Dr Julia Gee

Senior Lecturer

: Available for postgraduate supervision

School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Overview

I joined Cardiff School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences in 2000 and following my Breast Cancer Now Fellowship was appinted in 2015 as a Senior Lecturer in the School. My research in the Breast Cancer Molecular Pharmacology group focusses on understanding therapeutic response and failure in breast cancer, particularly in relation to anti-hormonal treatments that inhibit oestrogen receptor signalling and further targeted therapies. My research uses unique experimental cell models that we have developed in the School to mimic resistance, as well as patient tumour samples.

Our group spearheaded the concept that such cancer treatments can actively-induce compensatory proliferative and cell survival signalling pathways in breast cancer which limit their therapeutic value and drive development of resistance, and I am currently interested in exploring the loss of oestrogen receptor and the gains in alternative signalling that can occur after long-term anti-hormone treatment. Several mechanisms not previously linked to anti-hormone resistance are emerging from the signalling studies. This work is important because resistance develops in at least a third of breast cancer patients and remains an area largely of unmet clinical need in this disease. Our goal in deciphering these mechanisms is to reveal potential approaches to target anti-hormone resistance and its aggressiveness in the future and also to discover possible biomarkers for resistant breast cancer.

Alongside these anti-hormone treatment studies, I am also interested in newer therapeutic avenues that may be of future value in breast cancer - for example, we are currently evaluating photo-dynamic therapy sensitivity in different breast cancer subtypes using cell models. Drawing on my immunohistochemical expertise, I have also undertaken key translational biomarker studies for several national breast cancer new agent trials in collaboration with clinical colleagues. These have previously included immunohistochemistry for studies with the anti‑hormone Fulvestrant in breast cancer (e.g. Study 41 and NEWEST trials) and most recently for novel targetted signal transduction inhibitor studies (e.g. FURVA and STAKT trials), with some of these studies using patient samples taken sequentially during treatment response and relapse.

I am a member of the School's research theme:

Drug Discovery, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Experimental Therapeutics (DDPSET)

Date
Type

2009

Robertson, J. F. R. et al. 2009. Tumor biomarker changes following pre-surgical treatment with 500 mg Fulvestrant plus Anastrozole Versus 500 mg Fulvestrant Alone and 1 mg Anastrozole Alone [Abstract]. Cancer Research 69(24S), pp. 491S. (10.1158/0008-5472.SABCS-09-24)
Morgan, L. D. et al. 2009. Elevated Src kinase activity attenuates tamoxifen response in vitro and is associated with poor prognosis clinically. Cancer Biology and Therapy 8(16), pp. 1550-1558. (10.4161/cbt.8.16.8954)
Kuter, I., Anderson, E., Emeribe, U., Finlay, P., Nicholson, R. I. and Gee, J. M. W. 2009. Comparison of methods for detection of fulvestrant-induced changes in breast tumor estrogen and progesterone receptor expression in a neoadjuvant trial (NEWEST) [Abstract]. Journal of Clinical Oncology 27(15S), article number: e11602.
Elsheikh, S. E., Green, A. R., McClelland, R. A., Hutcheson, I. R., Gee, J. M. W., Nicholson, R. I. and Ellis, I. O. 2009. 162 Altered Histone Modifications and their regulating enzymes in Fulvestrant resistant breast cancer cell line In Vitro [Abstract]. Laboratory Investigation 89(S1), pp. 38A-39A. (10.1038/labinvest.2008.132)
Nicholson, R. I., Hutcheson, I. R., Hiscox, S. E., Taylor, K. M. and Gee, J. M. W. 2009. Experimental endocrine resistance: concepts and strategies. In: Hiscox, S. E., Gee, J. M. W. and Nicholson, R. I. eds. Therapeutic Resistance to Anti-Hormonal Drugs in Breast Cancer: New Molecular Aspects and their Potential. Dordrecht: Springer, pp. 1-26., (10.1007/978-1-4020-8526-0_1)
Gee, J. M. W. et al. 2009. The dark side of antihormonal action in breast cancer. In: Hiscox, S. E., Gee, J. M. W. and Nicholson, R. I. eds. Therapeutic Resistance to Anti-Hormonal Drugs in Breast Cancer: New Molecular Aspects and their Potential. Dordrecht: Springer, pp. 63-84., (10.1007/978-1-4020-8526-0_4)
Hiscox, S. E., Jordan, N. J., Morgan, L. D., Smith, C., Goddard, L., Gee, J. . M. W. and Nicholson, R. 2009. Adverse features of acquired antihormone resistance and their targeting. In: Hiscox, S. E., Gee, J. M. W. and Nicholson, R. eds. Therapeutic Resistance to Anti-Hormonal Drugs in Breast Cancer: New Molecular Aspects and their Potential as Targets. London: Springer, pp. 139-160., (10.1007/978-1-4020-8526-0_8)
Gee, J. M. W. et al. 2009. Overexpression of TFAP2C in invasive breast cancer correlates with a poorer response to anti-hormone therapy and reduced patient survival. The Journal of Pathology 217(1), pp. 32-41. (10.1002/path.2430)
Hiscox, S. E., Jordan, N. J., Crandon-Lewis, A., Jiang, W., Nicholson, R. I. and Gee, J. M. W. 2009. Overexpression of L1CAM accompanies acquired endocrine resistance and is associated with the development of an aggressive cell phenotype [Abstract]. Cancer Research 69(2), pp. 213S-213S. (10.1158/0008-5472.SABCS-3028)
Shou, J., Osborne, K. C., Gee, J. M. W., Nicholson, R. I. and Schiff, R. 2009. Akt-dependent phosphorylation on AIB1 serine 967 contributes to breast cancer tamoxifen resistance [Abstract]. Cancer Research 69(2), pp. 211S-211S. (10.1158/0008-5472.SABCS-3021)
Elsheikh, S. E., Green, A. R., McClelland, R. A., Hutcheson, I. R., Gee, J. M. W., Nicholson, R. I. and Ellis, I. O. 2009. Altered Histone Modifications and Their Regulating Enzymes in Fulvestrant Resistant Breast Cancer Cell Line In Vitro [Abstract]. Modern Pathology 22(S1), pp. 38A-39A., article number: 162. (10.1038/modpathol.2008.210)
Jasani, B., Gee, J. M. W., Hutcheson, I. R., Clarkson, R. W. E., Bartlett, J. and Barrett-Lee, P. 2009. Resistance to HER2-directed trastuzumab therapy in breast cancer. Advances in Breast Cancer 6(3), pp. 11-18.
Kuter, I., Anderson, E., Emeribe, U., Finlay, P., Nicholson, R. I. and Gee, J. M. W. 2009. Comparison of Methods for Detection of Fulvestrant-Induced Changes in Breast Tumor Estrogen and Progesterone Receptor Expression in a Neoadjuvant Trial (NEWEST). Cancer Research 69(24), pp. 566S-567S.
O'Brien, C. S., Howell, S. J., Gee, J. M. W., Lykkesfeldt, A. E., Nicholson, R. I. and Clarke, R. B. 2009. Tamoxifen resistance in Estrogen Receptor Positive (ER plus ) breast cancer is driven by Estrogen Receptor Negative (ER-) cancer stem-like cells [Abstract]. Cancer Research 69(24), pp. 807S.

2008

Law, J. H. et al. 2008. Phosphorylated insulin-like growth factor-I/insulin receptor is present in all breast cancer subtypes and is related to poor survival. Cancer Research 68(24), pp. 10238-10246. (10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-08-2755)
Davison, Z., Dutkowski, C. M., Gee, J. M. W., Nicholson, R. I. and Heard, C. M. 2008. In vitro effects on MCF-7 breast cancer cells of signal transduction inhibitor/tamoxifen/eicosapentaenoic acid combinations and their simultaneous delivery across skin. Pharmaceutical Research 25(11), pp. 2516-2525. (10.1007/s11095-008-9665-5)
Knowlden, J. M., Jones, H. E., Barrow, D., Gee, J. M. W., Nicholson, R. I. and Hutcheson, I. R. 2008. Insulin receptor substrate-1 involvement in epidermal growth factor receptor and insulin-like growth factor receptor signalling: implication for Gefitinib ('Iressa') response and resistance. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment 111(1), pp. 79-91. (10.1007/s10549-007-9763-9)
Hiscox, S. E., Goddard, L., Jordan, N. J., Smith, C., Harper, M. E., Nicholson, R. I. and Gee, J. M. W. 2008. Overexpression of CD44 in acquired tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer cells augments their migratory response to heregulin beta 1 [Abstract]. Breast Cancer Research 10(S2), article number: P34. (10.1186/bcr1918)
Stone, A., Jones, H., Giles, M., Gee, J. M. W. and Nicholson, R. I. 2008. Anti-oestrogen therapy switches off tumour suppressors and proapoptotic genes in breast cancer and reveals a new therapeutic opportunity [Abstract]. Breast Cancer Research 10(s2), article number: P41. (10.1186/bcr1925)
Bensmail, A., Hutcheson, I. R., Giles, M., Gee, J. M. W. and Nicholson, R. I. 2008. Loss of oestrogen receptor alpha in long-term antioestrogen-resistant cells: reversal by a c-src inhibitor [Abstract]. Breast Cancer Research 10(S2), article number: O3. (10.1186/bcr1883)
Borley, A. C., Hiscox, S. E., Gee, J. M. W., Smith, C., Shaw, V., Barrett-Lee, P. and Nicholson, R. I. 2008. Anti-oestrogens but not oestrogen deprivation promote cellular invasion in intercellular adhesion-deficient breast cancer cells. Breast Cancer Research 10(6), article number: R103. (10.1186/bcr2206)
Habashy, H. O. et al. 2008. Forkhead-box A1 (FOXA1) expression in breast cancer and its prognostic significance. European Journal of Cancer 44(11), pp. 1541-1551. (10.1016/j.ejca.2008.04.020)
Rakha, E. A. et al. 2008. Invasive lobular carcinoma of the breast: Response to hormonal therapy and outcomes. European Journal of Cancer 44(1), pp. 73-83. (10.1016/j.ejca.2007.10.009)
Taylor, K. M., Jordan, N. J., Hiscox, S. E., Gee, J. M. W. and Nicholson, R. I. 2008. Zinc transporter HKE4 as a new target in antihormone resistance of breast cancer [Abstract]. Breast Cancer Research 10(s2), article number: P42. (10.1186/bcr1926)
Thompson, A. et al. 2008. Evaluation of the current knowledge limitations in breast cancer research: a gap analysis. Breast Cancer Research 10(2), article number: R26. (10.1186/bcr1983)
Nicholson, R. I., Hutcheson, I. R., Jones, H. E., Taylor, K. M., Hiscox, S. E. and Gee, J. M. W. 2008. Compensatory signalling induced by anti-hormone and anti-growth factor therapies in breast cancer: a starting point for the development of resistance to targeted therapies.. In: Pasqualini, J. R. ed. Breast cancer: prognosis, treatment and prevention. 2nd ed. London: Informa Healthcare, pp. 123-136.
Hutcheson, I. R., Gee, J. M. W. and Nicholson, R. I. 2008. MAP Kinase family members and endocrine response and survival in breast cancer. In: Walker, R. A. and Thompson, A. M. eds. Prognostic and predictive factors in breast cancer. 2nd ed.. London: Informa Healthcare, pp. 122-138.

2007

Borley, A. C., Barrett-Lee, P., Gee, J. M. W., Show, V. E., Nicholson, R. and Hiscox, S. E. 2007. Anti-estrogens promote an invasive phenotype in intercellular adhesion deficient breast cancer cells. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment 106(Supp 1), pp. S7-S8.
Rampaul, R. S. et al. 2007. O-105 erbB Signalling in breast cancer. EJC Supplements 5(3), pp. 32. (10.1016/S1359-6349(07)71795-0)
Assender, J. W., Gee, J. M. W., Lewis, I., Ellis, I. O., Robertson, J. F. R. and Nicholson, R. I. 2007. Protein kinase C isoform expression as a predictor of disease outcome on endocrine therapy in breast cancer. Journal of Clinical Pathology 60(11), pp. 1216-1221. (10.1136/jcp.2006.041616)
Greco, F., Vicent, M. J., Gee, S., Jones, A. T., Gee, J. M. W., Nicholson, R. I. and Duncan, R. 2007. Investigating the mechanism of enhanced cytotoxicity of HPMA copolymer-Dox-AGM in breast cancer cells. Journal of Controlled Release 117(1), pp. 28-39. (10.1016/j.jconrel.2006.10.012)
Hutcheson, I. R. et al. 2007. Heregulin beta 1 drives gefitinib-resistant growth and invasion in tamoxifen-resistant MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Breast Cancer Research 9(4), article number: R50. (10.1186/bcr1754)
Nicholson, R. I., Hutcheson, I. R., Jones, H. E., Hiscox, S. E., Giles, M., Taylor, K. M. and Gee, J. M. W. 2007. Growth factor signalling in endocrine and anti-growth factor resistant breast cancer. Reviews in Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders 8(3), pp. 241-253. (10.1007/s11154-007-9033-5)
Rakha, E. A. et al. 2007. Biologic and clinical characteristics of breast cancer with single hormone receptor-positive phenotype. Journal of Clinical Oncology 25(30), pp. 4772-4778. (10.1200/jco.2007.12.2747)
Rampaul, R. S. et al. 2007. Assessment of Her-2 status using a panel of antibodies and FISH. EJC Supplements 5(3), pp. 17.
Robertson, J. F. R. et al. 2007. Effects of fulvestrant 250 mg in premenopausal women with oestrogen receptor-positive primary breast cancer. European Journal of Cancer 43(1), pp. 64-70. (10.1016/j.ejca.2006.08.019)

2006

Hutcheson, I. R. et al. 2006. Inductive mechanisms limiting response to anti-epidermal growth factor receptor therapy. Endocrine-Related Cancer 13(S1), pp. S89-S97. (10.1677/erc.1.01279)
Gee, J. M. W., Shaw, V. E., Hiscox, S. E., McClelland, R. A., Rushmere, N. K. and Nicholson, R. I. 2006. Deciphering antihormone-induced compensatory mechanisms in breast cancer and their therapeutic implications. Endocrine-Related Cancer 13(S1), pp. S77-S88. (10.1677/erc.1.01274)
Jones, H. E., Gee, J. M. W., Hutcheson, I. R., Knowlden, J. M., Barrow, D. and Nicholson, R. I. 2006. Growth factor receptor interplay and resistance in cancer. Endocrine-Related Cancer 13(S1), pp. S45-S51. (10.1677/erc.1.01275)
Nicholson, R. I., Gee, J. M. W., Harris, A. and Anderson, E. 2006. Consensus Statement. Endocrine-Related Cancer 13(S1), pp. S1-S2. (10.1677/erc.1.01323)
Burmi, R. S., McClelland, R. A., Barrow, D., Ellis, I. O., Robertson, J. F. R., Nicholson, R. I. and Gee, J. M. W. 2006. Microarray studies reveal novel genes associated with endocrine resistance in breast cancer [Abstract]. Breast Cancer Research 8(S2), article number: S11. (10.1186/bcr1554)
Sarwar, N. et al. 2006. Phosphorylation of ER alpha at serine 118 in primary breast cancer and in tamoxifen-resistant tumours is indicative of a complex role for ER alpha phosphorylation in breast cancer progression. Endocrine-Related Cancer 13(3), pp. 851-861. (10.1677/erc.1.01123)
Jones, H. E., Gee, J. M. W., Barrow, D., Tonge, D., Holloway, B. and Nicholson, R. I. 2006. Inhibition of insulin receptor isoform-A signalling restores sensitivity to gefitinib in previously de novo resistant colon cancer cells. British Journal of Cancer 95(2), pp. 172-180. (10.1038/sj.bjc.6603237)
Jones, H. E., Gee, J. M. W., Hutcheson, I. R. and Nicholson, R. I. 2006. Growth factor pathway switching: implications for the use of gefitinib and trastuzumab. Breast Cancer Online 9(7), article number: e27. (10.1017/S1470903106005451)
Hiscox, S. E., Morgan, L. D., Green, T. P., Barrow, D., Gee, J. M. W. and Nicholson, R. I. 2006. Elevated Src activity promotes cellular invasion and motility in tamoxifen resistant breast cancer cells. Breast cancer research and treatment 97(3), pp. 263-274. (10.1007/s10549-005-9120-9)
Britton, D. J. et al. 2006. Bidirectional cross talk between ER alpha and EGFR signalling pathways regulates tamoxifen-resistant growth. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment 96(2), pp. 131-146. (10.1007/s10549-005-9070-2)
Jasani, B., Douglas-Jones, A. G., Rhodes, A., Wozniak, S., Barrett-Lee, P., Gee, J. M. W. and Nicholson, R. I. 2006. Measurement of estrogen receptor status by immunocytochemistry in paraffin wax sections. In: Brooks, S. A. and Harris, A. eds. Breast Cancer Research Protocols. Methods in Molecular Medicine Vol. 120. Totowa, NJ: Humana Press, pp. 127-146., (10.1385/1-59259-969-9:127)
Jones, H. E., Gee, J. M. W., Barrow, D., Holloway, B., Tonge, D. and Nicholson, R. I. 2006. Maintenance of EGFR phosphorylation by the IGF-1R in the presence of gefitinib in lung cancer cells: Co-targeting the EGFR and IGF-1R maximises anti-tumour effects [Abstract]. Annals of Oncology 17(S3), pp. iii39. (10.1093/annonc/mdl919)
Ali, S. et al. 2006. Immunohistochemical determination of estrogen receptor-alpha phosphorylation in activation function AF1 in primary and tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer is indicative of a complex role for estrogen receptor-alpha phosphorylation in breast cancer progression [Abstract]. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment 100(S1), pp. S36-S37. (10.1007/s10549-006-5678-0)

2005

Knowlden, J. M., Hutcheson, I. R., Barrow, D., Gee, J. M. W. and Nicholson, R. I. 2005. Insulin-like growth factor-I receptor signaling in tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer: A supporting role to the epidermal growth factor receptor. Endocrinology 146(11), pp. 4609-4618. (10.1210/en.2005-0247)
Nicholson, R. I., Hutcheson, I. R., Hiscox, S. E., Knowlden, J. M., Giles, M. G., Barrow, D. and Gee, J. M. W. 2005. Growth factor signalling and resistance to selective oestrogen receptor modulators and pure anti-oestrogens: the use of anti-growth factor therapies to treat or delay endocrine resistance in breast cancer. Endocrine-Related Cancer 12(S1), pp. S29-S36. (10.1677/erc.1.00991)
Gee, J. M. W. et al. 2005. Consensus statement. Endocrine-Related Cancer 12(S1), pp. S1-S7. (10.1677/erc.1.01054)
Jones, H. E., Gee, J. M. W., Taylor, K. M., Barrow, D., Williams, H. D., Rubini, M. and Nicholson, R. I. 2005. Development of strategies for the use of anti-growth factor treatments. Endocrine-Related Cancer 12(S1), pp. S173-S182. (10.1677/erc.1.01004)
Agrawal, A., Gutteridge, E., Gee, J. M. W., Nicholson, R. I. and Robertson, J. F. R. 2005. Overview of tyrosine kinase inhibitors in clinical breast cancer. Endocrine-Related Cancer 12(S1), pp. S135-S144. (10.1677/erc.1.01059)
Staka, C. M., Nicholson, R. I. and Gee, J. M. W. 2005. Acquired resistance to oestrogen deprivation: role for growth factor signalling kinases/oestrogen receptor cross-talk revealed in new MCF-7X model. Endocrine-Related Cancer 12(S1), pp. S85-S97. (10.1677/erc.1.01006)
Gee, J. M. W., Robertson, J. F., Gutteridge, E., Ellis, I. O., Pinder, S. E., Rubini, M. and Nicholson, R. I. 2005. Epidermal growth factor receptor/HER2/insulin-like growth factor receptor signalling and oestrogen receptor activity in clinical breast cancer. Endocrine-Related Cancer 12(S1), pp. S99-S111. (10.1677/erc.1.01005)
Gutteridge, E., Gee, J. M. W., Nicholson, R. I. and Robertson, J. F. R. 2005. Biological markers associated with response to gefitinib ('Iressa') in patients with breast cancer [Abstract]. British Journal of Surgery 92(S1), pp. 13-17. (10.1002/bjs.5008)
Green, A. R., Paish, E. C., Gee, J. M. W., Nicholson, R. I., Cheung, K. L., Robertson, J. F. R. and Ellis, I. O. 2005. Oestrogen receptor variant expression as potential selectors for adjuvant endocrine therapy in breast cancer patients [Abstract]. Journal of Pathology 205(S1), pp. 5A. (10.1002/path.1762)
Nicholson, R. I. et al. 2005. Growth factor signalling networks in breast cancer and resistance to endocrine agents: new therapeutic strategies. The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 93(2-5), pp. 257-262. (10.1016/j.jsbmb.2004.12.006)
Gee, J. M. W. and Hutcheson, I. R. 2005. Understanding endocrine resistance: the critical need for sequential samples from clinical breast cancer and novel in vitro models [Viewpoint]. Breast Cancer Research 7(5), pp. 187-189. (10.1186/bcr1289)
Giles, M. G., Fiegl, H., Widschwendter, M., Gee, J. M. W., Wakeling, A. E. and Nicholson, R. I. 2005. Loss of estrogen receptor (ER) expression in MCF-7 cells following long-term exposure to fulvestrant [Abstract]. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment 94(S1), pp. S243. (10.1007/s10549-005-1234-6)

2004

Nicholson, R. I., Staka, C., Boyns, F. E., Hutcheson, I. R. and Gee, J. M. W. 2004. Growth factor-driven mechanisms associated with resistance to estrogen deprivation in breast cancer: new opportunities for therapy. Endocrine-Related Cancer 11(4), pp. 623-641. (10.1677/erc.1.00778)
Jones, H. E. et al. 2004. Insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor signalling and acquired resistance to gefitinib (ZD1839; Iressa) in human breast and prostate cancer cells. Endocrine-Related Cancer 11(4), pp. 793-814. (10.1677/erc.1.00799)
Jordan, N. J., Gee, J. M. W., Barrow, D., Wakeling, A. E. and Nicholson, R. I. 2004. Increased constitutive activity of PKB/Akt in tamoxifen resistant breast cancer MCF-7 cells. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment 87(2), pp. 167-180. (10.1023/B:BREA.0000041623.21338.47)
Gutteridge, E., Gee, J. M. W., Nicholson, R. I. and Robertson, J. F. R. 2004. Biological markers associated with response to gefitinib (ZD1839) in patients with breast cancer [Abstract]. Journal of Clinical Oncology 22(14S), article number: 648.
Rushmere, N. K., Knowlden, J. M., Gee, J. M. W., Harper, M. E., Robertson, J. F. R., Morgan, B. P. and Nicholson, R. I. 2004. Analysis of the level of mRNA expression of the membrane regulators of complement, Cd59, Cd55 and Cd46, in breast, cancer. International Journal of Cancer 108(6), pp. 930-936. (10.1002/ijc.11606)
Hutcheson, I. R., Gee, J. M. W., Barrow, D., Jones, H. E., Wakeling, A. E. and Nicholson, R. I. 2004. Treatment of tamoxifen-resistant MCF-7 breast cancer cells with either gefitinib ('Iressa') or trastuzumab (Herceptin((R))) generates cross-resistant phenotypes [Abstract]. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment 88(S1), pp. S145-S146. (10.1007/s10549-004-3602-z)
Nicholson, R. et al. 2004. Nonendocrine pathways and endocrine resistance: observations with antiestrogens and signal transduction inhibitors in combination. Clinical Cancer Research 10(1), pp. 346s-354s. (10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-031206)
Gee, J. M. W., Gutteridge, E., Robertson, J. F., Wakeling, A. E., Jones, H. E. and Nicholson, R. I. 2004. Biological markers during early treatment of tamoxifen resistant breast cancer with gefitinib ('Iressa')[Abstract]. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment 88(S1), pp. S32. (10.1007/s10549-004-3602-z)
Gee, J. M. W., Giles, M. G. and Nicholson, R. I. 2004. Extreme growth factor signalling can promote oestrogen receptor-alpha loss: therapeutic implications in breast cancer. Breast Cancer Research 6(4), pp. 162-163. (10.1186/bcr904)
Giles, M. G., Gee, J. M. W., Wakeling, A. E. and Nicholson, R. I. 2004. Characterization of ER alpha and cofactor recruitment during fulvestrant treatment and resistance in breast cancer using chromatin immunoprecipitation [Abstract]. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment 88(S1), pp. S216-S217. (10.1007/s10549-004-3602-z)
Nicholson, R. et al. 2004. Chapter 16: beyond antihormones in the targeted therapy of breast cancer. In: Ingle, J. N. and Dowsett, M. eds. Endocrine Therapy for Breast Cancer Proceedings of the 2003 Gleneagles Conference. New York: Marcel Dekker, pp. 249-258.

2003

Gee, J. M. W., Harper, M., Hurcheson, I. and Madden, T. 2003. The antiepidermal growth factor receptor agent gefitinib (ZD1839/Iressa) improves antihormone response and prevents development of resistance in breast cancer in vitro. Endocrinology 144(11), pp. 5105-5117. (10.1210/en.2003-0705)
Hutcheson, I. R., Knowlden, J. M., Madden, T., Barrow, D., Gee, J. M. W., Wakeling, A. E. and Nicholson, R. I. 2003. Oestrogen receptor-mediated modulation of the EGFR/MAPK pathway in tamoxifen-resistant MCF-7 cells. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment 81(1), pp. 81-93. (10.1023/A:1025484908380)
Knowlden, J. M. et al. 2003. Elevated levels of epidermal growth factor receptor/c-erbB2 heterodimers mediate an autocrine growth regulatory pathway in tamoxifen-resistant MCF-7 cells. Endocrinology 144(3), pp. 1032-1044. (10.1210/en.2002-220620)
Britton, D. J., Hutcheson, I. R., Barrow, D., McClelland, R. A., Gee, J. M. W. and Nicholson, R. I. 2003. Oestrogen receptor phosphorylation in hormone sensitive and anti-hormone resistant breast cancer cells [Abstract]. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment 82(S1), pp. S61. (10.1023/A:1026252325164)
Nicholson, R. I., Gee, J. M. W., Knowlden, J. M., McClelland, R. A., Madden, T., Barrow, D. and Hutcheson, I. R. 2003. The biology of antihormone failure in breast cancer. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment 80(S1), pp. 29-34. (10.1023/A:1025467500433)
Nicholson, R. I. et al. 2003. Insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor signalling and acquired resistance to gefitinib ('Iressa', ZD1839) in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells [Abstract]. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment 82(S1), pp. S171. (10.1023/A:1026252325164)
Hutcheson, I. R., Knowlden, J. M., Barrow, D., Gee, J. M. W., Robertson, J. F., Wakeling, A. E. and Nicholson, R. I. 2003. Heregulin-induced AKT activation promotes growth of gefitinib ('Iressa', ZD1839)-treated, tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer cells [Abstract]. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment 82(S1), pp. S170. (10.1023/A:1026252325164)
Gee, J. M. W., Rubini, M., Robertson, J. F., Ellis, I. O., Gutteridge, E. and Nicholson, R. I. 2003. Type 1 insulin-like growth factor receptor expression and activation in clinical breast cancer [Abstract]. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment 82(S1), pp. S102., article number: 429. (10.1023/A:1026252325164)
Gee, J. M. W. and Nicholson, R. I. 2003. Expanding the therapeutic repertoire of epidermal growth factor receptor blockade: radiosensitization [Commentary]. Breast Cancer Research 5(3), pp. 126-129. (10.1186/bcr584)
Gee, J. M. W. and Knowlden, J. M. 2003. ADAM metalloproteases and EGFR signalling [Viewpoint]. Breast Cancer Research 5(5), pp. 223-224. (10.1186/bcr637)
Hutcheson, I. R., Gee, J. M. W. and Nicholson, R. I. 2003. MAP Kinase family members and endocrine response and survival in breast cancer. In: Walker, R. A. ed. Prognostic and Predictive Factors in Breast Cancer. London: Martin Dunitz, pp. 147-166.

2002

Gee, J. M. W. et al. 2002. ZD1839 ('Iressa') improves the antitumour activity of tamoxifen ('Nolvadex') and ICI 182, 780 ('Faslodex') in antihormone responsive breast cancer [Abstract]. European Journal of Cancer 38(S7), pp. S59. (10.1016/S0959-8049(02)80835-8)
Nicholson, R. I., Hutcheson, I. R. and Gee, J. M. W. 2002. Targeting of oestrogen and growth factor signalling pathways in the therapy of breast cancer: Implications for chemoprevention [Abstract]. European Journal of Cancer 38(S3), pp. S43-S44. (10.1016/S0959-8049(02)81245-X)
Nicholson, R. I. et al. 2002. Modulation of epidermal growth factor receptor in endocrine-resistant, estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer. In: Castagnetta, L. et al. eds. Hormone-Related Tumors: Novel Approaches to Prevention and Treatment. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences Vol. 963. New York: The New York Academy of Sciences, pp. 104-115., (10.1111/j.1749-6632.2002.tb04101.x)
Albanell, J. et al. 2002. Pharmacodynamic studies of the epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor ZD1839 in skin from cancer patients: histopathologic and molecular consequences of receptor inhibition. Journal of Clinical Oncology 20(1), pp. 110-124. (10.1200/JCO.20.1.110)
Chan, K. C., Knox, W. F., Gee, J. M. W., Morris, J., Nicholson, R. I., Potten, C. S. and Bundred, N. J. 2002. Effect of epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibition on epithelial proliferation in normal and premalignant breast. Cancer Research 62, pp. 122-128.

2001

Wakeling, A. E., Nicholson, R. I. and Gee, J. M. W. 2001. Prospects for combining hormonal and nonhormonal growth factor inhibition. Clinical Cancer Research 7(12), pp. 4350S-4355S.
Nicholson, R. I. et al. 2001. ZD1839 (Iressa) improves the antitumor activity of tamoxifen (Nolvadex) in antihormone-responsive breast cancer cells [Abstract]. Clinical Cancer Research 7(S), pp. 3766S.
Glynne-Jones, E. M. et al. 2001. TENB2, a proteoglycan identified in prostate cancer that is associated with disease progression and androgen independence. International Journal of Cancer 94(2), pp. 178-184. (10.1002/ijc.1450)
Nicholson, R. I., Gee, J. M. W. and Harper, M. E. 2001. EGFR and cancer prognosis. European Journal of Cancer 37(S4), pp. 9-15. (10.1016/S0959-8049(01)00231-3)
Nicholson, R. I. et al. 2001. Modulation of epidermal growth factor receptor in endocrine-resistant, oestrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. Endocrine-Related Cancer 8(3), pp. 175-182. (10.1677/erc.0.0080175)
Robertson, J. F. et al. 2001. Comparison of the short-term biological effects of 7 alpha-[9-(4,4,5,5,5-pentafluoropentylsulfinyl)-nonyl]estra-1,3,5, (10)-triene-3,17 beta-diol (Faslodex) versus tamoxifen in postmenopausal women with primary breast cancer. Cancer Research 61(18), pp. 6739-6746.
McClelland, R. A. et al. 2001. Enhanced epidermal growth factor receptor signaling in MCF7 breast cancer cells after long-term culture in the presence of the pure antiestrogen ICI 182,780 (Faslodex). Endocrinology 142(7), pp. 2776-2788. (10.1210/en.142.7.2776)
Gee, J. M. W., Ellis, I., Nicholson, R. and Robertson, J. 2001. Phosphorylation of ERK1/2 mitogen-activated protein kinase is associated with poor response to anti-hormonal therapy and decreased patient survival in clinical breast cancer. International Journal of Cancer 95(4), pp. 247-54. (10.1002/1097-0215(20010720)95:4<247::AID-IJC1042>3.0.CO;2-S)
Kenny, F. S. et al. 2001. Effect of dietary GLA plus /-tamoxifen on the growth, ER expression and fatty acid profile of ER positive human breast cancer xenografts. International Journal of Cancer 92(3), pp. 342-347. (10.1002/ijc.1213)
Kenny, F. S., Willsher, P. C., Gee, J. M. W., Nicholson, R. I., Pinder, S. E., Ellis, I. O. and Robertson, J. F. R. 2001. Change in expression of ER, bcl-2 and MIB1 on primary tamoxifen and relation to response in ER positive breast cancer. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment 65(2), pp. 135-144. (10.1023/A:1006469627067)

2000

Yip, S. S. et al. 2000. Up-regulation of the protein tyrosine phosphatase SHP-1 in human breast cancer and correlation with GRB2 expression. International Journal of Cancer 88(3), pp. 363-368. (10.1002/1097-0215(20001101)88:3<363::AID-IJC7>3.0.CO;2-4)
Madden, T., Barrow, D., McClelland, R. A., Gee, J. M. W. and Nicholson, R. I. 2000. Modulation of oestrogen action by receptor gene inhibition. European Journal of Cancer 36(S4), pp. 34-35. (10.1016/S0959-8049(00)00216-1)
Kenny, F. S., Pinder, S. E., Ellis, I. O., Gee, J. M. W., Nicholson, R. I., Bryce, R. P. and Robertson, J. F. R. 2000. Gamma linolenic acid with tamoxifen as primary therapy tn breast cancer. International Journal of Cancer 85(5), pp. 643-648. (10.1002/(SICI)1097-0215(20000301)85:5<643::AID-IJC8>3.0.CO;2-Z)
Knowlden, J. M., Gee, J. M. W., Robertson, J. F. R., Ellis, I. O. and Nicholson, R. I. 2000. A possible divergent role for the oestrogen receptor alpha and beta subtypes in clinical breast cancer. International Journal of Cancer 89(2), pp. 209-212. (10.1002/(SICI)1097-0215(20000320)89:2<209::AID-IJC17>3.0.CO;2-6)
Gee, J. M. W., Barroso, A. F., Ellis, I. O., Robertson, J. F. R. and Nicholson, R. I. 2000. Biological and clinical associations of c-jun activation in human breast cancer. International Journal of Cancer 89(2), pp. 177-186. (10.1002/(SICI)1097-0215(20000320)89:2<177::AID-IJC13>3.0.CO;2-0)
Nicholson, R. I. and Gee, J. M. W. 2000. Oestrogen and growth factor cross-talk and endocrine insensitivity and acquired resistance in breast cancer. British Journal of Cancer 82(3), pp. 501-513. (10.1054/bjoc.1999.0954)
Gee, J. M. W., Robertson, J. F. R., Ellis, I. O. and Nicholson, R. I. 2000. Abstract P13: Impact of activation of MAP kinase family members on endocrine response and survival in clinical breast cancer [Abstract]. European Journal of Cancer 36(S4), pp. 105. (10.1016/S0959-8049(00)00259-8)

1999

Gee, J. M. W., Robertson, J. F. R., Ellis, I. O., Nicholson, R. I. and Hurst, H. C. 1999. Immunohistochemical analysis reveals a tumour suppressor-like role for the transcription factor AP-2 in invasive breast cancer. Journal of Pathology 189(4), pp. 514-520. (10.1002/(SICI)1096-9896(199912)189:4<514::AID-PATH463>3.0.CO;2-9)
Seery, L. T., Knowlden, J. M., Gee, J. M. W., Robertson, J. F. R., Kenny, F. S., Ellis, I. O. and Nicholson, R. I. 1999. [Corrigendum] BRCA1 expression levels predict distant metastasis of sporadic breast cancer (vol 84, pg 258, 1999). International Journal of Cancer 84(5), pp. 544-544. (10.1002/(SICI)1097-0215(19991022)84:5<544::AID-IJC18>3.0.CO;2-9)
Nicholson, R. I., McClelland, R. A., Robertson, J. F. R. and Gee, J. M. W. 1999. Involvement of steroid hormone and growth factor cross-talk in endocrine response in breast cancer. Endocrine-Related Cancer 6(3), pp. 373-387. (10.1677/erc.0.0060373)
Kenny, F. S. et al. 1999. Overexpression of cyclin D1 messenger RNA predicts for poor prognosis in estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. Clinical Cancer Research 5(8), pp. 2069-2076.
McClelland, R. A., Gee, J. M. W., O'Sullivan, L. A., Barnes, D. M., Robertson, J. F. R., Ellis, I. O. and Nicholson, R. I. 1999. p21(WAF1) expression and endocrine response in breast cancer. Journal of Pathology 188(2), pp. 126-132. (10.1002/(SICI)1096-9896(199906)188:2<126::AID-PATH340>3.0.CO;2-O)
Seery, L. T., Knowlden, J. M., Gee, J. M. W., Robertson, J. F. R., Kenny, F. S., Ellis, I. O. and Nicholson, R. I. 1999. BRCA1 expression levels predict distant metastasis of sporadic breast cancers. International Journal of Cancer 84(3), pp. 258-262. (10.1002/(SICI)1097-0215(19990621)84:3<258::AID-IJC10>3.0.CO;2-H)
Davies, E. L., Gee, J. M. W., Cochrane, R. A., Jiang, W. G., Sharma, A. K., Nicholson, R. I. and Mansel, R. E. 1999. The immunohistochemical expression of desmoplakin and its role in vivo in the progression and metastasis of breast cancer. European Journal of Cancer 35(6), pp. 902-907. (10.1016/S0959-8049(99)00031-3)
Gee, J. M. W., Willsher, P. C., Kenny, F. S., Robertson, J. F. R., Pinder, S. E., Ellis, I. O. and Nicholson, R. I. 1999. Endocrine response and resistance in breast cancer: A role for the transcription factor Fos. International Journal of Cancer 84(1), pp. 54-61. (10.1002/(SICI)1097-0215(19990219)84:1<54::AID-IJC11>3.0.CO;2-X)

1998

Knowlden, J. M. et al. 1998. C-erbB3 and c-erbB4 expression is a feature of the endocrine responsive phenotype in clinical breast cancer. Oncogene 17(15), pp. 1949-1957.
Kenny, F. S., Willsher, P. C., Gee, J. M. W., Nicholson, R. I., Ellis, I. O. and Robertson, J. F. R. 1998. Change in expression of ER and BCL-2 predict for quality and duration of response in endocrine sensitive breast cancer [Abstract]. European Journal of Cancer 34(S5), pp. S82. (10.1016/S0959-8049(98)80345-6)
Willsher, P. C. et al. 1998. c-erbB2 expression predicts response to preoperative chemotherapy for locally advanced breast cancer. Anticancer Research 18(5B), pp. 3695-3698.
Davies, E. L., Gee, J. M. W., Cochrane, R. A., Nicholson, R. I., Sharma, A. K., Jiang, W. G. and Mansel, R. E. 1998. The expression of desmoglein-2 in primary breast cancer and its relation to a series of prognostic markers [Abstract]. British Journal of Cancer 78(2), pp. 149. (10.1038/bjc.1998.457)
McClelland, R. A. et al. 1998. Oestrogen-regulated genes in breast cancer: association of pLIV1 with response to endocrine therapy. British Journal of Cancer 77(10), pp. 1653-1656. (10.1038/bjc.1998.457)

1997

Knowlden, J. M. et al. 1997. Use of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction methodology to detect estrogen-regulated gene expression in small breast cancer specimens. Clinical Cancer Research 3(11), pp. 2165-2172.
Dewhurst, L. O., Gee, J. M. W., Rennie, I. G. and MacNeil, S. 1997. Tamoxifen, 17 beta-oestradiol and the calmodulin antagonist J8 inhibit human melanoma cell invasion through fibronectin. British Journal of Cancer 75(6), pp. 860-868. (10.1038/bjc.1997.153)
Jones, H. E., Eaton, C. L., Barrow, D., Dutkowski, C. M., Gee, J. M. W. and Griffiths, K. 1997. Comparative studies of the mitogenic effects of epidermal growth factor and transforming growth factor-alpha and the expression of various growth factors in neoplastic and non-neoplastic prostatic cell lines. Prostate 30(4), pp. 219-231. (10.1002/(SICI)1097-0045(19970301)30:4<219::AID-PROS1>3.0.CO;2-G)
Nicholson, R. I., Gee, J. M. W., Harper, M. E., Ellis, I. O., Willsher, P. and Robertson, J. F. R. 1997. erbB signalling in clinical breast cancer: relationship to endocrine sensitivity. Endocrine-Related Cancer 4(3), pp. 297-305. (10.1677/erc.0.0040297)

1996

Sharma, A. K. et al. 1996. Analysis of the genes for oestrogen and epidermal growth factor receptors in human breast cancer. The Breast 5(5), pp. 344-350. (10.1016/S0960-9776(96)90002-8)
Sharma, A. K., Grimshaw, D., Horgan, K., Mansel, R. E., Gee, J. M. W. and Nicholson, R. I. 1996. Mechanisms responsible for oestrogen receptor expression in primary human breast cancer. The Breast 5(4), pp. 237-243. (10.1016/S0960-9776(96)90017-X)
Nicholson, R. I., Francis, A. B., Kyme, S. R. and Gee, J. M. W. 1996. Properties and mode of action of pure antioestrogens in breast cancer in vitro. The Breast 5(3), pp. 175-180. (10.1016/S0960-9776(96)90089-2)
McClelland, R. A., Gee, J. M. W., Francis, A. B., Robertson, J. F. R., Blamey, R. W., Wakeling, A. E. and Nicholson, R. I. 1996. Short-term effects of pure anti-oestrogen ICI 182780 treatment on oestrogen receptor, epidermal growth factor receptor and transforming growth factor-alpha protein expression in human breast cancer. European Journal of Cancer 32(3), pp. 413-416. (10.1016/0959-8049(95)00517-X)
Nicholson, R. I. et al. 1996. Pure antiestrogens - The most important advance in the endocrine therapy of breast cancer since 1896?. In: Castagnetta, L., Nenci, I. and Bradlow, H. L. eds. Basis for Cancer Management. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences Vol. 784. New York: New York Academy of Sciences, pp. 325-335., (10.1111/j.1749-6632.1996.tb16247.x)
McClelland, R. A. et al. 1996. Effects of short-term antiestrogen treatment of primary breast cancer on estrogen receptor mRNA and protein expression and on estrogen-regulated genes. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment 41(1), pp. 31-41. (10.1007/BF01807034)
Gupta, S. K., Pace, D., Gee, J. M. W., Douglas-Jones, A. G., Morgan, J. M. and Mansel, R. E. 1996. Epithelial markers in lobular carcinoma [Abstract]. Journal of Pathology 179(S1), pp. 16A. (10.1002/path.1996.1711790502)

1995

Gee, J. M. W., Douglas-Jones, A. G., Hepburn, P., Sharma, A. K., McClelland, R. A., Ellis, I. O. and Nicholson, R. I. 1995. A cautionary note regarding the application of Ki-67 antibodies to paraffin-embedded breast cancers. Journal of Pathology 177(3), pp. 285-293. (10.1002/path.1711770311)
Nicholson, R. I., McClelland, R. A. and Gee, J. M. W. 1995. Steroid hormone receptors and their clinical significance in cancer. Journal of Clinical Pathology 48(10), pp. 890-895. (10.1136/jcp.48.10.890)
Gee, J. M. W. et al. 1995. Immunocytochemical localization of fos protein in human breast cancers and its relationship to a series of prognostic markers and response to endocrine therapy. International Journal of Cancer 64(4), pp. 269-273. (10.1002/ijc.2910640410)
Robertson, J. F. R., Gee, J. M. W., McClelland, R. A., Ellis, I. O., Willsher, P., Blamey, R. W. and Nicholson, R. I. 1995. BCL2 Expression In Breast-Cancer - Identification Of Patients Who Should Not Receive Endocrine Therapy [Abstract]. British Journal of Surgery 82(5), pp. 698. (10.1002/bjs.1800820540)
Hepburn, P. J., Glynne-Jones, E., Goddard, L., Gee, J. M. W. and Harper, M. E. 1995. Cell proliferation in prostatic carcinoma: comparative analysis of Ki-67, MIB-1 and PCNA. Histochemical Journal 27(3), pp. 196-203. (10.1007/BF00177586)
Manning, D. L. et al. 1995. Differential expression of estrogen-regulated genes in breast-cancer. Acta Oncologica 34(5), pp. 641-646.
Nicholson, R. I., Gee, J. M. W., Francis, A. B., Manning, D. L., Wakeling, A. E. and Katzenellenbogen, B. S. 1995. Observations arising from the use of pure antioestrogens on oestrogen-responsive (MCF-7) and oestrogen growth-independent (K3) human breast cancer cells. Endocrine-Related Cancer 2(1), pp. 115-121. (10.1677/erc.0.0020115)
Nicholson, R. I., Gee, J. M. W., Manning, D. L., Wakeling, A. E., Montano, M. M. and Katzenellenbogen, B. S. 1995. Responses to Pure Antiestrogens (ICI 164384, ICI182780) in Estrogen-Sensitive and-Resistant Experimental and Clinical Breast Cancer. In: Philibert, D. et al. eds. Steroid Receptors and Antihormones. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences Vol. 761. New York: New York Academy of Sciences, pp. 148-163., (10.1111/j.1749-6632.1995.tb31376.x)

1994

Gee, J. M. W. et al. 1994. Immunocytochemical localization of BCL-2 protein in human breast cancers and its relationship to a series of prognostic markers and response to endocrine therapy. International Journal of Cancer 59(5), pp. 619-628. (10.1002/ijc.2910590508)
Nicholson, R. I. et al. 1994. Transforming growth factor-α and endocrine sensitivity in breast cancer. Cancer Research 54(7), pp. 1684-1689.
Nicholson, R. I. et al. 1994. Epidermal growth factor receptor expression in breast cancer: Association with response to endocrine therapy. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment 29(1), pp. 117-125. (10.1007/BF00666187)
Manning, D. L. et al. 1994. Oestrogen-regulated genes in breast cancer: Association of pLIV1 with lymph node involvement. European Journal of Cancer 30(5), pp. 675-678. (10.1016/0959-8049(94)90543-6)
Nicholson, R. I., Francis, A. B., McClelland, R. A., Manning, D. L. and Gee, J. M. W. 1994. Pure anti-oestrogens (ICI 164384 and ICI 182780) and breast cancer: is the attainment of complete oestrogen withdrawal worthwhile?. Endocrine-Related Cancer 1(4), pp. 5-17. (10.1677/erc.0.0010005)
Ghandour, F. A., Attanoos, R. L., Nahar, K., Gee, J. M. W., Bigrigg, A. and Ismail, S. M. 1994. Immunocytochemical localization of oestrogen and progesterone receptors in primary adenocarcinoma of the cervix. Histopathology 24(1), pp. 49-55. (10.1111/j.1365-2559.1994.tb01270.x)
Nicholson, R. I. et al. 1994. Pure antioestrogens in breast cancer - experimental and clinical observations. Presented at: Sex Hormones and Antihormones in Endocrine Dependent Pathology: Basic and Clinical Aspects: International Symposium, Milano, Italy, 10-14 April 1994 Presented at Motta, M. and Serio, M. eds.Sex Hormones and Antihormones in Endocrine Dependent Pathology: Basic and Clinical Aspects: Proceedings of an International Symposium, Milano, Italy, 10-14 April 1994. International Congress Series Vol. 1064. Amsterdam: Elsevier Science pp. 347-360.

1993

Schmid, K. W. et al. 1993. Presence and possible significance of immunocytochemically demonstrable metallothionein over-expression in primary invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast. Virchovs Archiv 422(2), pp. 153-159. (10.1007/BF01607167)
Manning, D. L., McClelland, R. A., Gee, J. M. W., Chan, C. M. W., Green, C. D., Blamey, R. M. and Nicholson, R. I. 1993. The role of four oestrogen-responsive genes, pLIV1, pS2, pSYD3 and pSYD8, in predicting responsiveness to endocrine therapy in primary breast cancer. European Journal of Cancer 29(10), pp. 1462-1468. (10.1016/0959-8049(93)90021-7)

1992

Jasani, B., Thomas, N. D., Navabi, H., Millar, D. M., Newman, G. R., Gee, J. M. W. and Williams, E. D. 1992. Dinitrophenyl (DNP) hapten sandwich staining (DHSS) procedure: A 10 year review of its principle reagents and applications. Journal of Immunological Methods 150(1-2), pp. 193-198. (10.1016/0022-1759(92)90078-8)

1991

Gee, J. M. W., Amselgruber, W. M., Jasani, B. and Nicholson, R. I. 1991. Use of the dinitrophenyl hapten sandwich staining procedure (DHSS) to localize estrogen receptors in paraffin-embedded tissues. Journal of Histochemistry & Cytochemistry 39(12), pp. 1659-1670. (10.1177/39.12.1719072)

1990

Nicholson, R. I., Walker, K. J., Bouzubar, N., Wills, R. J., Gee, J. M. W., Rushmere, N. K. and Davies, P. 1990. Estrogen Deprivation in Breast Cancer: Clinical, Experimental, and Biological Aspects. In: Castagnetta, L. et al. eds. Steroid Formation, Degradation, and Action in Peripheral Tissues. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences Vol. 595. New York: New York Academy of Sciences, pp. 316-327., (10.1111/j.1749-6632.1990.tb34305.x)
Gee, J. M. W., Nicholson, R. I., Jasani, B., Newman, G. R. and Amselgruber, W. M. 1990. An immunocytochemical method for localization of estrogen receptors in rat tissues using a dinitrophenyl (DNP)-labeled rat monoclonal primary antibody. Journal of Histochemistry & Cytochemistry 38(1), pp. 69-78. (10.1177/38.1.1688451)

1988

Nicholson, R. I., Gotting, K. E., Gee, J. M. W. and Walker, K. J. 1988. Actions of oestrogens and antioestrogens on rat mammary gland development: Relevance to breast cancer prevention. Journal of Steroid Biochemistry 30(1-6), pp. 95-103. (10.1016/0022-4731(88)90081-7)

Research areas:

Anti‑hormone-induced signalling and ER loss in ER+ breast cancer.
Mechanisms of anti‑hormone and anti-growth factor resistant breast cancer growth and progression.
Novel target discovery and pre-clinical evaluation of new therapies using breast cancer models.
Translational signal transduction and biomarker studies in clinical breast cancers

Research expertise:

Breast cancer & clinical and experimental anti-hormone resistance biology
Steroid receptor & growth factor receptor/kinase signal transduction;
Novel biomarker & target discovery
Clinical and experimental immunocytochemistry, including using phospho-specific antibodies.
Treatment-resistant cell models
Gene microarrays & associated bioinformatics.

My research interests have principally been directed towards gaining a fuller appreciation of breast cancer biology, mechanisms of failure of anti‑hormonal agents and the associated gain of poorer prognosis.

In my PhD, I used electron microscopy and immunocytochemistry to examine the impact of anti‑hormones on the normal breast. The studentship included optimising novel immunocytochemical procedures to monitor oestrogen receptor (ER) in clinical and experimental breast cancer, a protein that is now routinely measured in the clinic. My subsequent postdoctoral positions focussed around monitoring oestrogen receptor and further signal transduction deregulation in clinical DCIS, and then in my position as Senior Research Associate for the Tenovus Centre for Cancer Research examining invasive breast cancer, determining growth factor signal transduction underlying resistance to anti‑hormones and anti-growth factors in experimental models and clinical disease. The aim of these latter studies was not only to reveal novel drug failure biomarkers, but also new therapeutic targets.

I subsequently became interested in deciphering and targeting the oncogenic signalling that is paradoxically induced by anti-hormones during the drug responsive phase of ER+ breast cancer which limits maximal initial growth-inhibitory response and aids emergence of resistance. This novel research area, pioneered by our Breast Cancer Molecular Pharmacology group in Cardiff School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, stemmed from our studies demonstrating compensatory induction of erbB signalling by anti-hormones. The group's in vitro findings using breast cancer models indicated there was potential for targeting of compensatory signalling, with our landmark studies demonstrating the value of co-targeting induced EGFR, HER2 or Src alongside anti-hormonal agents in ER+ breast cancer. This work included many collaborations with Industry on their cancer drug development programmes in resistant breast cancer cells. My Breast Cancer Now Scientific Fellowship subsequently allowed me to consider the ability of extended anti-hormonal exposure to radically re-programme ER+ breast cancer, encompassing in vitro and clinical breast cancer studies and revealing that ER loss could also occur as a direct consequence of such treatment. The Fellowship deepened my resistance knowledge, enhanced my bioinformatics skills, and allowed me to further flourish as an independent researcher in breast cancer, culminating in my appointment as a Senior Lecturer in the School. It also allowed development of a large panel of long-term anti-hormone resistant cell models from multiple ER+ phenoypes that comprise a major resource in our ongoing research and for our collaborative studies.

Current research interests:

1. Discovery of resistance mechanisms that are a consequence of prolonged anti-hormone treatment

Studies of acquired anti-hormone resistance in breast cancer commonly use relatively short-term (~12month) anti-hormone-treated in vitro models, implicating erbB receptors, downstream kinases and ER crosstalk. However, targeting such candidate signalling has generally proved disappointing clinically and 2nd-line endocrine agents also have limited benefit. Our group's studies indicate longer-term (~3year) acquired anti-hormone-resistant breast cancer cells can recruit novel alternative growth/invasion pathways, gain signalling that decreases/silences ER, and are highly-aggressive, with diminished 2nd-line agent efficacy. The prolonged adjuvant anti-hormone exposure prior to clinical relapse could thus be critical in promoting the resistance mechanism and phenotype. Novel pathways we are implicating in our research include HIPPO pathway signalling, an alternative signalling kinase that is also increased in resistant clinical breast cancer samples, and tetraspanin-like molecules. These mechanisms are currently being explored in our long-term antihormone resistant cell models (including through microarray profiling and bioinformatics) and in clinical samples. By deciphering such mechanisms, the aim is to discover new therapeutic targets which could ultimately prove superior to delay or treat clinical breast cancer relapse. For example, we have identified some drug combinations that appear able to partially-recover oestrogen receptor and so anti-hormone treatment sensitivity in our long-term resistant cell models with ER loss, findings that may ultimately have clinical relevance since about 15% of breast cancers also lose this receptor at relapse.

2. Investigation and exploitation of novel therapies, including in clinical breast cancers

Our group has a long track-record in collaborating with Industry and clinicians to examine novel drugs, both in our cell models and through our involvement in biomarker studies in breast cancer clinical trials. Our anti-hormone resistant model research has identified that components of RET signalling, including its GFR-alpha co-receptors, are deregulated in resistance. Such cells are reliant on this signalling and so can be very effectively targeted in the laboratory using RET inhibitors, while a further kinase commonly implicated in resistance is AKT that can also be successfully inhibited to control resistant cell growth. Recently our study of new cancer treatments has built further on these promising model system findings- we have undertaken translational (immunohistochemical) studies in breast cancer samples from the STAKT (AKT inhibitor) and FURVA (RET inhibitor) clinical trials that are exploring such signal transduction inhibitors.

My PhD student is also evaluating photo-dynamic therapy (PDT) sensitivity in a panel of cell models reflective of different breast cancer subtypes and alongside conventional treatments, in order to decipher PDT response and resistance mechanisms. This research should identify how to maximise impact of this further potential new therapeutic approach.

Current national and international research collaborators:

I have collaborations in Cardiff School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences with S Hiscox, K Taylor, E Kidd, and also P Prokopovich and C Simons
J Robertson (Professor of Surgery, Royal Derby Hospital), University of Nottingham
A Green (Breast Pathology Research Group, School of Medicine), University of Nottingham Biodiscovery Institute
R Clarkson (School of Biosciences, Cardiff University)
M Flint, School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Science, University of Brighton
R Clarke & B Simoes, Breast Biology Group, Manchester Breast Centre, University of Manchester
C Ormandy, Cancer Biology, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Australia
S Clark, Epigenetics Research Laboratory, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Australia
M Milevskiy, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Australia

Funding bodies & Industry that have supported our research:

Breast Cancer Now
Nottingham University
AstraZeneca
Velindre NHS Trust Charitable Funds

MPharm:

PH1124 Human Body Systems: lecturer for reproductive endocrinology
PH3101 Optimisation of Drug Design: lecturer for anti-hormonal agents in breast cancer
PH4116 Pharmacy Research Project: research project supervisor (lab and non-lab research) and PH4116 module team member
Contribute to OSCE marking for MPharm years 1-4

MSc Cancer Biology & Therapeutics:

As a core Senior Lecturer for the taught MSc Cancer Biology & Therapeutics Masters programme, I contribute to design/management, delivery, and assessment for all PHT801 (Cellular & Molecular Biology of Cancer), PHT802 (Translational Oncology & Therapeutics), PHT803 (Academic Research Skills), PHT804 (Research Methodology), PHT805 (Research Project) and PHT806 (Data analysis & bioinformatics) modules of the programme.
I am the PHT806 (Bioinformatics) module leader and also lead several units within PHT801 and PHT802
I am a supervisor for cancer research projects on PHT805 (lab and non-lab research).

External teaching:

University of Brighton PYM14 cancer special topic module: lecturer on bioinformatics for cancer biologists

I received a BSc (Hons) in 1985 in Physiological Sciences from the University of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne. I then undertook a Medical Research Council-funded PhD studentship at the University of Wales College of Medicine in the breast cancer laboratory of the then Tenovus Institute (PhD awarded 1991) examining the impact of anti‑oestrogens on the normal breast.

Following my PhD, I held 3 consecutive postdoctoral breast cancer research positions in the Tenovus Institute between 1991-2000 (including one with Dept. Surgery, University of Wales College of Medicine examining pre-neoplastic clinical DCIS), becoming a Senior Postdoctoral Researcher in 1995.

Between 2000-April 2007, I took up the position of Senior Research Associate & Research Co-ordinator for the Tenovus Centre for Cancer Research group within Cardiff School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, focussing on resistance and progression in breast cancer. Alongside contributing to the management of the Tenovus group, my role was to oversee its Clinical Immunocytochemistry Team, extending to analysing signalling elements using activation-specific antibodies in several Phase II breast cancer trials. My team was a key player in the Phase II clinical biomarker studies that provided primary evidence for FDA/EU approval of Faslodex in advanced breast cancer. I also co-ordinated Gene Discovery in the group, applying microarrays and bioinformatics to reveal new signalling in resistant breast cancer models. I was funded until Sept. 2010 as Principal Investigator on a Tenovus Charity programme grant investigating how to improve treatment response in ER+ breast cancer cells.

I was then awarded a prestigious 5-year Breast Cancer Now (then Breast Cancer Campaign) Scientific Fellowship (2010-2015) based in Cardiff School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, to develop new cell models and to use these to examine the impact of prolonged anti-hormone exposure on the acquired resistant phenotype in ER+ disease. Thereafter, I was appointed in 2015 as a Senior Lecturer in the School, where my research interests currently focus on anti-hormone-induced oestrogen receptor loss and gain of alternative adverse signalling in breast cancer models, biomarker studies in clinical breast cancer, and most recently exploring photo-dynamic therapy sensitivity of different breast cancer subtypes.

A significant part of my Senior Lecturer role also involves contributing to the design/management, teaching delivery, and assessment for the School's highly-successful taught Masters in Cancer Biology & Therapeutics programme, as well as contributing to teaching on the School's MPharm course in the areas of cancer treatment and reproductive endocrinology.

Qualifications

BSc. (Honours) in Physiological Sciences, University of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, 1985
PhD. in breast cancer biology, University of Wales College of Medicine, 1991

Honours and awards

Gold medal, 9th World Congress on Advances in Oncology/7th International Symposium on Molecular Medicine, for my group's microarray and bioinformatic research in resistant breast cancer cells (2002)

Professional memberships

Invited British Breast Group Member and Programme Committee Chair

Academic positions

2015- present: Senior Lecturer, Cardiff School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University
2010-2015: Breast Cancer Now Scientific Fellow, Breast Cancer Molecular Pharmacology Group, Cardiff School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University
2000-2010: Senior Research Associate, Tenovus Centre for Cancer Research, Welsh School of Pharmacy, Cardiff University
1993-1999: Postdoctoral Researcher, Tenovus Centre for Cancer Research, University of Wales College of Medicine
1991-1993: Junior Postdoctoral Research Fellow (interdisciplinary award between Tenovus Cancer Research Centre & Dept. Surgery), University of Wales College of Medicine
1988-1991: Research Technician, Tenovus Cancer Research Centre, University of Wales College of Medicine

Committees and reviewing

Current roles & committee membership in the School, College and University:

Member, School Taught Board of Studies
Member, School Board of Research Postgraduate Studies & Postgraduate Research Day Committee
Member, School Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee
Member, School Research Ethics Committee
School’s HTA Officer
Member, University BLS Human Tissue Research Governance Committee
Member, University BLS Data Strategy Group
Member, University BLS Public Engagement Network
Member, University Breast Multi-Disciplinary Research group
Reviewer, Cardiff University Biobank

Current external committee and reviewing roles:

Member of Tissue Bank Advisory Council and Chair of Tissue Access Committee for Breast Cancer Now (I have also contributed to the Charity's two previous Gap analysis initiatives, and am a previous Scientific Advisory Board member)
Programme Committee Chair, British Breast Group
UK-Interdisciplinary Breast Cancer Symposium Executive Board Member
Editorial Board/reviewer for several journals including BMC Cancer; J. Hormone Molecular Biology & Clinical Investigation, Breast Cancer Research, Endocrinology, & for various funding bodies

I am interested in supervising PhD students in the areas of:

Breast Cancer research, specifically:

Understanding the signalling mechanisms of cancer treatment response and failure
Translational studes- discovery of new targets/biomarkers using cell models and examining these in clinical breast cancer samples (I have also co-supervised MD projects in these areas previously)

Current supervision in the research area of breast cancer:

I am currently supervising PhD student Robin Aske for his project " Design, Synthesis And Biological Evaluation Of Polymer Therapeutics For Photodynamic Treatment In Different Breast Cancer Phenotypes".
I am also contributing to co-supervision of several further PhD projects including Zoe Hudson (MEDIC) on "Investigation Of Biomarker Determinants Of Treatment Efficacy Of Fulvestrant And The Ret Inhibitor Vandetanib In Oestrogen Receptor Positive Breast Cancer" and Ahmed Eissa on "4th generation aromatase inhibitors for the treatment of breast cancer: design, synthesis, biochemical and molecular biology studies".
I also run breast cancer-focussed 3 month research projects for the MSc Cancer Biology and Therapeutics taught Masters programme in the School

Current supervision

Robin Aske

Contact Details

Gee@cardiff.ac.uk
+44 29208 74922

Students at the School of Pharmacy step back in time to celebrate centenary

18 November 2019

Cardiff University STEM Day students visit to Pharmacy

26 June 2016

External profiles

ORCID

Dr Julia Gee

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MPharm:

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Biography

Qualifications

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Professional memberships

Academic positions

Committees and reviewing

Supervisions

I am interested in supervising PhD students in the areas of:

Current supervision in the research area of breast cancer:

Current supervision

Robin Aske

Contact Details

Related news

Students at the School of Pharmacy step back in time to celebrate centenary

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External profiles