Dr Alan Aitchison

2026

Journal - Research Other

Leach, S. T., Wheeler, T., Bowcock, N., Aitchison, A., Lemberg, D. A., & Day, A. S. (2026). The emerging roles of intestinal organoid models in inflammatory bowel disease research. Expert Review of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, 20(3), 247-256. doi: 10.1080/17474124.2026.2635421

2025

Journal - Research Article

Aitchison, A., Edwards, T. S., & Day, A. S. (2025). Simulated gastrointestinal digestion of milk caseins containing A1 β-casein does not lead to increased production of inflammatory proteins in intestinal epithelial cells in vitro when compared to milk caseins containing A2 β-casein. Journal of Functional Foods, 125, 106669. doi: 10.1016/j.jff.2025.106669

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Aitchison, A., Edwards, T., & Day, A. (2025). Simulated gastrointestinal digestion of bovine A1 β-casein does not increase production of inflammatory proteins in vitro compared to A2 β-casein. Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, 40(Suppl. 1), (pp. 26-27). doi: 10.1111/jgh.16899

2023

Journal - Research Article

Keenan, J. I., Aitchison, A., Frizelle, F. A., & Hock, B. D. (2023). Detection of chitinase 3-like 1 in symptomatic primary care patient faecal samples is not a reliable biomarker of colonic lesions. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention, 24(7), 2289-2293. doi: 10.31557/APJCP.2023.24.7.2289

2022

Journal - Research Article

Aitchison, A., Pearson, J. F., Purcell, R. V., Frizelle, F. A., & Keenan, J. I. (2022). Detection of Fusobacterium nucleatum DNA in primary care patient stool samples does not predict progression of colorectal neoplasia. PLoS ONE, 17(6), e0269541. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0269541

2020

Journal - Research Article

Aitchison, A., Hakkaart, C., Day, R. C., Morrin, H. R., Frizelle, F. A., & Keenan, J. I. (2020). APC mutations are not confined to hotspot regions in early-onset colorectal cancer. Cancers, 12, 3829. doi: 10.3390/cancers12123829

Aitchison, A., Hakkaart, C., Whitehead, M., Khan, S., Siddique, S., Ahmed, R., Frizelle, F. A., & Keenan, J. I. (2020). CDH1 gene mutation in early-onset, colorectal signet-ring cell carcinoma. Pathology: Research & Practice, 216, 152912. doi: 10.1016/j.prp.2020.152912

Awarded Doctoral Degree

Aitchison, A. (2020). E-cadherin and APC in early-onset colorectal cancer (PhD). University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/10523/10424

2019

Journal - Research Article

Keenan, J., Aitchison, A., Leaman, J., Pearson, J., & Frizelle, F. (2019). Faecal biomarkers do not always identify pre-cancerous lesions in patients who present in primary care with bowel symptoms. New Zealand Medical Journal, 132(1501), 48-56. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal

Journal - Research Other

Keenan, J. I., Aitchison, A., Pearson, J. F., Frizelle, F. A., & Munday, J. S. (2019). Detection of the Bacteroides fragilis toxin gene in sheep with and without small intestinal adenocarcinoma. New Zealand Veterinary Journal, 67(6), 329-332. doi: 10.1080/00480169.2019.1651233

2018

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Aitchison, A., Hakkaart, C., Kahn, S., Whitehead, M., Frizelle, F., & Keenan, J. (2018). E-cadherin in early-onset colorectal signet-ring cell carcinoma. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society for Oncology (NZSO) Conference. Retrieved from http://www.nzsoncology.org.nz/

Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)

Swan, J., Aitchison, A., Hampton, M., & Keenan, J. (2018, September). Asprin's role in preventing e-cadherin cleavage by the carcinogenic Bacteroides Fragilis toxin. Poster session presented at the Otago Spotlight Symposium on Infectious Disease, Wellington, New Zealand.

2017

Journal - Research Article

Flores, S. E., Aitchison, A., Day, A. S., & Keenan, J. I. (2017). Helicobacter pylori infection perturbs iron homeostasis in gastric epithelial cells. PLoS ONE, 12(9), e0184026. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0184026

Purcell, R. V., Pearson, J., Aitchison, A., Dixon, L., Frizelle, F. A., & Keenan, J. I. (2017). Colonization with enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis is associated with early-stage colorectal neoplasia. PLoS ONE, 12(2), e0171602. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0171602

Budd, G. R., Aitchison, A., Day, A. S., & Keenan, J. I. (2017). The effect of polymeric formula on enterocyte differentiation. Innate Immunity, 23(3), 240-248. doi: 10.1177/1753425916689333

Chae, A., Aitchison, A., Day, A. S., & Keenan, J. I. (2017). Bovine colostrum demonstrates anti-inflammatory and antibacterial activity in in vitro models of intestinal inflammation and infection. Journal of Functional Foods, 28, 293-298. doi: 10.1016/j.jff.2016.11.016

Appleby, S., Pearson, J. F., Aitchison, A., Spittlehouse, J. K., Joyce, P. R., & Kennedy, M. A. (2017). Mean telomere length is not associated with current health status in a 50-year-old population sample. American Journal of Human Biology, 29(1), e22906. doi: 10.1002/ajhb.22906

Journal - Research Other

Keenan, J., Aitchison, A., & Frizelle, F. (2017). Are young people eating their way to bowel cancer? New Zealand Medical Journal, 130(1460), 90-92. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal

2016

Journal - Research Article

Keenan, J. I., Aitchison, A., Purcell, R. V., Greenlees, R., Pearson, J. F., & Frizelle, F. A. (2016). Screening for enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis in stool samples. Anaerobe, 40, 50-53. doi: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2016.05.004

Wright, E. K., Kamm, M. A., De Cruz, P., Hamilton, A. L., Ritchie, K. J., Keenan, J. I., … Burgess, L., Aitchison, A., … Day, A. S., & Gearry, R. B. (2016). Comparison of fecal inflammatory markers in Crohn's disease. Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, 22(5), 1086-1094. doi: 10.1097/mib.0000000000000671

Aitchison, A., Frizelle, F. A., & Keenan, J. I. (2016). PCR detection of the Bacteroides fragilis enterotoxin gene relies on robust primer design. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 54(1), 239-240. doi: 10.1128/jcm.02785-15

2015

Journal - Research Article

Chua, E. W., Cree, S., Barclay, M. L., Doudney, K., Lehnert, K., Aitchison, A., & Kennedy, M. A. (2015). Exome sequencing and array-based comparative genomic hybridisation analysis of preferential 6-methylmercaptopurine producers. Pharmacogenomics Journal, 15, 414-421. doi: 10.1038/tpj.2015.9

Jodczyk, S., Pearson, J. F., Aitchison, A., Miller, A. L., Hampton, M. B., & Kennedy, M. A. (2015). Telomere length measurement on the Roche LightCycler 480 platform. Genetic Testing & Molecular Biomarkers, 19(2), 63-68. doi: 10.1089/gtmb.2014.0208

2014

Journal - Research Article

Stevens, A. J., Stuffrein-Roberts, S., Cree, S. L., Gibb, A., Miller, A. L., Doudney, K., Aitchison, A., Eccles, M. R., Joyce, P. R., … Kennedy, M. A. (2014). G-quadruplex structures and CpG methylation cause drop-out of the maternal allele in polymerase chain reaction amplification of the imprinted MEST gene promoter. PLoS ONE, 9(12), e113955. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0113955

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Keenan, J., Aitchison, A., Greenlees, R., & Frizelle, F. (2014). Are toxin-producing strains of Bacteroides fragilis involved in colorectal cancer? ANZ Journal of Surgery, 84(Suppl. 1), (pp. 36). doi: 10.1111/ans.12609

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Keenan, J., Aitchison, A., Greenlees, R., Pearson, J., & Frizelle, F. (2014, October). Are toxin-producing strains of Bacteroides fragilis involved in colorectal cancer? Verbal presentation at the New Zealand Society for Oncology (NZSO) Conference, Tauranga, New Zealand.

2013

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Stevens, A. J., Stuffrein-Roberts, S., Macmil, S., Gibb, A., Doudney, K., Miller, A. L., Bagshaw, A., Aitchison, A., Eccles, M. R., Joyce, P. R., … Kennedy, M. A. (2013). Allelic-dropout during PCR of the imprinted MEST promoter caused by interaction between G-quadruplex structures and DNA methylation. Proceedings of the 4th International Meeting on G-quadruplex Nucleic Acids: From Structure to Chemistry and Biology. 83. Retrieved from http://www.g4meeting2013.com/

2012

Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)

Stevens, A., Stuffrein-Roberts, S., Miller, A., Gibb, A., Doudney, K., Bagshaw, A., Aitchison, A., Eccles, M., … Kennedy, M. (2012, August). G-quadruplex DNA structures, genomic imprinting and allelic drop-out in PCR. Poster session presented at the Queenstown Molecular Biology (QMB) Meetings, Queenstown, New Zealand.

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Stevens, A. J., Stuffrein-Roberts, S., Miller, A. L., Gibb, A., Doudney, K., Bagshaw, A., Aitchison, A., Eccles, M. R., … Kennedy, M. A. (2012, August). G-quadruplex DNA structures, genomic imprinting and allelic drop-out in PCR. Verbal presentation at the Queenstown Molecular Biology (QMB) Meetings, Queenstown, New Zealand.

2009

Journal - Research Article

Doudney, K., Harley, J. A., Pearson, J. F., Miller, A., Aitchison, A., Kennedy, M. A., Porter, R. J., Elmslie, J. L., & Joyce, P. R. (2009). Upstream genetic variant near INSIG2, influences response to carnitine supplementation in bipolar patients with valproate-induced weight gain. Acta Neuropsychiatrica, 21(3), 133-140. doi: 10.1111/j.1601-5215.2009.00379.x

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Doudney, K., Harley, J. A., Pearson, J. F., Miller, A., Aitchison, A., Kennedy, M. A., Porter, R. J., Elmslie, J. L., & Joyce, P. R. (2009). Upstream genetic variant near INSIG2 is associated with adipose metabolism in bipolar patients with valproate induced weight gain. Proceedings of the 5th Annual Carney Pharmacogenomics Symposium. Retrieved from http://www.otago.ac.nz/christchurch/otago019049.pdf

2008

Journal - Research Article

Aitchison, A. A., Veerakumarasivam, A., Vias, M., Kumar, R., Hamdy, F. C., Neal, D. E., & Mills, I. G. (2008). Promoter methylation correlates with reduced Smad4 expression in advanced prostate cancer. Prostate, 68(6), 661-674. doi: 10.1002/pros.20730

Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)

Robertson, M., Jewell, U., Moon, S. Y., Aitchison, A., McDonald, M., Robertson, S., & Morris, C. M. (2008, August-September). Molecular characterisation by array CGH of a mosaic constitutional karyotype showing supernumerary ring chromosomes: A clinical case study. Poster session presented at the Queenstown Molecular Biology Meetings, Queenstown, New Zealand.

Robertson, M., Jewell, U., Moon, S. Y., Aitchison, A., McDonald, M., Robertson, S., & Morris, C. M. (2008, May). Molecular characterisation of a mosaic karyotype showing supernumerary dicentric ring chromosome and a supernumerary marker reveals chromosome band 4q12 origin. Poster session presented at the 4th International DECIPHER Symposium, Hinxton, UK.

2007

Journal - Research Article

Aitchison, A., Warren, A., Neal, D., & Rabbitts, P. (2007). RASSF1A promoter methylation is frequently detected in both pre-malignant and non-malignant microdissected prostatic epithelial tissues. Prostate, 67(6), 638-644. doi: 10.1002/pros.20475

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Robertson, M., Jewell, U., Moon, S. Y., Aitchison, A., McDonald, M., Taylor, J. C., Robertson, S., & Morris, C. M. (2007). Molecular characterisation of a mosaic karyotype showing supernumerary dicentric ring chromosome and a supernumerary marker reveals chromosome band 4_q12 origin. Proceedings of the Human Genetics Society of Australasia Annual Scientific Meeting. (pp. 109). Retrieved from http://www.hgsa.com.au/images/UserFiles/Attachments/Posters.pdf

Gough, S. M., Aitchison, A., Ganly, P., Spearing, R., & Morris, C. M. (2007). Hs.568769 is disrupted by a novel t(5;10) in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and may be an alternate transcript of the 3'overlapping DNTT(TdT) gene. Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) 98th Annual Meeting. Retrieved from http://www.aacrmeetingabstracts.org/

Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)

Gough, S., Jewell, U., Aitchison, A., Ganly, P., & Morris, C. (2007, August). A novel gene and TdT(DNTT) in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Poster session presented at the 17th Queenstown Molecular Biology Meeting, Queenstown, New Zealand.

2006

Journal - Research Article

Onwuegbusi, B. A., Aitchison, A., Chin, S.-F., Kranjac, T., Mills, I., Huang, Y., … Fitzgerald, R. C. (2006). Impaired transforming growth factor β signalling in Barrett's carcinogenesis due to frequent SMAD4 inactivation. Gut, 55(6), 764-774. doi: 10.1136/gut.2005.076430

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Benjes, S. M., Walker, L. C., Aitchison, A., Ganly, P. S., Spearing, R. L., & Morris, C. M. (2006). DNA sequence features of additional partner chromosome-BCR junction fragments associated with complex BCR-ABL_I rearrangements of CML. Proceedings of the 11th International Congress of Human Genetics. Retrieved from http://www.ichg2006.com/abstract/788.htm

2004

Journal - Research Article

Xian, J., Aitchison, A., Bobrow, L., Corbett, G., Pannell, R., Rabbitts, T., & Rabbitts, P. (2004). Targeted disruption of the 3p12 gene, Dutt1/Robo1, predisposes mice to lung adenocarcinomas and lymphomas with methylation of the gene promoter. Cancer Research, 64, 6432-6437. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-04-2561

1999

Journal - Research Article

Khosla, S., Aitchison, A., Gregory, R., Allen, N. D., & Feil, R. (1999). Parental allele-specific chromatin configuration in a boundary-imprinting-control element upstream of the mouse H19 gene. Molecular & Cellular Biology, 19(4), 2556-2566.

1998

Journal - Research Article

Dean, W., Bowden, L., Aitchison, A., Klose, J., Moore, T., Meneses, J. J., … Feil, R. (1998). Altered imprinted gene methylation and expression in completely ES cell-derived mouse fetuses: Association with aberrant phenotypes. Development, 125, 2273-2282.