Professor Gareth Thomas, University of Southampton - 'Exploiting fibroblast plasticity for cancer therapy'
1:00pm - 2:00pm /
Tuesday 10th March 2026
/ Venue: Physiology seminar room Nuffield Wing
Type: Seminar /
Category: Research
/ Series: Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology
- ISMIB Seminar Team
- Admission: Free. Registration not required.
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LIVERPOOL CANCER SEMINAR SERIES: SPONSORED BY NORTH WEST CANCER RESEARCH
Gareth Thomas is Professor of Experimental Pathology at the University of Southampton and a Consultant in Head & Neck Pathology at University Hospital Southampton. His laboratory studies the tumour microenvironment of Head & Neck Cancer, with a particular focus on the mechanistic basis of cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF) plasticity and how dynamic transitions between immune-suppressive and immune-permissive fibroblast states shape tumour progression and therapeutic response. Using complementary approaches including 3D organoid systems, murine models, and single-cell RNA sequencing, his group defines the molecular pathways that shape fibroblast behaviour, govern their interactions with immune cells, and reveal targetable mechanisms underlying CAF-mediated resistance to immunotherapy.
Short summary: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is broadly subdivided into HPV-positive and HPV-negative disease. HPV-positive tumours express well characterised viral antigens (eg. E6 and E7), typically contain a dense lymphocytic infiltrate, and are highly radiosensitive, leading to significantly improved survival compared with HPV-negative tumours. This distinction provides a useful model to study ‘immune-hot’ and ‘immune-cold’ tumour microenvironments, particularly their dynamic responses to therapy. Our lab studies cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and their role in shaping the tumour microenvironment. We use scRNA-seq to decode CAF heterogeneity, with a particular emphasis on the immune-suppressive roles of myofibroblastic CAFs (myCAF). We have also identified pathways that allow us to reprogram the stroma, turning a resistant CAF microenvironment into one that potentially supports active immunity. From mapping CAF phenotypes to tracking real-time changes during radiotherapy, our work provides a strategic framework for dissecting therapy resistance and uncovering targetable pathways to enhance treatment response.
All welcome.
Gareth Thomas is Professor of Experimental Pathology at the University of Southampton and a Consultant in Head & Neck Pathology at University Hospital Southampton. His laboratory studies the tumour microenvironment of Head & Neck Cancer, with a particular focus on the mechanistic basis of cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF) plasticity and how dynamic transitions between immune-suppressive and immune-permissive fibroblast states shape tumour progression and therapeutic response. Using complementary approaches including 3D organoid systems, murine models, and single-cell RNA sequencing, his group defines the molecular pathways that shape fibroblast behaviour, govern their interactions with immune cells, and reveal targetable mechanisms underlying CAF-mediated resistance to immunotherapy.
Short summary: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is broadly subdivided into HPV-positive and HPV-negative disease. HPV-positive tumours express well characterised viral antigens (eg. E6 and E7), typically contain a dense lymphocytic infiltrate, and are highly radiosensitive, leading to significantly improved survival compared with HPV-negative tumours. This distinction provides a useful model to study ‘immune-hot’ and ‘immune-cold’ tumour microenvironments, particularly their dynamic responses to therapy. Our lab studies cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and their role in shaping the tumour microenvironment. We use scRNA-seq to decode CAF heterogeneity, with a particular emphasis on the immune-suppressive roles of myofibroblastic CAFs (myCAF). We have also identified pathways that allow us to reprogram the stroma, turning a resistant CAF microenvironment into one that potentially supports active immunity. From mapping CAF phenotypes to tracking real-time changes during radiotherapy, our work provides a strategic framework for dissecting therapy resistance and uncovering targetable pathways to enhance treatment response.
All welcome.