Cancer in children is caused by cells growing out of control. These cancer cells grow faster than normal cells, invade nearby tissues, and sometimes enter blood vessels. Normal cells are supported and organised by the extracellular matrix (ECM), which acts like a scaffold to hold them in place and shape tissues. The ECM also helps regulate how cells grow. Different ECM structures explain why some organs are solid (like the liver and kidney) while others are less dense or hollow (like the lung and brain). Cancer cells can damage or break through this scaffold, which allows them to grow outside normal boundaries and spread through the body.
In this project, we are using new imaging methods to study the ECM. Early results show that some tumours have changes in ECM composition. We are now applying to use tissue from BRAIN UK to compare the ECM in brain tumour samples (ependymoma, tissue already sourced from elsewhere) with normal brain tissue from BRAIN UK. By studying these differences, we aim to better understand how cancer spreads and find ways to stop it in the future.