The role of the complement system in immune surveillance of cancer

Cancer remains one of the most important types of disease in humans. There is growing evidence that the host’s immune system plays an important role in preventing the development and spread of cancer, particularly in its early stages. The role of the complement system of proteins has been relatively little explored in this respect, but several recent papers suggest that complement activation, in association with other immune factors, can influence the spread of cancer. The supervisors are experts in the complement and tumour field, respectively, and bring into the project and its supervision their specific sets of expertise.
Aims
The focus of this three-year project is properdin, the only known positive regulator of complement activation (providing amplification of complement activation), and its role in tumour growth and metastasis. The student will be trained in all subject related and transferable skills, and will use in vivo and in vitro models, immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, and assays of immune mediators, to provide novel answers

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