Research output per year
Research output per year
Personal profile
Research interests
The laboratory is interested in how cancer cells are able to dissociate from the primary tumour, invade the surrounding tissue and subsequently metastasise to distal sites. Tissue invasion and migration require cancer cells to reorganise their actin cytoskeleton as well as adhere to and degrade the surrounding extracellular matrix. It is well established that cytoskeletal rearrangement, cell adhesion formation and turnover is regulated by Rho GTPases, Rho, Rac and Cdc42. PAKs are serine/threonine kinases that operate downstream of Rho GTPases to control cytoskeletal organisation and substratum adhesion. The PAK family can be sub-divided into two groups; Group 1 PAKs (1-3) and Group 2 PAKs (4-6) based on sequence homology and members of both groups are activated by growth factor signalling pathways. We use live cell imaging, biochemical and molecular approaches to investigate the role of PAK family kinases in cancer cell migration, adhesion and invasion.
Work in the Wells lab is supported by Pancreatic Cancer Resrach Fund www.pcrf.org.uk
Please go to http://www.kcl.ac.uk/lsm/research/divisions/cancer/research/groups/ccim.aspx to find out more about the Wells Lab
Research interests (short)
Cancer cell invasion:live cell imaging, biochemical and molecular approaches
https://www.kcl.ac.uk/lsm/research/divisions/cancer/research/groups/ccim.aspx
Research interests
Wells Lab belongs to
Prostate Cancer Programme http://www.kcl.ac.uk/lsm/research/divisions/cancer/research/prostate-cancer/index.aspx
Breast Cancer Programme http://www.kcl.ac.uk/lsm/research/divisions/cancer/research/breast.aspx
Cancer Biology Programme http://www.kcl.ac.uk/lsm/research/divisions/cancer/research/cancer-biology.aspx
GI cancer Programme (pancreatic cancer)
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Education/Academic qualification
Doctor of Philosophy, King's College London
Award Date: 1 Jan 1998
Bachelor of Science, UCL University College London
Award Date: 1 Jan 1993
External positions
Chair RMS Life Sciences Section
1 Jul 2016 → 1 Jul 2019
Keywords
- QH301 Biology
- cancer
- migration
- P-21 activated kinases
- invasion
- actin cytoskeleton
Fingerprint
Dive into the research topics where Claire Wells is active. These topic labels come from the works of this person. Together they form a unique fingerprint.
- 1 Similar Profiles
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or
-
Cell adhesion and migration in disease: translational and therapeutic opportunities
Anderson, K., Calle-Patino, Y., Ivetic, A., Parsons, M., Valderrama, F., Wells, C. & Anton, I., 2024, In: Cell Adhesion and Migration. 18, 1, p. 1-3 3 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Citation (Scopus)3 Downloads (Pure) -
PAK6 acts downstream of IQGAP3 to promote contractility in triple negative breast cancer cells
Wells, C., Pipili, K., Grigoriadis, A., Babteen, N., Kuwair, L., Bulu, M., Quist, J., Ong, K., Tutt, A. & Pitaluga, R., Sept 2024, In: Cellular Signalling. 121, 111233.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
CD73 controls Myosin II–driven invasion, metastasis, and immunosuppression in amoeboid pancreatic cancer cells
Samain, R., Maiques, O., Monger, J., Lam, H., Candido, J., George, S., Ferrari, N., Kohihammer, L., Lunetto, S., Varela, A., Orgaz, J. L., Vilardell, F., Olsina, J. J., Matias-Guiu, X., Sarker, D., Biddle, A., Balkwill, F. R., Eyles, J., Wilkinson, R. W., Kocher, H. M., & 3 others, 2023, In: Science Advances. 9, 42, adi0244.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access4 Citations (Scopus) -
Differential roles and regulation of the protein kinases PAK4, PAK5 and PAK6 in melanoma cells
Murugesan, G., Prescott, A. R., Toth, R., Campbell, D. G., Wells, C. M. & MacKintosh, C., 31 Aug 2022, In: THE BIOCHEMICAL JOURNAL. 479, 16, p. 1709-1725 17 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Invadopodia play a role in prostate cancer progression
Manuelli, V., Cahill, F., Wylie, H., Gillett, C., Correa, I., Heck, S., Rimmer, A., Haire, A., Van Hemelrijck, M., Rudman, S. & Wells, C., 16 Mar 2022, (Accepted/In press) In: BMC Cancer. 22, 1, 386.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile6 Citations (Scopus)68 Downloads (Pure)
Projects
- 62 Finished
-
GSTT Cancer: Personalising Care for Patients with Pancreatic Cancer
1/04/2023 → 29/02/2024
Project: Research
-
-
-
Evaluating therapeutic strategies to block the spread of prostate cancer
1/05/2018 → 31/08/2023
Project: Research
-
Validation of the PAK4:PI3K nexus as a therapeutic target in pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund
1/04/2018 → 30/09/2022
Project: Research
Activities
-
RMS life sciences
Claire Wells (Chair)
2016 → 2021Activity: Other › Types of External academic engagement - Membership of external research organisation
-
ISRN Cell Biology (Journal)
Claire Wells (Editorial board member)
2010 → 2015Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work › Editorial activity
-
European Journal of Cell Biology (Journal)
Claire Wells (Editorial board member)
2010 → 2015Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work › Editorial activity
-
RMS Outreach
Claire Wells (Committee Member)
2010 → 2015Activity: Other › Types of External academic engagement - Membership of external research organisation
-
Fondazione Cariplo Foundation
Claire Wells (Member)
2009 → 2015Activity: Other › Types of External academic engagement - Membership of peer review panel or committee