hinoi, T., Fearon, E. and Paraskeva, C. (2002) Expression of CDX2 in normal and neoplastic human colon tissue and during differentiation of an in vitro model system. Gut 51(2), 184-190.
Playle, L.C., Hicks, D.J., Qualtrough, D. and Paraskeva, C. (2002) Abrogation of the radiation-induced G2 checkpoint by the staurosporine derivative UCN-01 is associated with radiosensitisation in a subset of colorectal tumour cell lines. Br. J. Cancer 87(3), 352-358.