Professor Gabi Dachs, Our people, Mackenzie Cancer Research Group, University of Otago, New Zealand

Research Professor

BSc PhD(Cape Town)

Email gabi.dachs@otago.ac.nz
Tel +64 3 364 0544

Background

Professor Gabi Dachs completed her undergraduate and PhD studies in Cape Town, South Africa, followed by postdoctoral work at the MRC Harwell in the United Kingdom.

Prior to joining the University of Otago in Christchurch, Professor Dachs worked as senior scientist at the Gray Cancer Institute in London, UK.

Research interests

Professor Gabi Dachs is interested in why human tumours are difficult to treat, and in new ways of treating them.

Current research interests at present include:

Can we dampen the activity of the global transcription factor HIF-1 using vitamin C? Can we reduce tumour growth in mice using vitamin C? Can we increase vitamin C in cancer cells using gene therapy? What is the relationship between ascorbate and HIF-1 in tumours from kidney cancer patients?
Why do obese cancer patients often fare worse than non-obese patients? Can we identify the molecular factors associated with obesity in cancer? What effect do these obesity-related factors have on chemotherapy?
Which human enzymes are responsible for the activation of novel anticancer prodrugs (in collaboration with Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre)? Can this knowledge guide clinical use of these agents?
Can we improve gene directed enzyme prodrug therapy combinations to target solid tumours or their vasculature?

In the media

Professor Gabi Dachs was featured in Radio New Zealand's The Science Of... Vitamin C in August 2017.

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Publications

Crake, R. L. I., Burgess, E. R., Wiggins, G. A. R., Magon, N. J., Das, A. B., Vissers, M. C. M., Morrin, H. R., Royds, J. A., Slatter, T. L., Robinson, B. A., Phillips, E., & Dachs, G. U. (2022). Ascorbate content of clinical glioma tissues is related to tumour grade and to global levels of 5-hydroxymethyl cytosine. Scientific Reports, 12, 14845. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-19032-8

Burgess, E. R., Crake, R. L. I., Phillips, E., Morrin, H. R., Royds, J. A., Slatter, T. L., Wiggins, G. A. R., Vissers, M. C. M., Robinson, B. A., & Dachs, G. U. (2022). Increased ascorbate content of glioblastoma is associated with a suppressed hypoxic response and improved patient survival. Frontiers in Oncology, 12, 829524. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2022.829524

Dachs, G. (2021, September). Mate Pukupuku: He aha ō whakaaro? Cancer: What do you think is important for us to research? UOC Research Seminar Series, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand. [Department Seminar].

Vissers, M. C., & Dachs, G. U. (2021). The 2-oxogiutarate-dependent dioxygenases: A new class of enzymes impacting cancer epigenetics and cancer cell metabolism. Proceedings of the 16th Congress of the Federation of Asian & Oceanic Biochemists & Molecular Biologists (FAOBMB). (pp. 128). Retrieved from https://www.faobmb2021.org

Abbattista, M. R., Ashoorzadeh, A., Guise, C. P., Mowday, A. M., Mittra, R., Silva, S., … Dachs, G. U., … Patterson, A. V. (2021). Restoring tumour selectivity of the bioreductive prodrug pr-104 by developing an analogue resistant to aerobic metabolism by human aldo-keto reductase 1c3. Pharmaceuticals, 14(12). doi: 10.3390/ph14121231

Buss, L. A., & Dachs, G. U. (2020). Effects of exercise on the tumour microenvironment. In A. Birbrair (Ed.), Tumor microenvironment: Recent advances. (pp. 31-51). Cham, Switzerland: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-35727-6_3

Chapter in Book - Research

Journal - Research Article

Ang, A. D., Vissers, M. C. M., Burgess, E. R., Currie, M. J., & Dachs, G. U. (2021). Gene and protein expression is altered by ascorbate availability in murine macrophages cultured under tumour-like conditions. Antioxidants, 10(3), 430. doi: 10.3390/antiox10030430

Journal - Research Article

Buss, L. A., Hock, B., Merry, T. L., Ang, A. D., Robinson, B. A., Currie, M. J., & Dachs, G. U. (2021). Effect of immune modulation on the skeletal muscle mitochondrial exercise response: An exploratory study in mice with cancer. PLoS ONE, 16(10), e0258831. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0258831

Journal - Research Article

Buss, L. A., Williams, T., Hock, B., Ang, A. D., Robinson, B. A., Currie, M. J., & Dachs, G. U. (2021). Effects of exercise and anti-PD-1 on the tumour microenvironment. Immunology Letters, 239, 60-71. doi: 10.1016/j.imlet.2021.08.005

Journal - Research Article

Dachs, G. U., Gandhi, J., Wohlrab, C., Carr, A. C., Morrin, H. R., Pullar, J. M., Bayer, S. B., Eglinton, T. W., Robinson, B. A., & Vissers, M. C. M. (2021). Vitamin C administration by intravenous infusion increases tumor ascorbate content in patients with colon cancer: A clinical intervention study. Frontiers in Oncology, 10, 600715. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2020.600715

Journal - Research Article

Wohlrab, C., Vissers, M. C. M., Burgess, E. R., Nonis, M., Phillips, E., Robinson, B. A., & Dachs, G. U. (2021). Limited association between ascorbate concentrations and vitamin C transporters in renal cell carcinoma cells and clinical samples. Cellular Physiology & Biochemistry, 55, 553-568. doi: 10.33594/000000435

Journal - Research Article

Buss, L. A., Ang, A. D., Hock, B., Robinson, B. A., Currie, M. J., & Dachs, G. U. (2020). Effect of post-implant exercise on tumour growth rate, perfusion and hypoxia in mice. PLoS ONE, 15(3), e0229290. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0229290

Journal - Research Article

Pullar, J. M., Dunham, S., Dachs, G. U., Vissers, M. C. M., & Carr, A. C. (2020). Erythrocyte ascorbate is a potential indicator of steady-state plasma ascorbate concentrations in healthy non-fasting individuals. Nutrients, 12(2), 418. doi: 10.3390/nu12020418

Journal - Research Article

White, R., Nonis, M., Pearson, J. F., Burgess, E., Morrin, H. R., Pullar, J. M., Spencer, E., Vissers, M. C. M., Robinson, B. A., & Dachs, G. U. (2020). Low vitamin C status in patients with cancer is associated with patient and tumor characteristics. Nutrients, 12(8), 2338. doi: 10.3390/nu12082338

Journal - Research Article

Campbell, E. J., Dachs, G. U., Morrin, H. R., Davey, V., Robinson, B. A., & Vissers, M. C. M. (2019). Activation of the hypoxia pathway in breast cancer tissue and patient survival are inversely associated with tumor ascorbate levels. BMC Cancer, 19, 307. doi: 10.1186/s12885-019-5503-x

Journal - Research Article

Wohlrab, C., Kuiper, C., Vissers, M. C. M., Phillips, E., Robinson, B. A., & Dachs, G. U. (2019). Ascorbate modulates the hypoxic pathway by increasing intracellular activity of the HIF hydroxylases in renal cell carcinoma cells. Hypoxia, 7, 17-31. doi: 10.2147/hp.S201643

Journal - Research Article

Buss, L. A., & Dachs, G. U. (2018). The role of exercise and hyperlipidaemia in breast cancer progression. Exercise Immunology Review, 24, 8-23.

Journal - Research Article

Buss, L. A., & Dachs, G. U. (2018). Voluntary exercise slows breast tumor establishment and reduces tumor hypoxia in ApoE^-/- mice. Journal of Applied Physiology, 124(4), 938-949. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00738.2017

Journal - Research Article

Buss, L. A., Mandani, A., Phillips, E., Scott, N. J. A., Currie, M. J., & Dachs, G. U. (2018). Characterisation of a mouse model of breast cancer with metabolic syndrome. In Vivo, 32(5), 1071-1080. doi: 10.21873/invivo.11348

Journal - Research Article

Wohlrab, C., Vissers, M. C. M., Phillips, E., Morrin, H., Robinson, B. A., & Dachs, G. U. (2018). The association between ascorbate and the hypoxia-inducible factors in human renal cell carcinoma requires a functional von Hippel-Lindau protein. Frontiers in Oncology, 8, 574. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2018.00574

Journal - Research Article

Robinson, B., Currie, M., Phillips, E., Dachs, G., Strother, M., Morrin, H., Davey, V., & Frampton, C. (2017). Body mass index (BMI): Association with clinicopathological factors and outcome of women with newly diagnosed breast cancer in New Zealand. New Zealand Medical Journal, 130(1451), 46-56. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal

Journal - Research Article

Wohlrab, C., Phillips, E., & Dachs, G. U. (2017). Vitamin C transporters in cancer: Current understanding and gaps in knowledge. Frontiers in Oncology, 7, 74. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2017.00074

Journal - Research Article

Bonifert, G., Folkes, L., Gmeiner, C., Dachs, G., & Spadiut, O. (2016). Recombinant horseradish peroxidase variants for targeted cancer treatment. Cancer Medicine, 5(6), 1194-1203. doi: 10.1002/cam4.668

Journal - Research Article

Campbell, E. J., Vissers, M. C. M., & Dachs, G. U. (2016). Ascorbate availability affects tumor implantation-take rate and increases tumor rejection in Gulo^-/- mice. Hypoxia, 4, 41-52. doi: 10.2147/HP.S103088

Journal - Research Article

Campbell, E. J., Vissers, M. C. M., Wohlrab, C., Hicks, K. O., Strother, R. M., Bozonet, S. M., Robinson, B. A., & Dachs, G. U. (2016). Pharmacokinetic and anti-cancer properties of high dose ascorbate in solid tumours of ascorbate-dependent mice. Free Radical Biology & Medicine, 99, 451-462. doi: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2016.08.027

Journal - Research Article

Campbell, E. J., Vissers, M. C. M., Bozonet, S., Dyer, A., Robinson, B. A., & Dachs, G. U. (2015). Restoring physiological levels of ascorbate slows tumor growth and moderates HIF-1 pathway activity in Gulo^−/− mice. Cancer Medicine, 4(2), 303-314. doi: 10.1002/cam4.349

Journal - Research Article

Dachs, G. U., Phillips, E., Phung, Y., Dyer, A., Willis, J. A., Currie, M. J., & Robinson, B. A. (2015). Tumour growth in mice resistant to diet-induced obesity. Journal of Molecular Biochemistry, 4(2), 42-49.

Journal - Research Article

Campbell, E. J., & Dachs, G. U. (2014). Current limitations of murine models in oncology for ascorbate research. Frontiers in Oncology, 4, 282. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2014.00282

Journal - Research Article

Flett, T., Campbell, E. J., Phillips, E., Vissers, M. C. M., & Dachs, G. U. (2014). Gulonolactone addition to human hepatocellular carcinoma cells with gene transfer of gulonolactone oxidase restores ascorbate biosynthesis and reduces hypoxia inducible factor 1. Biomedicines, 2(1), 98-109. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines2010098

Journal - Research Article

Kanthou, C., Dachs, G. U., Lefley, D. V., Steele, A. J., Coralli-Foxon, C., Harris, S., … Tozer, G. M. (2014). Tumour cells expressing single VEGF isoforms display distinct growth, survival and migration characteristics. PLoS ONE, 9(8), e104015. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0104015

Journal - Research Article

Kuiper, C., Dachs, G. U., Currie, M. J., & Vissers, M. C. M. (2014). Intracellular ascorbate enhances hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-hydroxylase activity and preferentially suppresses the HIF-1 transcriptional response. Free Radical Biology & Medicine, 69, 308-317. doi: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2014.01.033

Journal - Research Article

Kuiper, C., Dachs, G. U., Munn, D., Currie, M. J., Robinson, B. A., Pearson, J. F., & Vissers, M. C. M. (2014). Increased tumour ascorbate is associated with extended disease-free survival and decreased hypoxia-inducible factor-1 activation in human colorectal cancer. Frontiers in Oncology, 4, 10. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2014.00010

Journal - Research Article

Vissers, M. C. M., Kuiper, C., & Dachs, G. U. (2014). Regulation of the 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenases and implications for cancer. Biochemical Society Transactions, 42(4), 945-951. doi: 10.1042/bst20140118

Journal - Research Article

Volkova, E., Robinson, B. A., Willis, J., Currie, M. J., & Dachs, G. U. (2014). Marginal effects of glucose, insulin and insulin-like growth factor on chemotherapy response in endothelial and colorectal cancer cells. Oncology Letters, 7(2), 311-320. doi: 10.3892/ol.2013.1710

Journal - Research Article

Wang, J., Guise, C. P., Dachs, G. U., Phung, Y., Hsu, A. H.-L., Lambie, N. K., … Wilson, W. R. (2014). Identification of one-electron reductases that activate both the hypoxia prodrug SN30000 and diagnostic probe EF5. Biochemical Pharmacology, 91(4), 436-446. doi: 10.1016/j.bcp.2014.08.003

Journal - Research Article

Currie, M. J., Beardsley, B. E., Harris, G. C., Gunningham, S. P., Dachs, G. U., Dijkstra, B., Morrin, H. R., Wells, J. E., & Robinson, B. A. (2013). Immunohistochemical analysis of cancer stem cell markers in invasive breast carcinoma and associated ductal carcinoma in situ: Relationships with markers of tumor hypoxia and microvascularity. Human Pathology, 44(3), 402-411. doi: 10.1016/j.humpath.2012.06.004

Journal - Research Article

Guise, C. P., Abbattista, M. R., Tipparaju, S. R., Lambie, N. K., Su, J., Li, D., … Dachs, G. U., & Patterson, A. V. (2012). Diflavin oxidoreductases activate the bioreductive prodrug PR-104A under hypoxia. Molecular Pharmacology, 81(1), 31-40. doi: 10.1124/mol.111.073759

Journal - Research Article

Hunt, M. A., Li, D., Hay, M. P., Currie, M. J., Robinson, B. A., Patterson, A. V., & Dachs, G. U. (2012). Characterisation of enzyme prodrug gene therapy combinations in coated spheroids and vascular networks in vitro. Journal of Gene Medicine, 14(1), 62-74. doi: 10.1002/jgm.1635

Journal - Research Article

MacKenzie, K. A., Miller, A. P., Hock, B. D., Gardner, J., Simcock, J. W., Roake, J. A., Dachs, G. U., Robinson, B. A., & Currie, M. J. (2011). Angiogenesis and host immune response contribute to the aggressive character of non-melanoma skin cancers in renal transplant recipients. Histopathology, 58(6), 875-885. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2559.2011.03845.x

Journal - Research Article

Volkova, E., Willis, J. A., Wells, J. E., Robinson, B. A., Dachs, G. U., & Currie, M. J. (2011). Association of angiopoietin-2, C-reactive protein and markers of obesity and insulin resistance with survival outcome in colorectal cancer. British Journal of Cancer, 104, 51-59. doi: 10.1038/sj.bjc.6606005

Journal - Research Article

Dachs, G. U., Kano, M., Volkova, E., Morrin, H. R., Davey, V. C. L., Harris, G. C., … Frampton, C., Currie, M. J., Wells, J. E., & Robinson, B. A. (2010). A profile of prognostic and molecular factors in European and Māori breast cancer patients. BMC Cancer, 10, 543. doi: 10.1186/1471-2407-10-543

Journal - Research Article

Guise, C. P., Abbattista, M. R., Singleton, R. S., Holford, S. D., Connolly, J., Dachs, G. U., Fox, S. B., Pollock, R., Harvey, J., Guilford, P., … Patterson, A. V. (2010). The bioreductive prodrug PR-104A is activated under aerobic conditions by human aldo-keto reductase 1C3. Cancer Research, 70(4), 1573-1584. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-09-3237

Journal - Research Article

Hunt, M. A., Currie, M. J., Robinson, B. A., & Dachs, G. U. (2010). Optimizing transfection of primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells using commercially available chemical transfection reagents. Journal of Biomolecular Techniques, 21, 66-72.

Journal - Research Article

Kuiper, C., Molenaar, I. G. M., Dachs, G. U., Currie, M. J., Sykes, P. H., & Vissers, M. C. M. (2010). Low ascorbate levels are associated with increased hypoxia-inducible factor-1 activity and an aggressive tumor phenotype in endometrial cancer. Cancer Research, 70(14), 5749-5758. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-10-0263

Journal - Research Article

Tupper, J., Stratford, M. R., Hill, S., Tozer, G. M., & Dachs, G. U. (2010). In vivo characterization of horseradish peroxidase with indole-3-acetic acid and 5-bromoindole-3-acetic acid for gene therapy of cancer. Cancer Gene Therapy, 17(6), 420-428. doi: 10.1038/cgt.2009.86

Journal - Research Article

Dachs, G. U., Hunt, M. A., Syddall, S., Singleton, D. C., & Patterson, A. V. (2009). Bystander or no bystander for gene directed enzyme prodrug therapy. Molecules, 14(11), 4517-4545. doi: 10.3390/molecules14114517

Journal - Research Article

Dachs, G. U., Currie, M. J., Mckenzie, F., Jeffreys, M., Cox, B., Foliaki, S., … Robinson, B. A. (2008). Cancer disparities in indigenous Polynesian populations: Māori, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific people. Lancet Oncology, 9(5), 473-484. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(08)70127-X

Journal - Research Article

Gunningham, S. P., Currie, M. J., Morrin, H. R., Tan, E. Y., Turley, H., Dachs, G. U., Watson, A. I., Frampton, C., Robinson, B. A., & Fox, S. B. (2007). The angiogenic factor thymidine phosphorylase up-regulates the cell adhesion molecule P-selectin in human vascular endothelial cells and is asociated with P-selectin expression in breast cancers. Journal of Pathology, 212, 335-344.

Journal - Research Article

Vissers, M. C. M., Gunningham, S. P., Morrison, M. J., Dachs, G. U., & Currie, M. J. (2007). Modulation of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha in cultured primary cells by intracellular ascorbate. Free Radical Biology & Medicine, 42, 765-772.

Journal - Research Article

Dachs, G. U., Steele, A. J., Coralli, C., Kanthou, C., Brooks, A. C., Gunningham, S. P., Currie, M. J., Watson, A. I., Robinson, B. A., & Tozer, G. M. (2006). Anti-vascular agent Combretastatin A-4-P modulates hypoxia inducible factor-I and gene expression. BMC Cancer, 6, 280. doi: 10.1186/1471-2407-6-280

Journal - Research Article

Dachs, G. U., Tupper, J., & Tozer, G. M. (2005). From bench to bedside for gene-directed enzyme prodrug therapy of cancer. Anti-Cancer Drugs, 16, 349-359.

Journal - Research Article

Morrin, H., Gunningham, S., Currie, M., Dachs, G., Fox, S., & Robinson, B. (2005). The Christchurch Tissue Bank to support cancer research. New Zealand Medical Journal, 118(1225). Retrieved from http://journal.nzma.org.nz/journal/118-1225/1735/content.pdf

Journal - Research Article

More publications...

Professor Gabi Dachs

Background

Research interests

In the media

Publications

Affiliations

Indications of cancer aggression

Impact of Vitamin C