Biancastella Cereser

Biography

Our group led by Prof Justin Stebbing is interested in different aspects of cancer, in particular at the genetic and epigenetic changes underlying breast and colon cancer. We are also interested in how modern cancer evolved from older form of the disease which can be found in fossils of both hominids and animals. Furthermore, we are also investigating the role of carcinogenic compounds, which can be found in interstellar dusts and outer space, in hypoxia conditions on different cell lines, to determine a possible role of these compound on the very early stages of cancer evolution. BREAST CANCER Breast cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed neoplasms in the world, with more than 50000 cases diagnosed in the UK. Early full-term pregnancy decreases long-term breast cancer risk, while leading to transient increase in risk of having cancer diagnosed soon after pregnancy. On the contrary, women bearing a child at a later age are more at risk in developing cancer compared to nulliparous women. By analysing low frequencies genomic DNA mutations in the normal and malignant mammary epithelium, we would like to understand the molecular dynamics underlying the correlation between age of first pregnancy and risk in developing breast cancer.

Research Interest

BREAST CANCER