Metabolism

Metabolism is at the interface of oncogenic signalling, it is essential for tumour growth and all the Hallmarks of Cancer. Additionally, the local microenvironment is modelled by metabolism, which has major influences on the immune response.

DNA Damage and Repair

Understanding DNA damage and repair mechanisms helps researchers to identify the aberrant processes that drive cancer development and growth.

Genome Integrity & Epigenetics

Our basic research into genome stability explores how cells repair damaged DNA to prevent cancer. We are also interested in what happens once cancer develops, as it is becoming clear that many tumours are defective in repairing damaged DNA. Our work aims to exploit these repair defects to design novel therapies.

Immunology

In the Division of Cancer Medicine we are working to further understand the interplay between the immune system and cancer across both cancer development and treatment.

The Oncology Advent Calendar

Tumour Microenvironment

Understanding how the tumour microenvironment affects cancer cell behaviour and how it contributes to a cancer cell’s response to ionising radiation is essential in understanding how to prevent the establishment, growth and progression of cancers and how to exploit the tumour microenvironment for therapeutic gain.

Clinical Trials

A key aim of the Department of Oncology is the optimal translation of fundamental research into patient benefit and for Oxford to become the leading centre for translational early-phase oncology trials in the UK.