Prof R Veale

Tel: 27 11 717 6332
rob.veale@wits.ac.za

Research Interests

Cell and molecular biology of growth, differentiation and neoplasia.

Academic thrust:

Biochemistry and Cell Biology

www.wits.ac.za/science/mcb/cellbio/

The Southern African survival rate for oesophageal cancer in patients with metastases is extremely low making studies of the fundamental problems associated with tumour growth and metastasis indispensable for improving prognosis. Metastasis is a complex cascade of events involving either increases or decreases in tumour cell adherence to adjacent cells or to the surrounding extracellular matrix (ECM). My laboratory investigates the factors affecting oesophageal SCC invasion and metastasis. In particular, the quantification of the integrin and cadherin components synthesised and secreted by oesophageal SCC s; fibrinolysin activity in that it has been demonstrated that blockage of E-cadherin-dependent cell adhesion leads to a stimulation of plasminogen activator expression; the role of mdr in oesophageal SCC invasion; and the mediation of the above activities by selected growth factors.

Publications