Staff Profile

Roles and Responsibilities

Principal Investigator, Biosciences Institute, https://www.ncl.ac.uk/medical-sciences/research/institutes/biosciences/ 

Newcastle University Cancer Centre

Qualifications

1971 Imperial College BSc (Hons) Physics.
1971 ARCS (Associate of the Royal College of Science)
1978 PhD Biophysics (Cellular and Molecular Biology)
Queen Elizabeth/Kings College, University of London.
1986 CRC/University of Glasgow, Recombinant DNA Training Fellowship.

2012 MRCR Hon Membership Royal College of Radiologists

2013 FRCPath Fellowship Royal College of Pathologists

Previous Positions

1999-2003
Gillespie Reader in Molecular Oncology and Assistant Director,
Cancer Research Unit, University of Newcastle upon Tyne
1994-1999
Senior Lecturer,
Cancer Research Unit, University of Newcastle
1990-1994
Lecturer,
Cancer Research Unit, University of Newcastle
1986-1990
Postdoctoral Research Associate,
Cancer Research Unit, University of Newcastle
1983-1986
Recombinant DNA Fellowship,
Institute of Genetics, University of Glasgow
1975-1983
MRC Scientist
MRC Cyclotron Unit, Royal Postgrad Medical School, Hammersmith Hosp.

Memberships

British Association for Cancer Research
American Association for Cancer Research (Emeritus) 
European Neuroblastoma Study Group
United Kingdom Children's Cancer Neuroblastoma Study Group

Royal College of Radiologists (Hon)

Royal College of Pathologists (Fellowship)

Local Research Groups:-
Newcastle University Cancer Centre
Gynaecologicol Oncology Research Group
Children's Cancer Research Group

Research Interests

Molecular Biology of Cancer

Esteem Indicators

Gillespie Readership and Chair in Molecular Oncology
Royal College of Radiologists Cancer Biology Specialist Examiner
American Institute of Biological Sciences Expert Consultant Panel
Leukaemia Research Fund Medical and Scientific Advisory Panel

MRC Developmental Pathway Funding Panel (2011-2014) 

MRC Doctoral Training Panel (2015 - )

EPSRC Peer Review College (2016 - )

Editorial boards:
Oncology Reports -1998
European Journal of Cancer 2003 –
Current Cancer Therapy Reviews 2004 -

Industrial Collaborations:

Lilly Pharmaceuticals
Astra Zeneca
Siena Biotech
Novocastra (BioNet studentship)
Cancer Research Technology

Patents

Isoindolinone inhibitors of the MDM2-p53 interaction.
(In conjunction with Cancer Research Technology)

Undergraduate Teaching

BSc Pharmacology PED3006 Module Leader: "Carcinogenesis and Anticancer Drugs"

Postgraduate Teaching

MSc in Oncology/Palliative Care,
Module Leader for ONC8022 "Cancer Cell, Molecular Biology & Genetics".
Postgraduate Tutor
PhD and MD supervisor:
Successfully supervised 49 PhD, 6 MD & 8 MSc/MPhil students
Currently supervise 6 PhD students 

• Chamberlain V, Drew Y, Lunec J. Tipping growth inhibition into apoptosis by combining treatment with MDM2 and WIP1 inhibitors in p53^WT uterine leiomyosarcoma. Cancers 2022, 14(1), 14.
• Chan CD, Haagensen EJ, Tensaout HA, Rennie KJ, Gamie Z, Barry J, Birch MA, Gerrand CH, Nisar S, Robson CN, Lunec J, Rankin KS. Co‑localisation of intra‑nuclear membrane type‑1 matrix metalloproteinase and hypoxia inducible factor‑2α in osteosarcoma and prostate carcinoma cells. Oncology Letters 2021, 21(2), 158.
• Sudhindar PD, Wainwright D, Saha S, Howarth R, McCain M, Bury Y, Saha SS, McPherson S, Reeves H, Patel AH, Faulkner GJ, Lunec J, Shukla R. Hcv activates somatic l1 retrotransposition—a potential hepatocarcinogenesis pathway. Cancers 2021, 13(20), 5079.
• Zaki MYW, Mahdi AK, Patman GL, Whitehead A, Mauricio JP, McCain MV, Televantou D, Abou-Beih S, Ramon-Gil E, Watson R, Cox C, Leslie J, Wilson C, Govaere O, Lunec J, Mann DA, Nakjang S, Oakley F, Shukla R, Anstee QM, Tiniakos D, Reeves HL. Key features of the environment promoting liver cancer in the absence of cirrhosis. Scientific Reports 2021, 11(1), 16727.
• Chessari G, Hardcastle IR, Ahn JS, Anil B, Anscome E, Bawn RH, Bevan LD, Blackburn TJ, Buck I, Cano C, Carbain B, Castro J, Cons B, Cully SJ, St Denis J, Endicott JA, Fazal L, Golding BT, Griffin RJ, Haggerty K, Harnor S, Hearn K, Hobson S, Holvey RS, Howard S, Jennings C, Johnson CN, Lunec J, Miller DC, Newell DR, Noble MEM, Reeks J, Revill CH, Riedinger C, Tamanini E, Thomas H, Thompson NT, Vinkovic M, Wedge SR, Williams PA, Wilsher N, Zhang B, Zhao Y. Structure-Based Design of Potent and Orally Active Isoindolinone Inhibitors of MDM2-p53 Protein–Protein Interaction. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 2021, 64(7), 4071-4088.
• Ambros IM, Tonini G-P, Potschger U, Gross N, Mosseri V, Beiske K, Berbegall AP, Benard J, Bown N, Caron H, Combaret V, Couturier J, Defferrari R, Delattre O, Jeison M, Kogner P, Lunec J, Marques B, Martinsson T, Mazzocco K, Noguera R, Schleiermacher G, Valent A, Van Roy N, Villamon E, Janousek D, Pribill I, Glogova E, Attiyeh EF, Hogarty MD, Monclair TF, Holmes K, Valteau-Couanet D, Castel V, Tweddle DA, Park JR, Cohn S, Ladenstein R, Beck-Popovic M, De Bernardi B, Michon J, Pearson ADJ, Ambros PF. Age Dependency of the Prognostic Impact of Tumor Genomics in Localized Resectable MYCN-Nonamplified Neuroblastomas. Report From the SIOPEN Biology Group on the LNESG Trials and a COG Validation Group. Journal of Clinical Oncology 2020, 38(31), 3685-3697.
• Manoharan V, Karunanayake EH, Tennekoon KH, De Silva S, Imthikab AIA, De Silva K, Angunawela P, Vishwakula S, Lunec J. Pattern of nucleotide variants of TP53 and their correlation with the expression of p53 and its downstream proteins in a Sri Lankan cohort of breast and colorectal cancer patients. BMC cancer 2020, 20(1), 72.
• Wu C-E, Pan Y-R, Yeh C-N, Lunec J. Targeting P53 as a future strategy to overcome gemcitabine resistance in biliary tract cancers. Biomolecules 2020, 10(11), 1-17.
• Wu C-E, Koay TS, Ho Y-H, Lovat P, Lunec J. TP53 mutant cell lines selected for resistance to MDM2 inhibitors retain growth inhibition by MAPK pathway inhibitors but a reduced apoptotic response. Cancer Cell International 2019, 19(1), 53.
• Wu CE, Koay TS, Esfandiari A, Ho YH, Lovat P, Lunec J. ATM Dependent DUSP6 Modulation of p53 Involved in Synergistic Targeting of MAPK and p53 Pathways with Trametinib and MDM2 Inhibitors in Cutaneous Melanoma. Cancers 2019, 11(1), 3.
• Ciardullo C, Aptullahoglu E, Woodhouse L, Lin WY, Wallis JP, Marr H, Marshall S, Bown N, Willmore E, Lunec J. Non-genotoxic MDM2 inhibition selectively induces pro-apoptotic p53 gene signature in chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells. Haematologica 2019, 104(12), 2429-2442.
• Manoharan V, Karunanayake EH, Tennekoon KH, Silva SDE, Silva KDE, Angunawela P, Lunec J. Nucleotide variants and protein expression of TP53 in a Sri Lankan cohort of patients with head and neck cancer. Molecular Medicine Reports 2019, 19(4), 2781-2791.
• Chen L, Pastorino F, Berry P, Bonner J, Kirk C, Wood KM, Thomas HD, Zhao Y, Daga A, Veal GJ, Lunec J, Newell DR, Ponzoni M, Tweddle DA. Preclinical evaluation of the first intravenous small molecule MDM2 antagonist alone and in combination with temozolomide in neuroblastoma. International Journal of Cancer 2019, 144(12), 3146-3159.
• Ladds MJGW, van Leeuwen IMM, Drummond CJ, Chu S, Healy AR, Popova G, Pastor Fernandez A, Mollick T, Darekar S, Sedimbi SK, Nekulova M, Sachweh MCC, Campbell J, Higgins M, Tuck C, Popa M, Safont MM, Gelebart P, Fandalyuk Z, Thompson AM, Svensson R, Gustavsson AL, Johansson L, Färnegårdh K, Yngve U, Saleh A, Haraldsson M, D'Hollander ACA, Franco M, Zhao Y, Håkansson M, Walse B, Larsson K, Peat EM, Pelechano V, Lunec J, Vojtesek B, Carmena M, Earnshaw WC, McCarthy AR, Westwood NJ, Arsenian-Henriksson M, Lane DP, Bhatia R, McCormack E, Laín S. A DHODH inhibitor increases p53 synthesis and enhances tumor cell killing by p53 degradation blockage. Nature Communications 2018, 9, 1107.
• Lebraud H, Noble R, Phillips N, Hearn K, Castro J, Zhao Y, Newell DR, Lunec J, Wedge S, Heightman TD. A highly potent clickable probe for cellular imaging of MDM2 and assessing dynamic responses to MDM2-p53 inhibition. Bioconjugate Chemistry 2018, 29(6), 2100-2106.
• Chen L, Esfandiari A, Reaves W, Vu A, Hogarty MD, Lunec J, Tweddle DA. Characterisation of the p53 pathway in cell lines established from TH-MYCN transgenic mouse tumours. International Journal of Oncology 2018, 52(3), 967-977.
• Franklin M, Gentles L, Matheson E, Bown N, Cross P, Ralte A, Gilkes-Immeson C, Bradbury A, Zanjirband M, Lunec J, Drew Y, O'Donnell R, Curtin NJ. Characterization and drug sensitivity of a novel human overian clear cell carcinoma cell line genomically and phenotypically similar to the original tumor. Cancer Medicine 2018, 7(9), 4744-4754.
• Watkinson G, Malik A, Hogg J, Lunec J, Manas D, French J. External validation of nomograms for prediction of survival outcome in retroperitoneal sarcoma using the North East England cohort. Clinical Oncology and Research Journal 2018, 1(3), 2-5.
• Wu CE, Esfandiari A, Ho YH, Wang N, Mahdi AK, Aptullahoglu E, Lovat P, Lunec J. Targeting negative regulation of p53 by MDM2 and WIP1 as a therapeuticstrategy in cutaneous melanoma. British Journal of Cancer 2018, 118(4), 495-508.
• Zanjirband M, Curtin N, Edmondson RJ, Lunec J. Combination treatment with rucaparib (Rubraca) and MDM2 inhibitors, Nutlin-3 and RG7388, has synergistic and dose reduction potential in ovarian cancer. Oncotarget 2017, 8(41), 69779-69796.
• McCormick A, Earp E, Elliot K, Cuthbert G, O'Donnell R, Wilson BT, Sutton R, Leeson C, Thomas HD, Blair H, Fordham S, Lunec J, Allan J, Edmondson RJ. Functional characterisation of a novel ovarian cancer cell line, NUOC-1. Oncotarget 2017, 8(16), 26832-26844.
• Chen L, Pastorino F, Berry P, Bonner J, Wood K, Veal G, Ponzoni M, Lunec J, Newell DR, Tweddle DA. In vivo evaluation of the intravenous MDM2-p53 antagonist RO6839921 alone and in combination with temozolomide in TP53 wild-type orthotopic models of neuroblastoma. In: AACR Annual Meeting 2017. 2017, Washington, DC: American Association for Cancer Research.
• Drummond CJ, Esfandiari A, Liu J, Lu X, Hutton C, Jackson J, Bennaceur K, Xu Q, Makimanejavali AR, Bello FD, Piergentili A, Newell DR, Hardcastle IR, Griffin RJ, Lunec J. TP53 mutant MDM2-amplified cell lines selected for resistance to MDM2-p53 binding antagonists retain sensitivity to ionizing radiation. Oncotarget 2016, 7(29), 46203-46218.
• Esfandiari A, Hawthorne TA, Nakjang S, Lunec J. Chemical Inhibition of Wild-Type p53-Induced Phosphatase 1 (WIP1/PPM1D) by GSK2830371 Potentiates the Sensitivity to MDM2 Inhibitors in a p53-Dependent Manner. Molecular Cancer Therapeutics 2016, 15(3), 379-391.
• Kotsopoulos IC, Begbie JA, Mukhopadhyay A, Lunec J, Curtin NJ, Kucukmetin A. IN VITRO SINGLE AGENT RUCAPARIB CYTOTOXICITY AND CISPLATIN CHEMO-POTENTIATION IN CERVICAL CANCER CELL LINES. In: 16th Biennial Meeting of the International Gynecologic Cancer Society. 2016, Lisbon, Portugal: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Ltd.
• Logan IR, McClurg UL, Jones DL, O'Neill DJ, Shaheen FS, Lunec J, Gaughan L, Robson CN. Nutlin-3 inhibits androgen receptor-driven c-FLIP expression, resulting in apoptosis of prostate cancer cells. Oncotarget 2016, 7(46), 74724-74733.
• Kotsopoulos IC, Kucukmetin A, Mukhopadhyay A, Lunec J, Curtin NJ. Poly(ADP-Ribose) Polymerase in Cervical Cancer Pathogenesis Mechanism and Potential Role for PARP Inhibitors. International Journal of Gynecological Cancer 2016, 26(4), 763-769.
• Zanjirband M, Edmondson RJ, Lunec J. Pre-clinical efficacy and synergistic potential of the MDM2-p53 antagonists, Nutlin-3 and RG7388, as single agents in combined treatment with cisplatin in ovarian cancer. Oncotarget 2016, 7(26), 40115-40134.
• Hogg HD, Manas DM, Lee D, Dildey P, Scott J, Lunec J, French JJ. Surgical outcome and patterns of recurrence for retroperitoneal sarcoma at a single centre. Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England 2016, 98(3), 192-197.
• Woodhouse L, Crawford C, Marshall S, Bown N, Wallis J, Summerfield G, Willmore E, Lunec J. Assessment and targeting of the MDM2-p53 network in CLL. In: AACR 106th Annual Meeting. 2015, Philadelphia, PA: American Association for Cancer Research.
• Esfandiari A, Curtin NJ, Lunec J. Chemical inhibition or transient knockdown of wild-type p53 induced phosphatase 1 (WIP1/PPM1D) potentiates the response to MDM2 inhibitors in a p53-dependent manner. In: AACR 106th Annual Meeting 2015. 2015, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: American Association for Cancer Research.
• Defferrari R, Mazzocco K, Ambros IM, Ambros PF, Bedwell C, Beiske K, Benard J, Berbegall AP, Bown N, Combaret V, Couturier J, Erminio G, Gambini C, Garaventa A, Gross N, Haupt R, Kohler J, Jeison M, Lunec J, Marques B, Martinsson T, Noguera R, Parodi S, Schleiermacher G, Tweddle DA, Valent A, Van Roy N, Vicha A, Villamon E, Tonini GP. Influence of segmental chromosome abnormalities on survival in children over the age of 12 months with unresectable localised peripheral neuroblastic tumours without MYCN amplification. British Journal of Cancer 2015, 112(2), 290-295.
• Herriott A, Tudhope SJ, Junge G, Rodrigues N, Patternson MJ, Woodhouse L, Lunec J, Hunter JE, Mulligan EA, Cole M, Allinson LM, Wallis JP, Marshall S, Wang E, Curtin NJ, Willmore E. PARP1 expression, activity and ex vivo sensitivity to the PARP inhibitor, talazoparib (BMN 673), in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia. Oncotarget 2015, 6(41), 43978-43991.
• Ramlau R, Thomas M, Novello S, Plummer R, Reck M, Kaneko T, Lau MR, Margetts J, Lunec J, Nutt J, Scagliotti GV. Phase I Study of Lapatinib and Pemetrexed in the Second-Line Treatment of Advanced or Metastatic Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer With Assessment of Circulating Cell Free Thymidylate Synthase RNA as a Potential Biomarker. Clinical Lung Cancer 2015, 16(5), 348-357.
• Chen L, Rousseau RF, Middleton SA, Nichols GL, Newell DR, Lunec J, Tweddle DA. Pre-clinical evaluation of the MDM2-p53 antagonist RG7388 alone and in combination with chemotherapy in neuroblastoma. Oncotarget 2015, 6(12), 10207-10221.
• Zaytsev A, Dodd B, Magnani M, Ghiron C, Golding BT, Griffin RJ, Liu J, Lu X, Micco I, Newell DR, Padova A, Robertson G, Lunec J, Hardcastle IR. Searching for Dual Inhibitors of the MDM2-p53 and MDMX-p53 Protein-Protein Interaction by a Scaffold-Hopping Approach. Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery 2015, 86(2), 180-189.
• Anil B, Blackburn E, Blackburn T, Cully S, Liu J, Drummond CJ, Endicott JA, Golding BT, Griffin RJ, Haggerty K, Lunec J, Newell DR, Revill CH, Riedinger C, Watson AF, Xu Q, Zhao Y, Hardcastle IR, Noble MEM. An X-ray crystal structure-based understanding of the inhibition of the MDM2-p53 protein-protein interaction by isoindolinones. In: 26th EORTC-NCI-AACR Symposium on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics. 2014, Barcelona, Spain: Elsevier.
• Bell E, Ponthan F, Whitworth C, Tweddle DA, Lunec J, Redfern CPF. COX2 expression in neuroblastoma increases tumorigenicity but does not affect cell death in response to the COX2 inhibitor celecoxib. Clinical & Experimental Metastasis 2014, 31(6), 651-659.
• Hogg HDJ, French JJ, Lunec J. Nutlin-3 is cytotoxic in TP53 WT liposarcoma and leiomyosarcoma in vitro and can act both synergistically and antagonistically with ionising radiation. In: Abstracts from the Society of Academic and Research Surgery (SARS) Annual Meeting. 2014, University of Cambridge: John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
• Tudhope S, Zhao Y, Wittner A, Wilmore E, Bertoli A, Adhikari S, Harnor SJ, Del Bello F, Piergentili A, Lunec J, Hardcastle IR, Griffin RJ, Golding BR, Cano C, Newell DR, Wedge SR. Profiling inhibitors of MDM2: p53 and MDMX: p53 in relation to MDMX protein levels. In: AACR Annual Meeting 2014. 2014, San Diego, CA: American Association for Cancer Research.
• Chen L, Zhao Y, Halliday GC, Berry P, Rousseau RF, Middleton SA, Nichols GL, Del Bello F, Piergentili A, Newell DR, Lunec J, Tweddle DA. Structurally diverse MDM2-p53 antagonists act as modulators of MDR-1 function in neuroblastoma. British Journal of Cancer 2014, 111, 716-725.
• Biswas S, Killick E, Jochemsen AG, Lunec J. The clinical development of p53-reactivating drugs in sarcomas - charting future therapeutic approaches and understanding the clinical molecular toxicology of Nutlins. Expert Opinion on Investigational Drugs 2014, 23(5), 629-645.
• Bertoli A, Adhikari S, Harnor SJ, Zhao Y, Lunec J, Wedge SR, Tudhope S, Wittner A, Golding BT, Hardcastle IR, Cano C, Newell DR, Griffin RJ. Validation studies with small-molecule modulators of the MDM2/MDMX-p53 binding interaction. In: 247th ACS National Meeting and Exposition. 2014, Dallas, TX, USA: American Chemical Society.
• Blackburn TJ, Ahmed S, Coxon CR, Liu JF, Lu XH, Golding BT, Griffin RJ, Hutton C, Newell DR, Ojo S, Watson AF, Zaytzev A, Zhao Y, Lunec J, Hardcastle IR. Diaryl- and triaryl-pyrrole derivatives: inhibitors of the MDM2-p53 and MDMX-p53 protein-protein interactions. MedChemComm 2013, 4(9), 1297-1304.
• Sung PJ, Boulos N, Tilby MJ, Andrews WD, Newbold RF, Tweddle DA, Lunec J. Identification and characterisation of STMN4 and ROBO2 gene involvement in neuroblastoma cell differentiation. Cancer Letters 2013, 328(1), 168-175.
• Cully SJ, Blackburn TJ, Cano C, Golding BT, Griffin RJ, Lunec J, Newell D, Noble M, Zhao Y, Hardcastle IR. Regiospecific synthesis of isoindolinones as MDM2 inhibitors. In: 245th ACS National Meeting and Exposition. 2013, New Orleans, Louisiana: American Chemical Society.
• Gamble LD, Kees UR, Tweddle DA, Lunec J. MYCN sensitizes neuroblastoma to the MDM2-p53 antagonists Nutlin-3 and MI-63. Oncogene 2012, 31(6), 752-763.
• Biswas S, Lunec J, Bartlett K. Non-glucose metabolism in cancer cells—is it all in the fat?. Cancer and Metastasis Reviews 2012, 31(3-4), 689-698.
• Rankin KS, Starkey M, Lunec J, Gerrand CH, Murphy S, Biswas S. Of Dogs and Men: Comparative Biology as a Tool for the Discovery of Novel Biomarkers and Drug Development Targets in osteosarcoma. Pediatric Blood & Cancer 2012, 58(3), 327-333.
• Challen C, Anderson JJ, Chrzanowska-Lightowlers ZMA, Lightowlers R, Lunec J. Recombinant human MDM2 oncoprotein shows sequence composition selectivity for binding to both RNA and DNA. International Journal of Oncology 2012, 40(3), 851-859.
• Biswas S, Rankin KS, Long A, Jackson J, Howard R, Nisar S, Birch M, Lunec J. The prognostic role of MT1-MMP and HIF Isoforms in Human Osteosarcoma. In: American Association for Cancer Research (AACR). 2012, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
• Ambros IM, Brunner B, Aigner G, Bedwell C, Beiske K, Bénard J, Bown N, Combaret V, Couturier J, Defferrari R, Gross N, Jeison M, Lunec J, Marques B, Martinsson T, Mazzocco K, Noguera R, Schleiermacher G, Speleman F, Stallings R, Tonini GP, Tweddle DA, Valent A, Vicha A, Roy NV, Villamon E, Ziegler A, Preuner S, Drobics M, Ladenstein R, Amann G, Schuit RJ, Pötschger U, Ambros PF. A Multilocus Technique for Risk Evaluation of Patients with Neuroblastoma. Clinical Cancer Research 2011, 17(4), 792-804.
• Hardcastle IR, Liu J, Valeur E, Watson A, Ahmed SU, Blackburn TJ, Bennaceur K, Clegg W, Drummond C, Endicott JA, Golding BT, Griffin RJ, Gruber J, Haggerty K, Harrington RW, Hutton C, Kemp S, Lu X, McDonnell JM, Newell DR, Noble ME, Payne SL, Revill CH, Riedinger C, Xu Q, Lunec J. Isoindolinone Inhibitors of the Murine Double Minute 2 (MDM2)-p53 Protein-Protein Interaction: Structure-Activity Studies Leading to Improved Potency. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 2011, 54(5), 1233-1243.
• Watson AF, Liu JF, Bennaceur K, Drummond CJ, Endicott JA, Golding BT, Griffin RJ, Haggerty K, Lu XH, McDonnell JM, Newell DR, Noble MEM, Revill CH, Riedinger C, Xu Q, Zhao Y, Lunec J, Hardcastle IR. MDM2-p53 protein-protein interaction inhibitors: A-ring substituted isoindolinones. Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters 2011, 21(19), 5916-5919.
• Carr-Wilkinson J, Griffiths R, Elston R, Goranov B, Redfern CPF, Gamble LD, Lunec J, Tweddle DA. Outcome of the p53-mediated DNA damage response in neuroblastoma is determined by morphological subtype and MYCN expression. Cell Cycle 2011, 10(21), 3778-3787.
• Carr-Wilkinson J, O'Toole K, Wood KM, Challen CC, Baker AG, Board JR, Evans L, Cole M, Cheung NV, Boos J, Kohler G, Leuschner I, Pearson ADJ, Lunec J, Tweddle DA. High frequency of p53/MDM2/p14^ARF pathway abnormalities in relapsed neuroblastoma. Clinical Cancer Research 2010, 16(4), 1108-1118.
• Chen L, Iraci N, Gherardi S, Gamble LD, Wood KM, Perini G, Lunec J, Tweddle DA. p53 is a direct transcriptional target of MYCN in neuroblastoma. Cancer Research 2010, 70(4), 1377-1388.
• Nutt JE, Razak ARA, O'Toole K, Black F, Quinn AE, Calvert AH, Plummer ER, Lunec J. The role of folate receptor alpha (FR alpha) in the response of malignant pleural mesothelioma to pemetrexed-containing chemotherapy. British Journal of Cancer 2010, 102(3), 553-560.
• Quinn AE, Pinkney M, Piggott NH, Calvert H, Milton ID, Lunec J. A Monoclonal Antibody for Detection of Folylpolyglutamate Synthetase in Paraffin Embedded Tissues. Hybridoma 2009, 28(6), 415-421.
• Razak ARA, Nutt JE, O'Toole K, Black F, Plummer ER, Calvert AH, Lunec J. Expression of folate receptor alpha (FRa) in malignant pleural mesothelioma patients by immunohistochemistry: a clinico-pathological analysis. In: Lung Cancer: 7th Annual BTOG Meeting. 2009, Dublin, Ireland: Elsevier Ireland Ltd.
• Nutt JE, O'Toole KT, Gonzalez D, Lunec J. Growth inhibition by tyrosine kinase inhibitors in mesothelioma cell lines. European Journal of Cancer 2009, 45(9), 1684-1691.
• Logan IR, McNeill HV, Cook S, Lu X, Meek DW, Fuller-Pace FV, Lunec J, Robson CN. Heat shock factor-1 modulates p53 activity in the transcriptional response to DNA damage. Nucleic Acids Research 2009, 37(9), 2962-2973.
• Lu X, Vogt P, Boger D, Lunec J. Disruption of the MYC transcriptional function by a small-molecule antagonist of MYC/MAX dimerization. Oncology Reports 2008, 19(3), 825-830.
• Todd R, Lunec J. Molecular pathology and potential therapeutic targets in soft-tissue sarcoma. Expert Review of Anticancer Therapy 2008, 8(6), 939-948.
• Logan, I., McNeill, H., Cook, S., Lu, X., Lunec, J., Robson, C.N. Analysis of the MDM2 antagonist nutlin-3 in human prostate cancer cells. Prostate 2007, 67(8), 900-906.
• Carr J, Bell E, Pearson ADJ, Kees U, Beris H, Lunec J, Tweddle DA. Increased frequency of aberrations in the p53/MDM2/p14ARF pathway in neuroblastoma cell lines established at relapse. Cancer Research 2006, 66(4), 2138-2145.
• Hardcastle, I.R., Ahmed, S., Atkins, H., Farnie, G., Golding, B.T., Griffin, R.J., Guyenne, S., Hutton,C., Källblad, P., Kemp, S., Kitching, M.S., Newell, D.R., Norbedo, S., Northen, J.S., Reid, R.J., Saravanan, K., Willems, H., Lunec, J. Small-molecule inhibitors of the MDM2-p53 protein-protein interaction based on an isoindolinone scaffold. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 2006, 49(21), 6209-6221.
• Liang, H., Lunec, J. Characterisation of a novel p53 down-regulated promoter in intron 3 of the human MDM2 oncogene. Gene 2005, 361(1-2), 112-118.
• Nutt, J., Lazarowicz, H., Mellon, J., Lunec, J. Gefitinib ('Iressa', ZD1839) inhibits the growth response of bladder tumour cell lines to epidermal growth factor and induces TIMP2. British Journal of Cancer 2004, 90(8), 1679-1685.
• Liang, H., Atkins, H., Abdel-Fattah, R., Jones, S., Lunec, J. Genomic organisation of the human MDM2 oncogene and relationship to its alternatively spliced mRNAs. Gene 2004, 338(2), 217-223.
• Lu, X., Pearson, A.D.J., Lunec, J. The MYCN oncoprotein as a drug development target. Cancer Letters 2003, 197(1-2), 125-130.
• Scott, D., Board, J., Lu, X., Pearson, A.D.J., Kenyon, R., Lunec, J. The neuroblastoma amplified gene, NAG: Genomic structure and characterisation of the 7.3 kb transcript predominantly expressed in neuroblastoma. Gene 2003, 307(1-2), 1-11.
• Lu X, Errington J, Curtin NJ, Lunec J, Newell DR. The impact of p53 status on cellular sensitivity to antifolate drugs. Clinical Cancer Research 2001, 7(7), 2114-2123.
• Tweddle, D. A., Malcolm, A. J., Bown, N. P., Pearson, A. D. J., Lunec, J. Evidence for the development of p53 mutations after cytotoxic therapy in a neuroblastoma cell line. Cancer Research 2001, 61(1), 8-13.
• Elsden JL, Kenyon RM, George RE, Godbout R, Pearson ADJ, Lunec J. Is DDX1 an oncogene? How does its pattern of expression relate to its amplification status?. In: British Cancer Research Meeting 2001. 2001, Leeds, UK: Churchill Livingstone.
• Gilbertson RJ, Hernan R, Lewin J, Pietsch T, Pinto L, Scotting P, Allibone R, Ellison D, Perry RH, Pearson ADJ, Lunec J. Novel ErbB4 juxtamembrane splice variants and the truncated ErbB2 receptor isoform are frequently expressed in childhood medulloblastoma. Genes, Chromosomes & Cancer 2001, 31(3), 288-294.
• Tweddle, D. A., Malcolm, A. J., Cole, M., Pearson, A. D. J., Lunec, J. p53 cellular localization and function in neuroblastoma: evidence for defective G1 arrest despite WAF1 induction in MYCN-amplified cells. American Journal of Pathology 2001, 158(6), 2067-2077.
• Abdel-Fattah R, Challen C, Griffiths T, Robinson M, Neal DE, Lunec J. Alterations of TP53 in microdissected transitional cell carcinoma of the human urinary bladder: High frequency of TP53 accumulation in the absence of detected mutations is associated with poor prognosis. British Journal of Cancer 1998, 77(12), 2230-2238.
• Gilbertson RJ, Clifford SC, MacMeekin W, Wright C, Perry RH, Kelly P, Pearson ADJ, Lunec J. Expression of the ErbB-neuregulin signaling network during human cerebellar development: Implications for the biology of medulloblastoma. Cancer Research 1998, 58(17), 3932-3941.
• Sigalas, I., Calvert, A.H., Anderson, J.J., Neal, D.E., Lunec, J. Alternatively spliced mdm2 transcripts with loss of p53 binding domain sequences: Transforming ability and frequent detection in human cancer. Nature Medicine 1996, 2(8), 912-917.
• Lunec J. Interruption of binding of MDM-2 and p53 protein; potential for the treatment of cancer. Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Patents 1996, 6(8), 805-809.