Dr Chris Tselepis
Dept of Medical & Dental Sciences, School of Cancer Sciences
University of Birmingham
Birmingham, UK
http://www.cancersciences.bham.ac.uk/
http://medweb4.bham.ac.uk/ssp/Printable.aspx?id=1764
Project title
Obesity, inflammation and iron metabolism in colorectal carcinogenesis (2009/SD04)
Scientific abstract
The global incidence of obesity has increased dramatically over the past 50 years. Obesity is a recognised risk factor in the development of several diseases including colorectal cancer, the third most common cancer in the world. However, currently the molecular mechanisms underlying the relationship between obesity and colorectal cancer are poorly understood.
This study tests the hypothesis that the hormone leptin, which is made by fat cells and thus raised in obese individuals, can activate a protein in humans (called hepcidin), which is involved in iron metabolism and linked to the development of bowel cancer. Concentrations of leptin, hepcidin and other proteins will be measured in patients with and without colorectal cancer to determine whether these proteins are related and whether they correlate with Body Mass Index and bowel cancer.
Understanding these mechanisms may provide insight into preventing obesity related cancer and thus become a platform for future therapeutic intervention.
Project plain language abstract
Background
The global incidence of obesity has increased dramatically over the past 50 years. Obesity is a recognised risk factor in the development of several diseases including colorectal cancer; the third most common cancer in the world. However, currently the molecular mechanisms underlying the relationship between obesity and colorectal cancer are poorly understood.
Project Details
This study will test the hypothesis that the hormone leptin, which is made by fat cells and thus raised in obese individuals, can activate a protein in humans (called hepcidin), which is involved in iron metabolism and linked to the development of bowel cancer. Concentrations of leptin, hepcidin and other proteins will be measured in patients with and without colorectal cancer to determine whether these proteins are related and whether they correlate with Body Mass Index and bowel cancer.
Understanding these mechanisms may provide insight into preventing obesity related cancer and thus become a platform for future therapeutic intervention.
Institution and location |
Degree |
Year |
Scientific Field |
|---|---|---|---|
University of Wales (Aberystwyth), UK |
BSc (Hons) |
1992 |
Biochemistry |
University of Manchester, UK |
PhD |
1996 |
Biochemistry |
| 2006–Present | Senior Lecturer, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, Cancer Sciences, University of Birmingham, UK |
| 2002–2006 | Lecturer in College of Medical and Dental Sciences, Cancer Sciences, University of Birmingham, UK |
| 1999–2002 | Senior Research Fellow In Division of Medical Sciences, University of Birmingham, UK |
Research interests
Molecular pathways in colorectal carcinogenesis with particular emphasis on the role of dietary iron.
