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Dr. Sugandha Bhatia

PhD Cancer Biology, M.Tech, Biotechnology

Postdoctoral Researcher

Research Themes

Cancer and Blood Diseases

Projects

1. Targeting aneuploidies in cancer

Aneuploidies are very common in solid cancers (>90%) accounting for large genomic changes and the associated intratumoral heterogenity, drug resistance and metastasis. My project aims to study this genetic heterogenity and validate the drug responses by testing in cell culture system and also in pateint-derived cell, organoid or xenograft models. We aim to develop the therapies for aneuploidies in context to personalised therapies and to reduce the burden in case of refractory cancer.

2. EMT in Breast Cancer (PhD Research)

Epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity (EMP), which encompasses epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) and its reversal, mesenchymal to epithelial transition (MET), is considered an important hallmark of cancer as an underlying driving force in metastasis. The genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity of carcinoma cells across the EMP axis is gaining recognition for its importance in therapy resistance seen after EMT.  

My PhD project aims to identify the functional characteristics and genetic factors present within breast cancers that contribute to intratumoural heterogeneity and therapy resistance. The study utilises breast cancer cell line model systems to address epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity (EMP) at the cellular and functional level and underpins its role in cancer biology and chemoresistance. This research also interrogates the EMP programme in single cell-generated clones and through shRNA mediated functional drug screening assay identifies inhibitors that provides significant synergistic drug combinations. A comprehensive review of the drugs that can clinically target EMP was also consolidated.

Publications

  1. Jain P, Bhatia S, Thompson EW, Jolly MK (Feb 2022) Population dynamics of epithelial-mesenchymal heterogeneity in cancer cells. Biomolecules (https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/12/3/348).
  2. Jolly MK, Murphy RJ, Bhatia S, Whitfield HJ, Redfern A, Davis MJ, Thompson EW (April 2022) Measuring and modelling the Epithelial-Mesenchymal hybrid state in cancer: Clinical implications. Cells Tissue Organ. (https://www.karger.com/Article/Pdf/515289).
  3. Bhatia S, Thompson EW, Gunter J (September 2020) Studying the metabolism of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Plasticity using the Seahorse XFe 96 Extracellular Flux Analyzer (In: Campbell K., Theveneau E. (eds) The Epithelial-to Mesenchymal Transition. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 2179. Humana, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-0779-4_25 (Book Chapter)
  4. Bhatia S, Blick T, Pinto C, Waltham M, Monkman J, Ivanova E, Pollock PM, Nagaraj SH, Weigmans AP, Haviv I, Simpson KJ, Thompson EW (April 2020) Identifying therapies to combat epithelial mesenchymal plasticity-associated chemoresistance to conventional breast cancer therapies using an shRNA library screening. Cancers 12, 5 (https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/12/5/1123).
  5. Bhatia S, Wang P, Toh A, Thompson EW (April 2020) New insights into the role of phenotypic plasticity and EMT in driving cancer progression. Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences (https://doi.org/10.3389/fmolb.2020.00071).
  6. Bhatia S, Monkman J, Blick T, Duijf PHG, Nagaraj SH, Thompson EW (August 2019) Multi-omics characterization of the spontaneous mesenchymal-epithelial transition in the PMC42 breast cancer cell lines. Journal of Clinical Medicine 8, 1253 (https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/8/8/1253).
  7. Bhatia S, Monkman J, Blick T, Pinto C, Waltham M, Nagaraj SH, Thompson EW (June 2019) Interrogation of Phenotypic Plasticity between Epithelial and Mesenchymal States in Breast Cancer. Journal of Clinical Medicine 8, 893 (https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/8/6/893).
  8. Rastogi H, Bhatia S (August 2018) Chapter 49: Future Prospective for Enzyme technologies in the food industry. Enzymes in Food Biotechnology (https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-813280-7.00049-9) (Book Chapter)
  9. Bhatia S*, Monkman J*, Toh AKL, Nagaraj S, Thompson EW (September 2017) Targeting epithelial–mesenchymal plasticity in cancer: clinical and preclinical advances in therapy and monitoring. Biochemical Journal (http://www.biochemj.org/content/474/19/3269).
  10. Bhatia S, Garg S, Kumari A (October, 2015) Evaluating the efficacy of EDTA, Grapefruit Seed Extract, Lysozyme and Sodium Benzoate incorporated in starch-glycerol based antimicrobial food packaging film. The Journal of Microbiology, Biotechnology and Food Sciences (http://www.jmbfs.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/jmbfs-0889-bhatia.pdf).
  11. Maji A, Misra R, Mondal A, Kumar D, Bajaj D, Singhal A, Arora G, Bhaduri A, Sajid A, Bhatia S, Singh S, Singh H, Rao V, Dash D, Shalini E, Michael JS, Chaudhary A, Gokhale R, Singh Y (October 2015) Expression profiling of lymph nodes in tuberculosis patients reveal inflammatory milieu at site of infection. Scientific Reports (http://www.nature.com/articles/srep15214).
  12. Jalali S, Kholi S, Latka C, Bhatia S, Vellarikal SK, Sivasubbu S, Scaria V, Ramachandran S (June 2015) Screening currency notes for microbial pathogens and antibiotic resistance genes using a shotgun metagenomic approach. PLoS ONE 10(6):e0128711. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0128711
  13. Bhatia S, Bharti A (May 2014) Evaluating the antimicrobial activity of Nisin, Lysozyme and Ethylenediaminetetraacetate incorporated in starch based active food packaging film. Journal of Food Science and Technology (http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13197-014-1414-7).

Research fields

EMT, Breast Cancer, Lung Cancer, Ovarian Cancer, Pancreatic Cancer

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