Dr Karen Sisley

BSc, PhD

Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine and Population Health

Senior Lecturer

Karen Sisley
Profile picture of Karen Sisley
k.sisley@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 215 9061

Full contact details

Dr Karen Sisley
Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine and Population Health
Office: EU21
The Medical School
Beech Hill Road
Sheffield
S10 2RX
Profile

For enquiries please contact - SMPH-West-Operational@sheffield.ac.uk

Having obtained my PhD from the University of Sheffield in 1992, I continued my active research into rare cancers and as Senior Lecturer I am the lead of the Rare Cancer Research Group (RCRG) with a main focus on ocular tumours and sarcoma, but also with an interest in thyroid and other rare cancers.

Cancer Cell Line Expertise

I have a specialist interest and expertise in the generation of cell lines from rare and common cancers.  To date over 20 cell lines have been generated, with additional variants of some original cell lines.  My group has expertise in working with both commercial and other partners to generate cell lines and/or deliver specific R&D work. Please get in contact for information on our currently available and emerging cell lines, or to discuss potential projects. 

The TUoS licensing website, detailing available cell-lines, can be viewed here:
https://licensing.sheffield.ac.uk/products/biological-materials

Research interests

My research interests are the genetic and biological behaviour of uveal melanoma.  Sheffield is one of three national centres for the treatment of uveal melanoma, and I work closely with Professor Ian Rennie and the Sheffield Ocular Oncology Service to establish an active research group investigating how the genetic basis of uveal melanoma underpins its behaviour.

As a group we were instrumental in the introduction of genetic biomarker testing for uveal melanoma and actively continue our investigations in this area. I am also interested in the DNA damage response of uveal melanomas and how we can facilitate new and novel therapeutics.

My research continues to investigate the genetic basis of uveal melanomas but has broadened in recent years to consider how the interaction with the environment affects the way these melanomas develop. I also collaborate and work on another rare tumour, sarcoma and have become actively involved in investigating the genetic characterization of sarcoma and developing a molecular pathological classification suitable for all subtypes.

 As a group, we also have an interest in cancer stem cells and the heterogeneity of tumours.

Current projects

  • Understanding the aggressive behaviour of uveal melanoma, and the potential role that stem cells may have.
  • Determining the key genetic events in the development of uveal melanoma.
  • Investigating how the environment may influence the behaviour and development of uveal melanoma.
  • The molecular pathological classification of sarcomas.
  • Investigating how genetic defects influence sarcoma behaviour.

Within each project area are a number of smaller focussed research projects suitable for development as student projects, although funding is not currently available for these projects.  Interested students are welcome to contact me to discuss the possibilities of undertaking research with the RTRG.

Publications

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All publications

Journal articles

Chapters

  • Sisley K (2009) Tumours of the eye In Heim S (Ed.), Cancer Cytogenetics John Wiley Press RIS download Bibtex download
  • Singh AD, Sisley K & Wackernagel W (2008) Genetics of Uveal Melanoma, Albert &amp Jakobiec's Principles &amp Practice of Ophthalmology (pp. 4925-4934). Elsevier RIS download Bibtex download
  • Abad J-C, Abelson MB, Abramson DH, Acquadro MA, Adamis AP, Adams WH, Afshari NA, Ai E, Aiello LM, Aiello LP , Akduman L et al (2008) List of Contributors, Albert &amp Jakobiec's Principles &amp Practice of Ophthalmology (pp. xxiii-xliv). Elsevier RIS download Bibtex download
  • Sisley K & Wackernagel W (2007) Genetics of uveal melanoma In Albert & Jakobiec (Ed.), Principles and Practise of Ophthalmology Philadelphia: Lippincott,. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Sisley K & Naus N (2004) The relevance of Chromosome Abnormalities in posterior uveal melanoma. In: Uveal Melanoma In Jager MJ & Neiderkorn JY (Ed.), Uveal Melanoma: A Model for Exploring Fundamental Cancer Biology CRC Press RIS download Bibtex download
  • Sisley K & Rennie I (2003) Genetics of Uveal Melanoma, Ocular Oncology (pp. 63-79). CRC Press RIS download Bibtex download
  • Sisley K & Rennie I (2003) Genetics of Uveal Melanoma, Ocular Oncology Informa Healthcare RIS download Bibtex download
  • Sisley K & Rennie IG (2003) Genetics of uveal melanoma: chromosomal rearrangements and the identification of genes involved in tumourigenesis. In Albert DM & Polans A (Ed.), Ocular Oncology (pp. 66-83). Informa Healthcare RIS download Bibtex download
  • Sisley K () Tumors of the eye, Cancer Cytogenetics (pp. 538-554). John Wiley & Sons, Ltd RIS download Bibtex download
  • Sisley K & Rennie IG () Genetics of Uveal Melanoma: Chromosomal Rearrangements and the Identification of Genes Involved in Tumorigenesis, Ocular Oncology (pp. 77-94). Taylor & Francis RIS download Bibtex download

Conference proceedings papers

  • Salawu A, Fernando M, Hughes D, Reed M, Woll P & Sisley K (2017) One tumour, two clones: An in vitro model of intra-tumour heterogeneity. ANNALS OF ONCOLOGY, Vol. 28 RIS download Bibtex download
  • Cole LM, Mudhar HS, Sisley K, Peck A, Batey M, Claude E & Clench M (2016) Abstract 4231: Analysis of FFPE treated clinical tissue sections obtained from human intraocular malignancy, uveal melanoma by mass spectrometry imaging (MSI). Tumor Biology RIS download Bibtex download
  • Doherty RE, Hoh L, Rennie I, Sisley K & Cross NA (2012) Isolation and Characterisation of Cancer Stem Cells in Solid Tumours. JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY, Vol. 228 (pp S34-S34) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Doherty R, Hoh L, Rennie I, Sisley K & Cross N (2012) Isolation and Characterisation of Cancer Stem Cells in Solid Tumours. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CANCER, Vol. 48 (pp S65-S66) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Salawu A, Ul-Hassan A, Woll P, Wyld L, Fernando M, Reed MWR & Sisley K (2012) Identification of soft tissue sarcoma subtypes using microarray-based comparative genomic hybridization. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR MEDICINE, Vol. 30 (pp S61-S61) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Doherty R, Hoh L, Rennie I, Cross N & Sisley K (2012) Isolation and characterisation of cancer stem cells in uveal melanoma. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR MEDICINE, Vol. 30 (pp S61-S61) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Sisley K (2007) Genetic advances in uveal melanoma. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL GENETICS, Vol. 44 (pp S42-S42) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Rennie IG, Woodward JKL & Sisley K (2005) TGF beta plays both a stimulatory and inhibitory role in the regulation of uveal melanoma invasion in vitro. INVESTIGATIVE OPHTHALMOLOGY & VISUAL SCIENCE, Vol. 46 RIS download Bibtex download
  • Rennie IG, Woodward JKL, Nichols CE, Reeves G, Parsons MA & Sisley K (2003) Investigations of macrophage and dendritic cell markers in uveal melanoma. INVESTIGATIVE OPHTHALMOLOGY & VISUAL SCIENCE, Vol. 44 (pp U362-U362) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Woodward JK, Rennie IG, Burn L, Evans GS & Sisley K (2003) Hepatic endothelial cells may assist uveal melanomas to target the liver through alpha-4 integrin and VCAM-1 interactions. INVESTIGATIVE OPHTHALMOLOGY & VISUAL SCIENCE, Vol. 44 (pp U367-U367) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Inglis AC, Sisley K, Singh AD, Currie ZI & Rennie IG (2003) Prognostic factors in uveal melanoma: Correlation of vascular loop patterns with genetic imbalance as determined using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). INVESTIGATIVE OPHTHALMOLOGY & VISUAL SCIENCE, Vol. 44 (pp U255-U255) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Rennie IG, Baker JKL, Elshaw SR, Murray AK, Nichols CE & Sisley K (2002) HGF, GRO and MIP-1 beta stimulate uveal melanoma migration whilst IL-1 alpha and TGF-beta inhibit migration. INVESTIGATIVE OPHTHALMOLOGY & VISUAL SCIENCE, Vol. 43 (pp U246-U246) RIS download Bibtex download
Teaching activities

I am the course lead for Pathology on the undergraduate BMedSci Orthoptics course. The course spans two academic years and covers the basis of Ophthalmic disease, its presentation and consequences. 

In addition I offer a supportive role annually to up to 5 students in the second year of the MBChB degree course, who select to undertake their research attachment with the research group. 

Following on from these attachments a number of students have subsequently chosen to continue their research under my supervision by undertaking a BMedSci.

I am also a regular supervisor of both MSc students from University of Sheffield and Hallam University and a pesonal tutor for MSc, PhD and medical students.

Professional activities and memberships
  • Regular reviewer for both Cancer and Ophthalmology journals.
  • Reviewer for national and international grants.