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Margaret Currie

Principal Investigator

Associate Dean (Postgraduate Studies)

MSc(Hons)(Cant), PhD(Auck)

Email margaret.currie@otago.ac.nz
Tel +64 3 364 0544

Research interests

Associate Professor Margaret Currie is interested in how the tumour microenvironment affects tumour growth, tumour cell metastasis and tumour response to therapy.

The local tumour microenvironment is the milieu within which the tumour develops, and includes tumour blood vessels, other cells types (e.g. immune cells, fibroblasts, adipocytes), soluble growth factors and signalling molecules. All the various components of the tumour microenvironment can influence tumour growth and spread and, conversely, tumour cells can influence the local tumour microenvironment.

A further layer of complexity exists because the wider tumour microenvironment (i.e. the body within which the tumour develops) alters with age and health, and is affected by systemic changes in metabolism, hormones and immunity.

The Mackenzie Cancer Research Group has been investigating the contribution of stromal cells and the tumour microenvironment to human tumour biology since the inception of our research group in 1998. Initially, their research focused on tumour blood vessel development and anti-angiogenic therapies. However, since 2009 Associate Professor Currie's interests have expanded to include the contribution to tumour progression made by tumour infiltrating immune cell populations, breast cancer stem cell-like populations, and obesity-related factors.

Current projects

Adipocytes in tumour stroma

In various human cancers, obesity is linked to invasive tumours that are resistant to therapy and have poor outcome. We are culturing human fat cells (adipocytes) and tumour cells together, to find out how adipocytes alter tumour cell phenotype and response to therapy. We are also studying tumour samples from normal weight and obese breast cancer patients to better understand the role adipocytes play in promoting aggressive tumour growth and spread, and identify patients likely to benefit from additional treatment during cancer therapy.

Circulating immune cell populations and tumour infiltrating immune cells in human cancers

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (cSCC) are common in NZ, and most are simply treated. However, a small proportion (~5%) of these skin cancers grow aggressively, spread to other organs, and cause death. In patients who have had an organ transplant, we have identified blood vessel and immune characteristics that are correlated to cSCC aggressiveness. We are currently investigating whether these characteristics also account for the aggressiveness of cSCCs in non-transplant patients. A greater understanding of the biology of these tumours may help clinicians identify at-risk patients who could benefit from additional treatment and close surveillance. In addition, the specific immune and blood vessel factors identified are potential targets for developing novel cancer treatments.

Postgraduate supervision

Student: Jessika Wise
Degree: PhD (in progress)
Thesis title: 3D breast tumour models for drug discovery
Supervisors: PE Phillips, K Lim, T Woodfield, M Currie

Student: Ifran Yunianto
Degree: PhD (in progress)
Thesis title: The role of inflammation in ovarian cancer
Supervisors: P Sykes, K Chitcholtan, M Currie

Student: Ben Topham
Degree: BBiomedSc(Hons) (in progress)
Thesis title: Investigating the Relationship Between Ascorbate and the Differentiation of Monocytes in an In-Vitro Melanoma Model 
Supervisors: M Currie

2021

Student: Dr Annika Seddon
Degree: PhD
Thesis title: Neutrophils and cancer: regulation of cell death and epigenetic pathways 
Supervisors: M Hampton, A Stevens, M Currie, A Kettle

2020

Student: Dr Linda Buss
Degree: PhD
Thesis title: The immune system: A common link mediating exercise effects on the tumour microenvironment and skeletal muscle mitochondria? 
Supervisors: G Dachs, M Currie, B Hock, A Ang, B Robinson

Student: Rebekah Crake
Degree: PhD
Thesis title: Local and systemic effects of adipocyte-secreted factors in breast cancer
Supervisors: M Currie, E Phillips, M Strother, B Robinson

2017

Student: Dr Vanessa Lattimore
Degree: PhD
Thesis title: Evaluating BRCA1 and BRCA2 sequence variants that modulate isoform expression
Supervisors: L Walker, M Currie, B Robinson

2015

Student: Dr Anthony Rahman
Degree: PhD
Thesis title: Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) in cancer patients commencing chemotherapy
Supervisors: B Robinson, M Smith, M Currie, S Gunningham

2013

Student: Caroline Kuiper
Degree: PhD
Thesis title: The role of ascorbate in the regulation of HIF-1 in cancer cells
Supervisors: M Vissers, G Dachs, M Currie

2011

Student: Ekaterina Volkova
Degree: PhD
Thesis title: Obesity and colorectal cancer
Supervisors: M Currie, G Dachs, J Willis, B Robinson

2010

Student: Michelle Hunt
Degree: PhD
Thesis title: Vessel directed enzyme prodrug therapy for cancer
Supervisors: G Dachs, M Currie, A Patterson, B Robinson

Student: Kasia Mackenzie
Degree: PhD
Thesis title: Why are skin cancers more aggressive in renal transplant recipients?
Supervisors: M Currie, B Hock, J Simcock, B Robinson, J Roake

2007

Student: Sarah Gunningham
Degree: PhD
Thesis title: The role of VEGF faminly in breast and colorectal cancer
Supervisors: M Currie, V Cameron, B Robinson, S Fox

Student: So Young Moon
Degree: PhD
Thesis title: Identification of genetic aberrations in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia using array CGH
Supervisors: C Morris, P Ganly, M Currie

2017

Student: Leah Butt
Degree: BBiomedSc(Hons)
Thesis title: Measuring markers of immune response in patients treated with Nivolumab (Opdivo) or Pembrolizumab (Keytruda)
Supervisors: M Currie, B Hock, M Strother

2015

Student: Morgan Jones
Degree: BBiomedSc(Hons)
Thesis title: Does fat provide energy for breast cancer cell invasion and metastasis?
Supervisors: M Currie, E Phillips

Student: Rebekah Crake
Degree: BBiomedSc(Hons)
Thesis title: Obesity and breast cancer development
Supervisors: L Walker, M Currie, E Phillips

Student: Anishah Mandani
Degree: BBiomedSc(Hons)
Thesis title: Development of a breast cancer ApoE/ArKO mouse model
Supervisors: G Dachs, M Currie

2013

Student: Annika Seddon
Degree: BBiomedSc(Hons)
Thesis title: Immune Suppression and Squamous Cell Carcinoma Tumour Biology
Supervisors: M Currie, B Hock

2010

Student: Anna Van Pomeren
Degree: BBiomedSc(Hons)
Thesis title: Myeloid-derived suppressor cells and tumour angiogenesis
Supervisors: M Currie, B Hock

2020

Student: Mohini Puri
Degree: MMedSc
Thesis title: Role of cancer associated adipocytes (CAA) and tumour associated collagen structures (TACS) in breast cancer cell invasion and metastasis 
Supervisors: M Currie, E Phillips

2014

Student: Lisa Brennan
Degree: MSc (Massey University)
Thesis title: Biomarkers as predictors of six month survival outcomes of patients presenting with solid tumours
Supervisors: M Currie, A Rahman, B Robinson, C Kendrick

2007

Student:Maiko Kano
Degree: BMedSc
Thesis title: Biology of cancer in Maori
Supervisors: G Dachs, M Currie, B Robinson

Funding

  • The Mackenzie Charitable Foundation
  • Cancer Society of New Zealand (& CSNZ Canterbury-West Coast Division)
  • University of Otago Christchurch Cancer Fellowship
  • New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation
  • University of Otago

Selected Recent Publications

  • Seddon AR, Hock BD, Miller AP, Frei LP, Pearson JF, McKenzie JL, Simcock JW, Currie MJ. Cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas with markers of increased metastatic risk are associated with elevated numbers of neutrophils and/or granulocytic myeloid derived suppressor cells. Advanced ePub. Journal of Dermatological Science (2016), DOI 10.1016/j.jdermsci.2016.04.013.
  • Slatter TL, Royds JA, Pilbrow AP, Ahn A, Morrin H, Frampton C, Russell A, Moravec CS, Sweet WE, Tang WH, Currie MJ, Hung NA. The rs11515 polymorphism is more frequent and associated with aggressive breast tumors with increased ANRIL and decreased p16INK4A expression. Frontiers in Oncology; 5, 306, 2015. (Times cited=0).
  • BD Hock, JL McKenzie, NB Cross, MJ Currie. Dynamic changes in myeloid derived suppressor cell subsets following renal transplant: A prospective study. Transplant Immunology; 32(3), 164-171. June 2015 (IF 1.8). (Times cited=0).
  • Richardson AK, Currie MJ, Robinson BA, Morrin H, Phung Y, Pearson JF, Anderson TP, Potter JD, Walker LC. Cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr virus in breast cancer. PLoS One. 2015, Feb 27; 10(2):e0118989. (IF 3.5). (Times cited=1).

Publications

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Immunohistochemical staining for CD66b+ neutrophils surrounding a non-melanoma skin cancer
Immunohistochemical staining for CD66b+ neutrophils surrounding a non-melanoma skin cancer

Lipid-rich mature adipocytes
Lipid-rich mature adipocytes

Immunohistochemical staining
Immunohistochemical staining for CD44+/CD24-/low cells in invasive breast carcinoma (top right) and ductal carcinoma in situ (bottom left)

Cancer - The Crab (Original tile by Morris & James, Matakana, NZ)
Cancer - The Crab (original tile by Morris & James, Matakana, New Zealand

Publications

Donovan, K. A., Beaglehole, B., Frampton, C. M. A., Currie, M., Boden, J. M., & Jordan, J. (2023). Tōku Oranga: The subjective wellbeing and psychological functioning of postgraduate and medical students in Ōtautahi Christchurch. New Zealand Medical Journal/Te ara tika o te hauora hapori, 136(1586), 51-62. Retrieved from https://journal.nzma.org.nz/

Morley-Bunker, A., Currie, M., Pearson, J., Mukundan, R., Gavruskin, A., Hemmings, C., Eglinton, T., & Walker, L. (2023, August). Utilisation of digital pathology and AI methods for the detection of MSI status in colorectal cancer. Verbal presentation at the 33rd Queenstown Molecular Biology Meeting (QMB), Queenstown, New Zealand.

Yunianto, I., Currie, M., Chitcholtan, K., & Sykes, P. (2023). Potential drug repurposing of ruxolitinib to inhibit the JAK/STAT pathway for the treatment of patients with epithelial ovarian cancer. Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology Research, 49, 2563-2574. doi: 10.1111/jog.15761

Symonds, E. K. C., Black, B., Brown, A., Meredith, I., Currie, M. J., Hally, K. E., & Danielson, K. M. (2023). Adipose derived stem cell extracellular vesicles modulate primary human macrophages to an anti-inflammatory phenotype in vitro. Journal of Extracellular Biology, 2, e104. doi: 10.1002/jex2.104

Symonds, E., Hally, K., Smith, R., Brown, A., Currie, M., Phillips, E., … Dennett, E., Meredith, I., & Danielson, K. (2022, August). Messengers in the microenvironment: The role of extracellular vesicles in fat graft retention for breast reconstruction. Verbal presentation at the Cancer Satellite Meeting: Queenstown Research Week, Queenstown, New Zealand.

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