Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences

Profile

Qualifications

BSc PhD CBiol FIBiol FRCPath

Current University post held

Professor of Cellular & Molecular Neuro-oncology and Honorary Professor, King's College Hospital, London

Previous Posts

Professor of Experimental Neuro-oncology, Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College, London, Reader in Experimental Neuropathology, Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College, London.

Internal memberships / posts

• Director of Research, School of Pharmacy & Biomedical Sciences
• Chair, School Research Committee
• Member, Institute of Biomedical & Biomolecular Sciences (IBBS) Board
• Head, IBBS Cellular and Molecular Medicine Research Division
• Member, Science Faculty Research Committee
• Member, School Executive Committee

External memberships

• Royal College of Pathologists (Fellow)
• Institute of Biology (Fellow)
• British Neuro-oncology Society (Council Member)
• British Neuroscience Association
• British Neuropathological Society
• British Association for Cancer Research
• European Association for Cancer Research
• European Association for Neuro-oncology (Scientific Board Member)
• Anticancer Research (Editorial Board Member)
• Radiology and Oncology (Editorial Board Member)
• International Glioma Invasion Forum (Founder Member & Joint Convenor)
• Samantha Dickson Brain Tumour Trust (Scientific & Medical Advisory Board Member)
• Brain Tumour UK (Scientific/Medical Advisor)
• Ali’s Dream (Chair, Scientific Advisory Board)
• Charlie's Challenge (Chair, Scientific Advisory Board)
• Brainstrust (Scientific & Medical Advisor)
• Member, UK Childhood Cancer Study Group Biology Committee

Key teaching responsibilities

BSc & MSc Biomedical Sciences – Lectures on Cell Culture, Cellular & Molecular basis of Oncology, Biology & Therapy of Brain Tumours, clinical trials.

BSc & MSc (Biomedical Sciences), and MPharm student project supervision. PhD student supervision.

Key research interests

1) Neuro-oncology

a) Translational approaches to brain tumour therapy
b) Pathogenesis & STEM cell origins of brain tumours
c) Tricyclics and ganglioside inhibitors in cancer therapy
d) The NG2 proteoglycan in brain tumour behaviour
e) Local invasiveness of neoplastic glia
f) The brain as a fertile site for cancer metastasis
g) Mitochondrially - mediated cancer cell apoptosis

2) Glial Cell Biology

a) Glial cell migration
b) Functional significance of NG2 & simple gangliosides in neural development & neuropathology
c) Identification of STEM cell populations in diseased mammalian brain
d) Significance of Actinomycetes in AD brain regions

Main Techniques used

Live cell imaging, scanning & transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, laser confocal microscopy, TIRF microscopy, flow cytometry, RT-PCR gene expression studies, immunocyto/histochemistry, cell culture, oxygen electrode assay, laser capture microdissection with gene & proteomic analysis.

Recent Publications

More recent publications

 

Publications before 2006

S A Murray, H K Rooprai, R Selway and G J Pilkington A novel three-dimensional “all human” in vitro brain tumor invasion model. Neuro-Oncology 7: 307-308 (2005).

Chlorimipramine: A novel anticancer agent with a mitochondrial target. E Daley, D Wilkie, A Loesch, I P Hargreaves, D A Kendall, G J Pilkington & T E Bates Biochem Biophys Res Com 328: 623-632 (2005)

The serotonin transporter (SLC6A4) is present in B-cell clones of diverse malignant origin: probing a potential anti-tumour target for psychotropics. E Meredith, M Holder, A Chambra, A Challa, A DrakeLee, C Bunce, M Drayson, G J Pilkington, R Blakely, M Dyer, N Barnes & J Gordon The FASEB Journal 19: 1187-1189 (2005). Epub May 3rd 2005

Morphological, immunocytochemical and flow cytometric in vitro characterisation of a surface-adherent medulloblastoma. K Parker and G J Pilkington Anticancer Research 25: 3751-3760 (2005)

Cellular & Molecular Pathobiology of Paediatric Brain Tumours. G J Pilkington MIMS Advances in Neuro-oncology (Issue 3 November 2005)

Cancer Stem Cells in the Mammalian Central Nervous System G J Pilkington Cell Proliferation 38: 423-433 (2005)

Induction of membrane type 1 MMP (MT1-MMP) by EGF-mediated signaling in gliomas. T.E. VanMeter, W.C.Broaddus, H.K.Rooprai, G.J.Pilkington and H.L. Fillmore. Neuro-oncology 6: 188-199 (2004).

The potential for strategies using micronutrients and heterocyclic drugs to treat invasive gliomas. G J Pilkington, M Christidou and H K Rooprai. Acta Neurochirurgia 145: 683-690 (2003) Evolution of the brain tumour spheroid model: spheroid culture: transcending current model limitations. A Corcoran, D Del Duca, O J P Kalala, T Lah, G J Pilkington, L De Ridder and R Del Maestro. Acta Neurochirurgia 145: 819-824 (2003).

Expression of MMP-2 and –9 in short term cultures of meningiomas: Influence of histological subtype. H K Rooprai, T VanMeter, SDF Robinson, A King, G J Rucklidge and G J Pilkington. International Journal of Molecular Medicine 12: 977-981 (2003)

Brain tumour migration and invasion: The role of in vitro model systems. G J Pilkington. Radiology and Oncology 36(2): 174-175 (2002)

NG2 precursor cells in neoplasia: functional, histogenesis and therapeutic implications for malignant brain tumours M. Chekenya and G.J.Pilkington Journal of Neurocytology 31: 507-521(2002)

NG2 proteoglycan promotes angiogenesis-dependent tumor growth in the central nervous system by sequestering angiostatin. M Chekenya, M Hjelstuen, P O Enger, F Thorsen, A L Jacob, B Probst, O Haraldseth, G Pilkington, A Butt, J M Levine and R Bjerkvig. The FASEB Journal 16: 586-588 (2002)

The glial progenitor proteoglycan, NG2, is expressed on angiogenic neovasculature by vascular pericytes in human malignant brain tumours. M Chekenya, P O Enger, F Thorsen, T-A Read, T Furmanek, R Mahesparan, B B Tysnes, J M Levine, S Al-Sarraj, A M Butt, G J Pilkington& R Bjerkvig. Neuropathology and Applied Neurobiology 28: 367-380 (2002)

Lysosomal enzymes, cathepsins in brain tumour invasion. N Levicar, T Strojnik, J Kos, R A Dewey, G J Pilkington and T Lah Journal of Neuro-oncology 58: 21-32 (2002)

Selective suppression of cathepsin L by antisense cDNA impairs human brain tumour cell invasion in vitro and promotes apoptosis. N Levicar, E Daley, R A Dewey, T E Bates, D Davies, J Kos, G J Pilkington and T T Lah. Cancer Gene Therapy 10: 141-151 (2002)

Migration and tumour invasion G J Pilkington Advances in Tumour Biology (EANO V) Educational Book: 17-20 (2002)

Migration and invasion in brain neoplasms. A.J.Bolteus, M.E.Berens and G.J.Pilkington. Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports.Volume 1: (3) 225-232 (2001).

Brain tumours in the elderly. G. J. Pilkington. In: Pathology of the Aging Human Nervous system 2nd Edition. Ed Duckett and De La Torre; Oxford University Press. pp 408-428 (2001).

Brain Cancers. S. L. Maidment and G. J.Pilkington. Encyclopaedia of Life Sciences Nature Publishing Group/MacMillan (Invited Reference Work for Electronic Publication (May 2001).

The role of matrix metalloproteinase genes in glioma invasion: co-dependent and interactive proteolysis. T E Van Meter, H K Rooprai, M Kibble, H L Fillmore, W C Broaddus & G J Pilkington. Journal of Neuro-oncology 53: 213-235 (2001)

Evaluation of the effects of swainsonine, captopril, tangeretin and nobiletin on the biological behaviour of brain tumour cells in vitro. H. K. Rooprai, A. Kandanearatchi, S. L. Maidment, M. Christidou, G. Trillo-Pazos, D. T. Dexter, G.J.Rucklidge, W.Widmer and G. J. Pilkington. Neuropathology and Applied Neurobiology 27: 29-39 (2001)

The effects of exogenous growth factors on matrix metalloproteinase secretion by human brain tumour cells. H. K. Rooprai, G. J. Rucklidge, C. Panou and G. J. Pilkington. British Journal of Cancer 82: 52-55 (2000).

Clinical and experimental studies of cysteine cathepsins and their inhibitors in human brain tumours. T T Lah, T. Strojnik, N. Levicar, A. Bervar, G. Pilkington and J. Kos. The International Journal of Biological Markers 15: 90-93 (2000)

Recombinant nef HIV-IIIB protein is toxic to human neurons in culture. G Trillo-Pazos, E. McFarlane-Abdulla, I C Campbell, G J Pilkington & I P Everall. Brain Research 864: 315-326 (2000)