PhD in Cancer Research: Characterising the role of exosomes in Tuberous Sclerosis Complex

Patients with Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC) typically develop cysts and tumours in several organs of their body. In some organs TSC cells cause alterations to the normal body cells around them.

This project aims to investigate how TSC cells communicate with these normal body cells, as this could be helping disease progression. For example, by encouraging blood vessels to grow, tumours can grow larger. We will be investigating a particular type of cell-to-cell communication, termed an exosome. Exosomes are small packages of signalling molecules sent from a cell out into its environment, where they can influence how other cells function. Through a better understanding of TSC cell communication, this project aims to shed light on TSC disease progression. By studying the effect of the TSC exosomes on normal cells, new signalling pathways which could be targeted to halt tumour development may be highlighted. This could reveal novel strategies for TSC therapy, which may have wider application in cancers of the general population.