麻豆传媒

Research Group Leader - Researching altered DNA methylation in cancer to identify novel therapeutic targets and molecular markers

Deputy Director of Postgraduate Research, Biosciences Institute

Member 麻豆传媒 Centre for Cancer

Member Precision Medicine, Genomics and Informatics research theme

Affiliate Ageing and Geroscience research theme

Member of Institute EDI committee, TCRI

EDI lead, Precision Medicine, Genomics and Informatics research theme

Member of Faculty of Medicine Ethics Committee

Research Interests

The primary interest in my lab is examining the role of a key epigenetic change, altered DNA methylation, in the development, progression and drug sensitivity of leukaemia. This can be split into 3 areas:

1. Identification of novel, cancer-cell specific, targets – The optimal type of treatment for cancer would be ones that can specifically target cancer cells, while having little or no impact on normal cells and consequently low toxicity for the patient. We are using a novel bioinformatic approach, combining genome wide DNA methylation and gene expression data to identify genes that are required for the survival of cancer cells, but which are not required by normal healthy cells (known as synthetic lethal genes). Targeting the proteins produced by these synthetic lethal genes can then give us a way of specifically killing cancer cells that should have little or no impact on healthy cells. Initially we demonstrated the utility of this approach in childhood leukaemia, but have now expanded the analysis for the identification of synthetic lethal genes across multiple types of solid and haematological cancers.

2. DNA methylation changes as a cause of long term health effects in cancer survivors – Survival rates for many cancers have improved dramatically and consequently there has been a dramatic increase in the number of cancer survivors in the population. Particularly in survivors of childhood cancer, it is now clear that cancer survivors suffer from a greatly increased risk of many chronic disease and a consequent reduced life expectancy. We are investigating potential mechanism that could underlie these serious late effects that occur many years after cancer treatment have ceased. In particular, we have identified extensive epigenetic changes induced by anti-cancer treatment and are investigating the possibility that these may be key drivers of late health effects in cancer survivors.

3. Prognostic markers and predictors of drug sensitivity – Leukaemia typically exhibits very large numbers of DNA methylation changes at diagnosis. This gives us a potentially rich source of markers to allow us to predict patient prognosis or response to therapy. We are currently using genome wide DNA methylation data from diagnostic samples and also from samples after exposure to therapy to identify methylation based markers that can predict patient outcome and also to identify genes that are playing a direct role in resistance to chemotherapy

Selected Recent Grants (as PI, within the last 5 years)

2010 – 2013    Tyneside Leukaemia Research Association, Project grant “Defining the opposing roles of HLXB9 in myeloid and lymphoid leukaemia” Gordon Strathdee, Christine Harrison, Value £85,443

2011 – 2012    Dunhill Medical Trust, Project grant “Investigation of the mechanism of DNA methylation instability and its role in age related disease”, Gordon Strathdee, David Oscier, Mays Jawad, John Mathers, Value £74,357

2011 – 2015    Iraqi Ministry of Education, PhD studentship “Identification and verification of methylation markers for the prediction of outcome in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia” Gordon Strathdee(PI), Fadhel Lafta, Value £111,000

2014 - 2018     Bloodwise, Project grant “Clinical exploitation of HOXA4 status for directing treatment in CLL patients Gordon Strathdee(PI), Value £185,239

2014 – 2018    NUORS Fellowship/China Scholarship Council, PhD studentship “The molecular role of MNX1 in control of leukaemia cell growth and survival”, Gordon Strathdee(PI), Fang Ju Value £75,560          

2015 – 2017    JGW Patterson Foundation, Project Grant, “Identification of epigenetic regulators of chemosensitivity in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia”. Gordon Strathdee(PI), Elaine Willmore, Value £48,041

2016 – 2017    麻豆传媒 Healthcare Charities, Project Grant, “Investigation of epigenetic damage induced by anti-cancer therapies as a potential mechanism leading to poor long term health outcomes in childhood cancer survivors”. Gordon Strathdee(PI), Linda Sharp, Jill McKay, Value £23,041

2018 – 2021    Kidscan, PhD Fellowship, “Enabling the development of less toxic and more effective cancer therapies through identification of synthetic lethal genes for specific cancer subtypes” Gordon Strathdee(PI), Edward Schwalbe, Lalchung Nungabt, Value £15,000

2019 – 2020    JGW Patterson Foundation, Project Grant, “Investigation of altered DNA methylation, induced by anti-cancer therapies, as a mediating mechanism of serious late health effects in survivors of childhood/young adult cancer” Gordon Strathdee(PI), Linda Sharp, Jill McKay, Value £35,123

Lecturing 

Lecturer for BMS2014 Biology of Ageing

Member of steering group for BMS2014 Biology of Ageing

Lecturer for BMS3020 Chronic Disease

Supervision of undergraduate project students in Biomedical Sciences

Postgraduate Supervision

Supervision of PhD students

Supervision of Faculty of Medical Sciences MRes and MSci students

• Articles

  • Lalchungnunga H, Atasoy H, Schwalbe EC, Bacon CM, Strathdee G. . British Journal of Cancer 2025, 134, 108-118.
  • Permtermsin C, Lalchungnunga H, Nakjang S, Casement J, Ogle LF, Reeves HL, Strathdee G, Shukla R. . International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2023, 24(7), 6387.
  • Lalchungnunga H, Hao W, Maris JM, Asgharzadeh S, Henrich K-O, Westermann F, Tweddle DA, Schwalbe EC, Strathdee G. . British Journal of Cancer 2022, 127, 2006-2015.
  • Robinson N, Casement J, Gunter MJ, Huybrechts I, Agudo A, Barranco MR, Eichelmann F, Johnson T, Kaaks R, Pala V, Panico S, Sandanger TM, Schultze MB, Travis RC, Tumino R, Vineis P, Weiderpass E, Skinner R, Sharp L, McKay JA, Strathdee G. . British Journal of Cancer 2022, 127, 288-300.
  • Schwalbe EC, Lalchungnunga H, Lafta F, Barrow TM, Strathdee G. . Oncogene 2021, 40(33), 5213-5223.
  • Lin W-Y, Fordham SE, Sunter N, Elstob C, Rahman T, Willmore E, Shepherd C, Strathdee G, Mainou-Fowler T, Piddock R, Mearns H, Barrow T, Houlston RS, Marr H, Wallis J, Summerfield G, Marshall S, Pettitt A, Pepper C, Fegan C, Forconi F, Dyer MJS, Jayne S, Sellors A, Schuh A, Robbe P, Oscier D, Bailey J, Rais S, Bentley A, Cawkwell L, Evans P, Hillmen P, Pratt G, Allsup DJ, Allan JM. . Nature Communications 2021, 12(1), 665.
  • Barrow TM, Nakjang S, Lafta F, Bilotkach K, Woodhouse L, Junge G, Tudhope SJ, Wallis JP, Marr H, Marshall S, Bown N, Willmore E, Strathdee G. . British Journal of Cancer 2021, 124, 474-483.
  • Barrow TM, Wong Doo N, Milne RL, Giles GG, Willmore E, Strathdee G, Byun HM. . Haematologica 2021, 106(1), 98-110.
  • Timms J, Relton CL, Sharp GC, Rankin J, Strathdee G, McKay JA. . International Journal of Cancer 2019, 145(11), 2933-2943.
  • Potter C, Moorman AV, Relton CL, Ford D, Mathers JC, Strathdee G, McKay JA. . Molecular Nutrition & Food Research 2018, 62(22), 1800411C.
  • Timms JA, Relton CL, Rankin J, Strathdee G, McKay JA. . Epigenomics 2016, 8(4), 519-536.
  • Gabriel AS, Lafta FM, Schwalbe EC, Nakjang S, Cockell SJ, Iliasova A, Enshaei A, Schwab C, Rand V, Clifford SC, Kinsey SE, Mitchell CD, Vora A, Harrison CJ, Moorman AV, Strathdee G. . Epigenetics 2015, 10(8), 717-726.
  • van Otterdijk SD, Norden J, Dickinson AM, Pearce MS, Relton CL, Mathers JC, Strathdee G. . Epigenomics 2015, 7(1), 35-45.
  • Gautrey HE, van Otterdijk SD, Cordell HJ, Mathers JC, Strathdee G, 麻豆传媒 85 Study Core Team. . FASEB Journal 2014, 28(7), 3261-3272.
  • Collerton J, Gautrey HE, van Otterdijk SD, Davies K, Martin-Ruiz C, von Zglinicki T, Kirkwood TBL, Jagger C, Mathers JC, Strathdee G. . Biogerontology 2014, 15(4), 317-328.
  • van Otterdijk SD, Mathers JC, Strathdee G. . Biochemical Society Transactions 2013, 41(3), 803-807.
  • Thathia SH, Ferguson S, Gautrey HE, van Otterdijk SD, Hili M, Rand V, Moorman AV, Meyer S, Brown R, Strathdee G. . Haematologica 2012, 97(3), 371-378.
  • Ferguson S, Gautrey HE, Strathdee G. . Pediatric Blood & Cancer 2011, 56(3), 349-352.
  • Irving L, Mainou-Fowler T, Parker A, Ibbotson RE, Oscier DG, Strathdee G. . Epigenetics 2011, 6(3), 300-306.
  • Appleton K, Mackay HJ, Judson I, Plumb JA, McCormick C, Strathdee G, Lee C, Barrett S, Reade S, Jadayel D, Tang A, Bellenger K, Mackay L, Setanoians A, Schatzlein A, Twelves C, Kaye SB, Brown R. . Journal of Clinical Oncology 2007, 25(29), 4603-4609.
  • Strathdee G, Holyoake TL, Sim A, Parker A, Oscier DG, Melo JV, Meyer S, Eden T, Dickinson AM, Mountford JC, Jorgensen HG, Soutar R, Brown R. . Clinical Cancer Research 2007, 13(17), 5048-5055.
  • Strathdee, G, Sim, A, Soutar, R, Holyoake, TL, Brown, R. . Carcinogenesis 2007, 28(2), 299-309.
  • Lindsey, J. C., Lusher, M. E., Strathdee, G. R., Brown, R., Gilbertson, R. J., Bailey, S., Ellison, D. W., Clifford, S. C. . International Journal of Cancer 2006, 118(2), 346-352.
  • Strathdee G, Davies BR, Vass JK, Siddiqui N, Brown R. . Carcinogenesis 2004, 25(5), 693-701.

• Book Chapter

  • Mathers J, Strathdee G, Relton C. . In: Herceg, Z., Ushijima, T, ed. Advances in Genetics: Epigenetics and Cancer, Part B. Amsterdam; London: Academic Press, 2010, pp.4-39.

• Conference Proceedings (inc. Abstract)

  • Barrow TM, Woodhouse L, Junge G, Tudhope SJ, Behardien C, Wallis JP, Marr HJ, Marshall SR, Bown N, Willmore E, Strathdee G. . In: American Society of Hematology (ASH) 58th Annual Meeting & Exposition. 2016, San Diego, CA (USA): American Society of Hematology.

• Editorial

  • Strathdee G. . Epigenomics 2011, 3(4), 391-394.

• Letters

  • Ghantous A, Nussle SG, Nassar FJ, Spitz N, Novoloaca A, Krali O, Nickels E, Cahais V, Cuenin C, Roy R, Li S, Caron M, Lam D, Fransquet PD, Casement J, Strathdee G, Pearce MS, Hansen HM, Lee H-H, Lee YS, de Smith AJ, Sinnett D, Haberg SE, McKay JA, Nordlund J, Magnus P, Dwyer T, Saffery R, Wiemels JL, Munthe-Kaas MC, Herceg Z. . Molecular Cancer 2024, 23(1), 238.
  • Strathdee G, Ferguson S, Sim A, Brown R. . Leukemia Research 2010, 34(5), 685-686.
  • Strathdee G, Sim A, Parker A, Oscier D, Brown R. . Leukemia 2006, 20(7), 1326-1329.

• Reviews

  • Alsaedi MAH, Strathdee G. . Epigenomics 2025, 17(16), 1189-1199.
  • Smart C, Strathdee G, Watson S, Murgatroyd C, McAllister-Williams RH. . Psychological Medicine 2015, 45(16), 3393-3410.