Professor Gordon Jayson 

Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels, is essential for the growth of solid tumours. The principal cytokine that mediates this effect is VEGF and randomised trials have demonstrated a survival advantage when conventional therapy is supplemented with VEGF inhibitors. There are a number of significant unresolved questions about the use of these drugs and our group is interested in the development of drugs of this class and related molecules. Our programme has the following foci:

• Phase I Anti-Angiogenesis Programme: We are responsible for first into man studies of anti-angiogenic agents and incorporate imaging and serological biomarkers into these programmes. This strategy has revealed unique aspects of the tumour vasculature that are impacting on the way we develop existing and new anti-angiogenic agents. The programme is in part supported by Cancer Research UK.

• Imaging: The phase I anti-angiogenesis programme has been supported by detailed imaging studies that have mainly incorporated DCE-MRI. We performed the first study with a VEGF inhibitor that incorporated this technology and have applied it to the other principal classes of anti-angiogenic agents. The programme is now extending to combine PET and DCE-MRI scanning together to provide a detailed mechanism based evaluation of anti-angiogenic agents in the phase I/II setting.

• Phase III Gynaecological Angiogenesis Programme: The group have been involved in trial management of many recent ovarian cancer trials. Currently we act as translational research lead for two MRC/NCRN phase III clinical trials that evaluate VEGF inhibitors in ovarian cancer.

• Glyco-angiogenesis laboratory programme: Our laboratory programme focuses on the heparan sulfate-growth factor axis and its contribution to ovarian cancer. In particular the group has investigated the contribution of the FGFs to ovarian cancer angiogenesis, tumour proliferation and platinum sensitivity. The work has revealed molecular targets that have a critical dependence on heparan sulfate. We have therefore established an organic chemistry group to synthesise defined heparan sulfate oligosaccharides. These will be evaluated as potential competitive inhibitors of heparan sulfate and therefore FGF function in vitro and in vivo.

Gordon Jayson qualified in Medicine at the University of Oxford. His subsequent medical and oncology training took place in Manchester and the Christie Hospital. Following a PhD in heparan sulfate biology, he has conducted post-doctoral research that aims to translate the new data from heparan sulfate biology into the clinic. His current programme of work, described above, is directed at the laboratory development of novel oligosaccharides as anti-angiogenic agents and the early and late clinical trial evaluation of this class of drugs. The latter programme aims to identify serological and imaging based biomarkers that will identify the patients who are most likely to benefit from this these agents and which will be used to underpin the development of combination regimens of biological agents. This work is largely focused on ovarian cancer, the disease that Professor Jayson looks after in Christie Hospital.