Identification of membrane protein targets for radiosensitisation in Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer

This research project, led by Professor Ananya Choudhury and Dr Amen Shamim at the University of Manchester, aims to improve treatment for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC), a serious form of the disease usually treated with surgery or radiotherapy. While radiotherapy helps some patients preserve their bladder and enjoy a better quality of life, it doesn't work for everyone-some cancers become resistant to treatment, a challenge known as radioresistance.

To tackle this, the researchers have developed bladder cancer cell lines in the lab that are resistant to radiotherapy. Using these models, they will search for proteins on the surface of cancer cells that could be targeted with drugs to make tumours more responsive to treatment. Advanced computer tools will help the team model these proteins in 3D, identify existing drugs that might work against them, and assess how effectively these drugs could bind to the targets.

The goal is to discover new drug candidates that could boost the success of radiotherapy, ultimately leading to more personalised and effective treatments for patients with aggressive bladder cancer.