Head of the John Dawson Drug Discovery and Development Research Institute, and Professor of Cell Biology
My research is directed towards deciphering the molecular regulation of the cellular process of autophagy in the skin, specifically skin cancer and the inflammatory skin disorder psoriasis. My work has made original and translational contributions to cancer/dermatology research, highlighting novel biomarkers and therapeutic strategies to harness deregulated cell signalling for clinical benefit.
I also hold research leadership roles. As Head of the John Dawson Drug Discovery and Development Research Institute, I am responsible provision of academic and strategic leadership and vision, as well as operational management. I am also the operational lead for the university MRC Impact Acceleration Account and contribute to the university REF submission through my work as a Unit of Assessment leader.
I am currently the Chief Research Officer at AMLo Biosciences Ltd.
Teaching and supervision
I currently teach topics and supervise undergraduate research projects relating to cancer and skin disease, as well as laboratory medicine, on BSc Biomedical Science and BSc Healthcare Science (Life Sciences).
Research interests for potential research students
I can offer projects in areas related to my research in cancer biology and skin disease, such as (but not restricted to) identification of diagnostic/prognostic biomarkers, drug targets, and cellular models of disease.
Research
The catabolic process of autophagy (self-eating) promotes cell survival and health, and deregulated autophagy is associated with numerous diseases, including cancer. My current research is directed toward deciphering the molecular regulation of autophagy in the skin. Research projects (in collaboration with Newcastle University, Complutense University (Madrid), and the University of Rome) include analysis of cell fate decisions in response to autophagy-inducing drugs (cannabinoids, dithranol) in cancer and psoriasis, as well as identification of prognostic biomarkers for skin cancer.
Recent research has identified a biomarker able to identify patients with early-stage melanomas at genuine low risk of progression, as well as the biological mechanism underpinning this biomarker, supporting its prognostic value.
Publications
Article
Ewen, Tom, Husain, Akhtar, Stefanos, Niki, Barrett, Paul, Jones, Claire, Ness, Tom, Long, Anna, Horswell, Stuart, Bosomworth, Helen, Lowenstein, Joe, Richardson, Grant, Swan, David, McConnell, Ashleigh, Rose, Aidan, Andrew, Tom, Reynolds, Nick, Malvehy, Josep, Carrera, Christina, Also, Llucia, Mailer, Sonia, Helm, Thomas, Ding, Liang, Bogner, Paul, Podlipnik, Sebastian, Puig, Susana, McArthur, Grant, Paragh, Gyorgy, Labus, Marie, Sloan, Philip, Armstrong, Jane and Lovat, Penny (2023) Validation of Epidermal AMBRA1 and Loricrin (AMBLor) as a prognostic biomarker for non-ulcerated AJCC stage I/II cutaneous melanoma. British Journal of Dermatology. ISSN 0007-0963
Cosgarea, Ioana, McConnell, A, Ewen, T, Tang, D, Hill, David, Anagnostou, M, Elias, M, Ellis, RA, Murray, A, Spender, L, Giglio, P, Gagliardi, M, Greenwood, A, Piacentini, M, Inman, G, Fimia, G M, Corazzari, M, Armstrong, Jane and Lovat, P (2021) Melanoma secretion of transforming growth factor-β2 leads to loss of epidermal AMBRA1 threatening epidermal integrity and facilitating tumour ulceration. British Journal of Dermatology. ISSN 0007-0963
Hill, David, Cosgarea, Ioana, Reynolds, Nick, Lovat, Penny and Armstrong, Jane (2021) Research Techniques Made Simple: Analysis of Autophagy in the Skin. The Journal of investigative dermatology, 141 (1). 5-9.e1. ISSN 1523-1747
Armstrong, Jane (2019) Bioenergetic cellular index: a clinical biomarker to identify metabolic adaption in melanoma? British Journal of Dermatology. ISSN 1365-2133
Ellis, R, Tang, D, Nasr, B, Greenwood, A, McConnell, A, Anagnostou, ME, Elias, M, Verykiou, S, Bajwa, D, Ewen, T, Reynolds, NJ, Barrett, P, Carling, E, Watson, G, Armstrong, Jane, Allen, AJ, Horswell, S, Labus, M and Lovat, PE (2019) Epidermal AMBRA1 and Loricrin; a paradigm shift in the prognostication and stratification of AJCC stage I melanomas. British Journal of Dermatology, 182 (1). pp. 156-165. ISSN 1365-2133
Hernandez-Tiedra, Sonia, Fabrias, Gemma, Davila, David, Salanueva, Inigo J, Casas, Josefina, Montes, L Ruth, Anton, Zurine, Garcia-Taboada, Elena, Salazar-Roa, Maria, Lorente, Mar, Nylandsted, Jesper, Armstrong, Jane, Lopez-Valero, Israel, McKee, Christopher, Serrano-Puebla, Ana, Garcia-Lopez, Roberto, Gonzalez-Martinez, Jose, Abad, Jose L, Hanada, Kentaro, Boya, Patricia, Goni, Felix M, Guzman, Manuel, Lovat, Penny, Jaattela, Marja, Alonso, Alicia and Velasco, Guillermo (2016) Dihydroceramide accumulation mediates cytotoxic autophagy of cancer cells via autolysosome destabilization. Autophagy, 12 (11). pp. 2213-2229. ISSN 1554-8627
Klionsky, D.J., Armstrong, Jane and et al, (2016) Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (3rd edition). Autophagy, 12 (1). pp. 1-222. ISSN 1554-8627
Hill, David, Robinson, Neil D. P., Caley, Matthew P., Chen, Mei, O'Toole, Edel A., Armstrong, Jane, Przyborski, Stefan and Lovat, Penny E. (2015) A novel fully-humanised 3D skin equivalent to model early melanoma invasion. Molecular Cancer Therapeutics, 14 (9). pp. 2665-2675. ISSN 1535-7163
Armstrong, Jane, Hill, DS, McKee, CS, Hernandez-Tiedra, S, Lorente, M, Lopez-Valero, I, Eleni Anagnostou, M, Babatunde, F, Corazzari, M, Redfern, CP, Velasco, G and Lovat, PE (2015) Exploiting cannabinoid-induced cytotoxic autophagy to drive melanoma cell death. Journal Of Investigative Dermatology, 135 (6). pp. 1629-1637. ISSN 0022-202X
Ellis, R A, Horswell, S, Ness, T, Lumsdon, J, Tooze, S A, Kirkham, N, Armstrong, Jane and Lovat, P E (2014) Prognostic Impact of p62 Expression in Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma. Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 134 (5). pp. 1476-1478. ISSN 0022-202X
McKee, Christopher S, Hill, David S, Redfern, Christopher PF, Armstrong, Jane and Lovat, Penny E (2013) Oncogenic BRAF signalling increases Mcl-1 expression in cutaneous metastatic melanoma. Experimental Dermatology, 22 (11). pp. 767-769. ISSN 1600-0625
O'Boyle, Graeme, Swidenbank, I, Marshall, H, Barker, CE, Armstrong, Jane, White, SA, Fricker, SP, Plummer, R, Wright, M and Lovat, PE (2013) Inhibition of CXCR4-CXCL12 chemotaxis in melanoma by AMD11070. British Journal of Cancer, 108. pp. 1634-1640. ISSN 0007-0920
Wright, T J, McKee, C, Birch-Machin, M A, Ellis, R, Armstrong, Jane and Lovat, P E (2013) Increasing the therapeutic efficacy of docetaxel for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma through the combined inhibition of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/AKT signalling and autophagy. Clinical and Experimental Dermatology. ISSN 1365-2230
Gomaa, M. S., Lim, A. S., Wilson Lau, S. C., Watts, A. M., Illingworth, N A, Bridgens, C. E., Veal, G. J., Redfern, C. P., Brancale, A, Armstrong, Jane and Simons, C. (2012) Synthesis and CYP26A1 inhibitory activity of novel methyl 3-[4-(arylamino)phenyl]-3-(azole)-2,2-dimethylpropanoates. Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry, 20 (20). pp. 6080-6081. ISSN 0968-0896
Gomaa, M., Bridgens, C., Illingworth, N., Veal, G. J., Redfern, C. P. F., Brancale, A, Armstrong, Jane and Simons, C. (2012) Novel retinoic acid 4-hydroxylase (CYP26) inhibitors based on a 3-(1H-imidazol- and triazol-1-yl)-2,2-dimethyl-3-(4-(phenyl-2-ylamino)phenyl)propyl scaffold. Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry, 20 (14). pp. 4201-4207. ISSN 0968-0896
Armstrong, Jane, Martin, S, Illingworth, N A, Jamieson, D, Neilson, A, Lovat, PE, Redfern, CPF and Veal, GJ (2011) The impact of retinoic acid treatment on the sensitivity of neuroblastoma cells to fenretinide. Oncology Reports, 27. pp. 293-298. ISSN 1791-2431
Gomaa, M, Bridgens, C, Brancale, A, Veal, G J, Redfern, C P F, Armstrong, Jane and Simons, C (2011) Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of 3-(1H-Imidazol- and Triazol-1-yl)-2,2-Dimethyl-3-[4-(Naphthalen-2-ylamino)phenyl]propyl Derivatives as Small Molecule Inhibitors of Retinoic Acid 4-Hydroxylase (CYP26). Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 54 (19). pp. 6803-6811. ISSN 0022-2623
Armstrong, Jane, Corazzari, M, Martin, S, Pagliarini, V, Falasca, L, Hill, D S, Ellis, N, Al Sabah, S, Redfern, C P F, Fimia, G M, Piacentini, M and Lovat, P E (2011) Oncogenic B-RAF signalling in melanoma impairs the therapeutic advantage of autophagy inhibition. Clinical Cancer Research, 17 (8). pp. 2216-2226. ISSN 1078-0432
Gomaa, M, Bridgens, C, Aboraia, A S, Veal, G J, Redfern, C P F, Brancale, A, Armstrong, Jane and Simons, C (2011) Small MolecuImidazole Methyl 3-(4-(aryl-2-ylamino)phenyl)propanoates. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 54 (8). pp. 2778-2791. ISSN 0022-2623
Hiscutt, E L, Hill, D S, Martin, S, Kerr, R, Harbottle, A, Simpson, D, Birch-Machin, M A, Redfern, C P F, Fulda, S, Armstrong, Jane and Lovat, P E (2010) Targeting XIAP to increase the efficacy of endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced apoptosis for melanoma therapy. Journal Of Investigative Dermatology, 130. pp. 2250-2258. ISSN 0022-202X
Armstrong, Jane, Flockhart, R, Veal, G J, Lovat, P E and Redfern, C P F (2010) Regulation of ER stress-induced cell death by ATF4 in neuroectodermal tumour cells. The Journal of Biological Chemistry, 285 (9). pp. 6091-6100. ISSN 0021-9258
Flockhart, R, Armstrong, Jane, Reynolds, NJ and Lovat, PE (2009) NFAT signalling is a novel target of oncogenic BRAF in metastatic melanoma. British Journal of Cancer, 101 (8). pp. 1448-1455. ISSN 0007-0920
Hill, D S, Martin, S, Armstrong, Jane, Flockhart, R, Tonison, J J, Simpson, D G, Birch-Machin, M A, Redfern, C P F and Lovat, P E (2009) Combining the ER stress-inducing agents bortezomib and fenretinide as a novel therapeutic strategy for metastatic melanoma. Clinical Cancer Research, 15 (4). pp. 1192-1198. ISSN 1078-0432
Armstrong, Jane, Lovat, P E, Corazzari, M, Martin, S, Pagliarini, V, Hill, D, Piacentini, M, Birch-Machin, M A and Redfern, C P F (2008) Increasing melanoma cell death using inhibitors of protein disulphide isomerases to abrogate survival responses to endoplasmic reticulum stress. Cancer Research, 68. pp. 5363-5369. ISSN 0008-5472
Gomaa, M, Armstrong, Jane, Bobillon, B, Veal, G, Brancale, A, Redfern, C and Simons, C (2007) Novel azolyl-(phenylmethyl)]aryl/heteroarylamines: Potent CYP26 inhibitors and enhancers of all-trans retinoic acid activity in neuroblastoma cells. Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry, 16. pp. 8301-8313. ISSN 0968-0896
Armstrong, Jane, Taylor, G, Thomas, H, Boddy, A, Redfern, C and Veal, G (2007) Molecular targeting of retinoic acid metabolism in neuroblastoma: the role of the CYP26 inhibitor R116010 in vitro and in vivo. British Journal of Cancer.
Corazzari, M, Lovat, P, Armstrong, Jane, Fimia, GM, Hill, D, Birch-Machin, M, Redfern, C and Piacentini, M (2007) Targeting homeostatic mechanisms of endoplasmic reticulum stress to increase susceptibility of cancer cells to fenretinide-induced apoptosis: the role of stress proteins ERdj5 and ERp57. British Journal of Cancer, 96 (7). pp. 1062-1071. ISSN 1532-1827
Armstrong, Jane, Veal, G, Redfern, C and Lovat, P (2007) Role of Noxa in p53-independent fenretinide-induced apoptosis of neuroectodermal tumours. Apoptosis, 12. pp. 613-622. ISSN 1573-675X
Armstrong, Jane, Redfern, C and Veal, G (2005) 13-cis retinoic acid and isomerisation in paediatric oncology--is changing shape the key to success? Biochemical Pharmacology, 69 (9). pp. 1299-1306. ISSN Biochemical Pharmacology
Armstrong, Jane, Ruiz, M, Boddy, A, Redfern, CPF and Veal, G (2005) Increasing the intracellular availability of all-trans retinoic acid in neuroblastoma cells. British Journal of Cancer.
Yeaman, SJ, Armstrong, Jane, Bonavaud, SM, Poinasamy, D, Pickersgill, L and Halse, R (2001) Regulation of glycogen synthesis in human muscle cells. Biochemical Society Transactions.
Halse, R, Bonavaud, S, Armstrong, Jane, McCormack, J and Yeaman, S (2001) Control of glycogen synthesis by glucose, glycogen, and insulin in cultured human muscle cells. Diabetes.
Armstrong, Jane, Bonavaud, A, Toole, B and Yeaman, S (2000) Regulation of glycogen synthesis by amino acids in cultured human muscle cells. Journal of Biological Chemistry.
Conference or Workshop Item
Armstrong, Jane (2014) Cannabinoids hijack the autophagy pathway to promote melanoma cell death. In: The British Society for Investigative Dermatology, Annual Meeting 2014, 7 - 9 Apr 2014, Newcastle University Campus, Newcastle Upon Tyne. (Submitted)
Armstrong, Jane (2012) Invited Seminar, Blizard Institute. In: Centre for Cutaneous Research, Jun 2012, Barts & The London School of Medicine and Dentistry.
Armstrong, Jane (2012) Oral Presentation, British Society for Investigative Dermatology Annual Meeting. In: British Society for Investigative Dermatology Annual Meeting, 16 - 18 Apr 2012, University of Exeter.
