PhD Studentship: Characterisation of Steroid Metabolome in Mucinous Ovarian Cancer

Mucinous ovarian cancer is rare, with few successful treatment options when diagnosed at late stages. Our previous research investigated urinary steroid profiles in healthy controls and women undergoing surgery or biopsy for suspected ovarian cancer. Serendipitously, we identified that 5 steroid metabolites involved in the earliest stages of androgen or glucocorticoid synthesis are elevated in mucinous cancer and mucinous borderline ovarian tumours compared to healthy controls/benign tumours and other cancer histology types. We also observed an incremental elevation of these metabolites across mucinous benign/borderline and cancer histologies suggesting that dysregulation in steroid pathways may be implicated in the development of mucinous cancer.

For this PhD proposal we now aim to fully characterise the steroid metabolome in mucinous ovarian cancer; through in silico analysis of a publicly available mucinous cancer dataset, in vitro studies of mucinous ovarian cancer cell lines, fresh ovarian tissue and ovarian organoids. If these investigations validate our findings, these results will underpin the development of a large international study to diagnose, monitor and treat women with mucinous cancer effectively.

Our PhD supervisory team comprises international experts in steroid pathways, cancer biology, mucinous cancer genomics and gynaecological oncology surgery. We have previously demonstrated our ability to recruit patients successfully and lab protocols are already optimised. Thus, the selected PhD student will join a team that has extensive experience in many areas of gynaecological cancers, steroid metabolism, and cancer biology.

Applications are invited for a 3-year fully-funded PhD Studentship starting 1st June 2023. The project will be supervised by Dr Paul Foster (p.a.foster@bham.ac.uk) and Prof Sudha Sundar.

Applicants should have a strong background in cancer biology and a good understanding of steroid metabolism. They should also have a significant interest in cancer genomics. They should have a commitment to gynaecological cancer research and hold or realistically expect to obtain at least an Upper Second Class Honours Degree in a Biological Science.

Funding

This PhD is supported by joint financial funding from The Eve Appeal and Birmingham Women’s Hospital Charities.

Applicants are eligible for both the cost of tuition fees and a yearly stipend (at RCUK rate) over the course of the PhD programme.

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