Nuzhat Ahmed

Biography

Professor Ahmed is an experienced cell and molecular biologist with a long-standing interest in understanding the molecular mechanisms of ovarian cancer spread. She did her postdoctoral research training in Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, New Zealand, University of Newcastle, Australia and University of British Columbia in Canada. From 2002-2014, Professor Ahmed led the Ovarian Cancer Research Group in Women’s Cancer Research Centre, Royal Women’s Hospital, Melbourne. Her significant contribution has been in establishing the novel interaction of cell adhesion molecules with the signalling pathways in cancer, and identifying early-stage biomarkers for ovarian cancer screening. These studies have led to several international patent applications and publications in reputable cancer journals.

Her recent work has focused in understanding the mechanisms of survival of ovarian cancer cells in response to chemotherapy treatment and the re-growth of these cells to cause clinical recurrence. These studies have utilized isolated tumour cells (primary and also from ascites) from patients diagnosed with the advanced-stage disease to model profiles of genes/proteins associated with platinum and taxol-based drug responses. These studies have led to recent publications in several international reputed cancer journals. Professor Ahmed has a long-standing interest in understanding the immune cell irregularities in ovarian cancer patients.

Professor Ahmed has supervised several Honours and PhD students and her work has been presented at national and international meetings, as well as reported on news editorials. She has several local and international collaborations.

Affiliations

Publication highlights

Sharma R, Balta S, Raza A, Escalona RM, Kannourakis G, Prithviraj P, Ahmed N (2023) In vitro and in silico analysis of epithelial-mesenchymal transition and cancer stemness as prognostic markers of clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) May 1;15(9):2586.
Sharma R, Kannourakis G, Prithviraj P, Ahmed (2022) Precision medicine: An optimal approach to patient care in renal cell carcinoma. Front Med (Lausanne) June 14;9:766869. Review.
Leung D, Price ZK, Lokman NA, Wang W, Goonetilleke L, Kadife E, Oehler MK, Ricciardelli C, Kannourakis G, Ahmed N (2022) Platinum-resistance in epithelial ovarian cancer: an interplay of epithelial-mesenchymal transition interlinked with reprogrammed metabolism. J Transl Med. Dec 3:20(1):556.
Escalona RM, Chu S, Kadife E, Kelly JK, Kannourakis G, Findlay JK, Ahmed N (2022) Knock down of TIMP-2 by siRNA and CRISPR/Cas9 mediates diverse cellular reprogramming of metastasis and chemosensitivity in ovarian cancer. Cancer Cell Int. Dec 30;22(1):422.
Escalona RM, Kannourakis G, Findlay JK, Ahmed N (2022) Expression of TIMPs and MMPs in ovarian tumors, ascites, ascites-derived cells and cancer cell lines: Characteristic modulatoryy response before and after chemotherapy treatment. Front Oncol. Jan 3;11:796588.
Wesley T, Berzins S, Kannourakis G, Ahmed N (2021) The attributes of plakins in cancer and disease: perspectives on ovarian cancer progression, chemoresistance and recurrence. Cell Commun Signal. May 17;19(1):55. Review.
Sharma R, Kadife E, Myers M, Kannourakis G, Prithviraj P, Ahmed N (2021) Determinants of resistance to VEGF-TKI and immune checkpoint inhibitors in metastatic renal cell carcinoma. J Exp Clin Cancer Res. Jun 7;40(1):186. Review.
Ahmed N, Kadife E, Rraza A Short M, Jubinsky PT, Kannourakis G (2020) Ovarian cancer, cancer stem cells and current treatment strategies: A potential role of Magmas in the current treatment methods. Cells Mar 14;9(3):719. Review.
Escalona RM, Bilandzic M, Western PS, Kadife E, Kannourakis G, Findlay JK, Ahmed N (2020) TIMP-2 regulates proliferation, invasion and STAT3-mediated cancer stem cell-dependent chemoresistance in ovarian cancer cells. BMC Cancer. Oct 6;20(1):960.
Kadife E, Chan E, Luwor R, Kannourakis G, Findlay J, Ahmed N (2019) Paclitaxel-induced Src activation is inhibited by dasatinib treatment, independently of cancer stem cell properties, in a mouse model of ovarian cancer. Cancers (Basel). Feb 19;11(2):243.
Escalona RM, Chan E, Kannourakis G, Findlay JK, Ahmed N (2018) The many facets of metzincins and their endogenous inhibitors: Perspectives on ovarian cancer progression. Int J Mol Sci. Feb 2;19(2):450. Review.
Ahmed N, Escalona R, Leung D, Chan E, Kannourakis G (2018) Tumour microenvironment and metabolic plasticity in cancer and cancer stem cells: perspectives on metabolic and immune regulatory signatures in chemoresistant ovarian cancer stem cells. Seminars in Cancer Biology 53:265-281. Review.
Chan E, Luwor R, Burns C, Kannourakis G, Findlay JK, Ahmed N (2018) Momelotinib decreased cancer stem cell associated tumor burden and prolonged disease-free remission period in a mouse model of human ovarian cancer. Oncotarget. Mar 30;9(24):16599-16618.
Samardzija C, Greening D, Escalona RM, Chen M, Bilandzic M, Luwor R, Kannourakis G, Findlay JK, Ahmed N (2017) Knockdown of stem cell regulator Oct4A in ovarian cancer reveals cellular reprogramming associated with key regulators of cytoskeleton-extracellular matrix remodeling. Scientific Reports Apr 13:7:46312.
Ahmed N, Greening D, Samardzija C, Escalona RM, Chen M, Findlay JK, Kannourakis G (2016) Unique proteome signature of post-chemotherapy ovarian cancer ascites-derived tumor cells. Scientific Reports. Jul 29;6:30061.
Samardzija C, Luwor RB, Quinn MA, Kannourakis G, Findlay JK, Ahmed N (2016) Coalition of Oct4A and β1 integrins in facilitating metastasis in ovarian cancer. BMC Cancer. Jul 8;16:432.
Samardzija C, Luwor R, Volchek M, Quinn M, Findlay J, Ahmed N (2015) A critical role of Oct4A in mediating metastasis and disease-free survival in a mouse model of ovarian cancer. Molecular Cancer. Aug 11;14:152.
Abubaker K, Latifi A, Chan E, Luwor RB, Burns CJ, Thompson EW, Findlay JK, Ahmed N (2015) Enhanced activation of STAT3 in ascites-derived recurrent ovarian tumors: inhibition of cisplatin-induced STAT3 activation reduced tumorigenicity of ovarian cancer by a loss of cancer stem cell-like characteristics. Journal of Cancer Stem Cell Research 3: e1001.
Latifi A, Escalona R, Quinn MA, Thompson EW, Findlay JK, Ahmed N (2014) Distinct molecular signature of recurrent ovarian tumor cells isolated from the ascites of advanced-stage serous ovarian cancer patients. Journal of Cancer Stem Cell Research 2:e1006.
Bilandzic M, Wang Y, Ahmed N, Luwor RB, Zhu HJ, TaFindlay JK, Stenvers KL (2014) Betaglycan blocks metastatic behaviors in human granulosa cell tumors by suppressing NFkB-mediated induction of MMP2. Cancer Lett, 354 (1):107-14.
Abubaker K, Luwor RB, Escalona R, McNally O, Quinn MA, Thompson EW, Findlay JK, Ahmed N (2014) Targeted disruption of JAK2/STAT3 pathway in combination with systemic administration of paclitaxel inhibits the priming of ovarian cancer stem cells leading to a reduced tumor burden. Front Oncol 4:75.
Abubaker K, Luwor RB, Hongjian Z, Orla M, Quinn MA, Burns JC, Thompson EW, Findlay JK, Ahmed N (2014) Inhibition of the JAK2/STAT3 pathway in ovarian cancer results in the loss of cancer stem cell-like characteristics and a reduced tumor burden. BMC Cancer 14:217.
Kumar J, Fraser FW, Riley C, Ahmed N, McCulloch DR, Ward AC (2014) Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor receptor signalling via Janus kinase 2/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 in ovarian cancer. Br J Cancer 110 (1):133-45.
Abubaker K, Latifi A, Luwor R, Nazaretian S, Zhu H, Quinn M, Thompson E, Findlay J, Ahmed N (2013) Short-term single treatment of chemotherapy results in the enrichment of ovarian cancer stem cell-like cells leading to an increased tumor burden. Molecular Cancer 12:24.
Latifi A, Luwor RB, Bilandzic M, Nazaretian S, Stenvers K, Pyman J, Zhu H, Thompson EW, Quinn MA, Findlay JK, Ahmed N (2012) Isolation and characterization of tumor cells from the ascites of ovarian cancer patients: molecular phenotype of chemoresistant ovarian tumors. PloS One 7(10):e46858.

Professor Nuzhat Ahmed

Biography

Affiliations

Publication highlights

Key differences in tumours could help tackle ovarian cancer recurrence

Professor Nuzhat Ahmed

Biography

Affiliations

Publication highlights

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