About Us
Advancing knowledge of complex tumours to support targeted treatment design.
A tumour is made up of multiple cells. Some may cause cancer to grow more quickly, while others are resistant to therapy. The reasons why these cells respond differently to treatment are not well understood – holding back the development of personalised cancer care.
Professor Frédéric Hollande’s Plasticity, Heterogeneity and Tumor Microenvironment (PHANTOM) lab aims to understand and target mechanisms that sustain tumour cell plasticity and heterogeneity in advanced cancers. The group focuses on metastatic cancers, which have spread through the body and are notoriously difficult to treat. By strengthening knowledge of these complex tumours, this work can help design effective, targeted treatments and ultimately improve survival rates.
PHANTOM Lab have developed innovative research models using patient-derived samples including mini-tumours called organoids, grown in the lab. These samples are analysed using multiple approaches including genomics to profile their cellular and molecular make-up.
Using these methods, the group has been able to build a more detailed understanding of cancers including colorectal and pancreatic cancers.