Katie Barker

• Bsc (Hons) Pharmacology
• Examining the potential treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma by investigating the non-canonical NF-κB signalling pathway and its role in tumorigenesis.

The most common type of liver cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second-highest cause of cancer mortality worldwide, having a 5-year survival rate of only 5%. Given this, new options for the treatment of HCC are urgently required. This project will examine a cellular signalling pathway (non-canonical NF-κB), which has been implicated in driving other types of tumour but not studied in liver cancers. We will use 7 types of human liver tumour cells and stimulate or inhibit the signalling pathway to determine whether its targeting could represent a potential new way to treat this devastating disease.

Funding source: Newcastle University

Supervisor: Prof Steve Wedge