On October 9th Peter Capaldi, star of “Doctor Who” and Patron of Secondary1st presented a cheque for £75,000 to help fund pioneering research into secondary breast cancer.
Professor Andrew Tutt of King’s College and the Institute of Cancer Research described the need “to understand how the process of metastasis hijacks normal biology” in order to “change the outlook for secondary breast cancer patients”. He then introduced Dr. Claire Wells (Leader of the Cancer Cell Invasion and Metastasis Group at Kings College) and her post-doctoral researcher, Dr. Michaela Lesjak. Dr. Wells explained that this research will pinpoint how the two molecules RhoU and PAK4 “hold hands” and help breast cancer cells spread round the body.
Peter Capaldi then presented Dr. Lesjak, our “Secondary1st Researcher”, with her lab coat.
Dr Wells and Dr. Lesjak led a visit to their lab and gave more details of their research work. It was breathtaking to see the movement of cancer cells under the microscope and underlined the need to find ways of stopping this process.”
