People

Dr Andrea Mohr

Senior Lecturer
School of Life Sciences
Dr Andrea Mohr
  • Email

  • Telephone

    +44 (0) 1206 872540

  • Location

    3SW.5.21, Colchester Campus

Profile

Biography

My research is focused on cellular crosstalk in the tumour microenvironment leading to metastasis formation. I am especially interested in the role of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in this process.

Qualifications

  • PhD University of Hannover, (2000)

Appointments

University of Essex

  • Senior Lecturer, University of Essex (1/10/2023 - present)

  • Director MSc Cancer Biology, University of Essex (1/10/2020 - present)

  • Lecturer in Cancer Biology, University of Essex (1/10/2019 - 1/10/2023)

Other academic

  • Senior Research Officer, University of Essex (2013 - 2019)

  • Senior Scientist, National University of Ireland, Galway (2009 - 2013)

  • HRB Fellow, National University of Ireland, Galway (2006 - 2009)

  • Post-doctoral Fellow, National University of Ireland, Galway (2005 - 2006)

  • Post-doctoral Fellow, University of Ulm (2000 - 2005)

Research and professional activities

Research interests

Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Tumour Progression

Key words: MSC
Open to supervise

Mesenchymal Stem Cell based Therapies

Key words: MSC
Open to supervise

Teaching and supervision

Current teaching responsibilities

  • Employability Skills for the Biosciences (BS211)

  • Advanced Cancer Biology (BS932)

  • Advanced Research Skills (BS953)

  • Professional Skills and the Business of Biosciences (BS985)

  • Research Project: MSc Cancer Biology (BS987)

Previous supervision

Tianyuan Chu
Tianyuan Chu
Thesis title: Co-Treatment of Prostate Cancer Cells with Mscs Expressing Trail and Iap Inhibitors Reduce Trail Resistance and Production of Trail-Induced Cytokines.
Degree subject: Molecular Medicine
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 24/8/2022
Amy Kim Cynthia Ross
Amy Kim Cynthia Ross
Thesis title: Sensitisation of Cancer Cells to Trail Using a Flip Inhibitor
Degree subject: Molecular Medicine
Degree type: Master of Science (by Dissertation)
Awarded date: 19/11/2021
Natalia Krajewska
Natalia Krajewska
Thesis title: Analysis of Soluble High-Affinity Pd-1 Variants
Degree subject: Cell and Molecular Biology
Degree type: Master of Science (by Dissertation)
Awarded date: 3/11/2020
Sylwia Jencz
Sylwia Jencz
Thesis title: Biochemical and Molecular Characterisation of the Faddosome
Degree subject: Cell and Molecular Biology
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 16/7/2020
Yasamin Mehrabadi
Yasamin Mehrabadi
Thesis title: Regulation of Cytotoxic Drug-Induced Apoptosis By Death Receptor 5 in Human Colon Cancer Cells
Degree subject: Cell and Molecular Biology
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 5/2/2019

Publications

Journal articles (35)

Gundersen, RA., Chu, T., Abolfathi, K., Gokcen Dogan, S., Blair, PE., Nago, N., Hamblin, M., Brooke, GN., Zwacka, RM., Kafash Hoshiar, A. and Mohr, A., (2023). Generation of magnetic biohybrid microrobots based on MSC.sTRAIL for targeted stem cell delivery and treatment of cancer. Cancer Nanotechnology. 14 (1), 54-

Mohr, A., Chu, T., Clarkson, C., Brooke, G., Teif, V. and Zwacka, R., (2021). Fas-threshold Signalling in MSCs Promotes Pancreatic Cancer Progression and Metastasis. Cancer Letters. 519, 63-77

Leach, DA., Mohr, A., Zwacka, R., Giottis, S., Yates, L., Lloyd, C., Brooke, GN. and Bevan, CL., (2021). Antiandrogens Target TMPRSS2 and Reduce SARS-CoV-2 Virus Entry in Lung Cells. Journal of the Endocrine Society. 5 (S1), A60-A61

Leach, DA., Mohr, A., Giotis, ES., Cil, E., Isac, AM., Yates, LL., Barclay, WS., Zwacka, RM., Bevan, CL. and Brooke, GN., (2021). The antiandrogen enzalutamide downregulates TMPRSS2 and reduces cellular entry of SARS-CoV-2 in human lung cells. Nature Communications. 12 (1), 4068-

Mohr, A., Chu, T., Brooke, GN. and Zwacka, RM., (2019). MSC.sTRAIL Has Better Efficacy than MSC.FL-TRAIL and in Combination with AKTi Blocks Pro-Metastatic Cytokine Production in Prostate Cancer Cells. Cancers. 11 (4), 568-568

Mohr, A., Deedigan, L., Jencz, S., Mehrabadi, Y., Houlden, L., Albarenque, S-M. and Zwacka, RM., (2018). Caspase-10: a molecular switch from cell-autonomous apoptosis to communal cell death in response to chemotherapeutic drug treatment.. Cell Death and Differentiation. 25 (2), 340-352

Mohr, A. and Zwacka, RM., (2018). The future of mesenchymal stem cell-based therapeutic approaches for cancer – From cells to ghosts. Cancer Letters. 414, 239-249

Mohr, A., Yu, R. and Zwacka, RM., (2015). TRAIL-receptor preferences in pancreatic cancer cells revisited: Both TRAIL-R1 and TRAIL-R2 have a licence to kill. BMC Cancer. 15 (1), 494-

Arora, J., Zwacka, RM. and Mohr, A., (2015). Development of a FACS-based Smac/DIABLO release assay to monitor individual drug responses and to pave the way towards patient-tailored therapies. Journal of Inflammation. 12 (S1)

Yu, R., Albarenque, SM., Cool, RH., Quax, WJ., Mohr, A. and Zwacka, RM., (2014). DR4 specific TRAIL variants are more efficacious than wild-type TRAIL in pancreatic cancer. Cancer Biology & Therapy. 15 (12), 1658-1666

Yu, R., Deedigan, L., Albarenque, SM., Mohr, A. and Zwacka, RM., (2013). Delivery of sTRAIL variants by MSCs in combination with cytotoxic drug treatment leads to p53-independent enhanced antitumor effects. Cell Death & Disease. 4 (2), e503-e503

Yu, R., Deedigan, L., Albarenque, SM., Mohr, A. and Zwacka, RM., (2013). Delivery of sTRAIL variants by MSCs in combination with cytotoxic drug treatment leads to p53-independent enhanced antitumor effects.. Cell death & disease. 4, creators-Mohr=3AAndrea=3A=3A

Büneker, CK., Yu, R., Deedigan, L., Mohr, A. and Zwacka, RM., (2012). IFN-γ combined with targeting of XIAP leads to increased apoptosis-sensitisation of TRAIL resistant pancreatic carcinoma cells. Cancer Letters. 316 (2), 168-177

B�neker, CK., Yu, R., Deedigan, L., Mohr, A. and Zwacka, RM., (2012). IFN-? combined with targeting of XIAP leads to increased apoptosis-sensitisation of TRAIL resistant pancreatic carcinoma cells.. Cancer letters. 316 (2), 168-77

Albarenque, SM., Zwacka, RM. and Mohr, A., (2011). Both human and mouse mesenchymal stem cells promote breast cancer metastasis. Stem Cell Research. 7 (2), 163-171

Stadel, D., Mohr, A., Ref, C., MacFarlane, M., Zhou, S., Humphreys, R., Bachem, M., Cohen, G., Möller, P., Zwacka, RM., Debatin, K-M. and Fulda, S., (2010). TRAIL-Induced Apoptosis Is Preferentially Mediated via TRAIL Receptor 1 in Pancreatic Carcinoma Cells and Profoundly Enhanced by XIAP Inhibitors. Clinical Cancer Research. 16 (23), 5734-5749

Mohr, A., Albarenque, SM., Deedigan, L., Yu, R., Reidy, M., Fulda, S. and Zwacka, RM., (2010). Targeting of XIAP Combined with Systemic Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Mediated Delivery of sTRAIL Ligand Inhibits Metastatic Growth of Pancreatic Carcinoma Cells. Stem Cells. 28 (11), 2109-2120

Zwacka, (2009). The TRAIL-receptor-1: TRAIL-receptor-3 and -4 ratio is a predictor for TRAIL sensitivity of cancer cells. Oncology Reports. 21 (5), 1289-1295

Häcker, S., Dittrich, A., Mohr, A., Schweitzer, T., Rutkowski, S., Krauss, J., Debatin, K-M. and Fulda, S., (2009). Histone deacetylase inhibitors cooperate with IFN-γ to restore caspase-8 expression and overcome TRAIL resistance in cancers with silencing of caspase-8. Oncogene. 28 (35), 3097-3110

Mohr, A., Büneker, C., Gough, RP. and Zwacka, RM., (2008). MnSOD protects colorectal cancer cells from TRAIL-induced apoptosis by inhibition of Smac/DIABLO release. Oncogene. 27 (6), 763-774

Murray, TVA., McMahon, JM., Howley, BA., Stanley, A., Ritter, T., Mohr, A., Zwacka, R. and Fearnhead, HO., (2008). A non-apoptotic role for caspase-9 in muscle differentiation. Journal of Cell Science. 121 (22), 3786-3793

Mohr, A., Lyons, M., Deedigan, L., Harte, T., Shaw, G., Howard, L., Barry, F., O'Brien, T. and Zwacka, R., (2008). Mesenchymal stem cells expressing TRAIL lead to tumour growth inhibition in an experimental lung cancer model. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine. 12 (6b), 2628-2643

Murray, TVA., McMahon, JM., Howley, BA., Stanley, A., Ritter, T., Mohr, A., Zwacka, RM. and Fearnhead, HO., (2008). A non-apoptotic role for caspase-9 in muscle differentiation.. Journal of Cell Science. 121 (Pt 22), 3786-93

Mohr, A. and Zwacka, RM., (2007). In situ trapping of initiator caspases reveals intermediate surprises. Cell Biology International. 31 (5), 526-530

Mohr, A., Lyons, M., Mohr, W. and Zwacka, R., (2007). Gentherapeutische Strategien gegen das kolorektale Karzinom. DMW - Deutsche Medizinische Wochenschrift. 132 (11), 567-570

Mohr, A., Lyons, M., Mohr, W. and Zwacka, R., (2007). Gentherapeutische Strategien gegen das kolorektale Karzinom. TumorDiagnostik & Therapie. 28 (3), 129-132

Mohr, A., Lyons, M., Mohr, W. and Zwacka, RM., (2007). Gentherapeutische Strategien gegen das kolorektale Karzinom [Gene therapy strategies for colorectal cancer]. Deutsche medizinische Wochenschrift (1946). 132 (11), 567-570

Braeuer, SJ., Büneker, C., Mohr, A. and Zwacka, RM., (2006). Constitutively Activated Nuclear Factor-κB, but not Induced NF-κB, Leads to TRAIL Resistance by Up-Regulation of X-Linked Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein in Human Cancer Cells. Molecular Cancer Research. 4 (10), 715-728

Behrend, L., Mohr, A., Dick, T. and Zwacka, RM., (2005). Manganese Superoxide Dismutase Induces p53-Dependent Senescence in Colorectal Cancer Cells. Molecular and Cellular Biology. 25 (17), 7758-7769

Mohr, A., Zwacka, RM., Jarmy, G., Büneker, C., Schrezenmeier, H., Döhner, K., Beltinger, C., Wiesneth, M., Debatin, K-M. and Stahnke, K., (2005). Caspase-8L expression protects CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells and leukemic cells from CD95-mediated apoptosis. Oncogene. 24 (14), 2421-2429

Mohr, A., Zwacka, RM., Debatin, K-M. and Stahnke, K., (2004). A novel method for the combined flow cytometric analysis of cell cycle and cytochrome c release. Cell Death & Differentiation. 11 (10), 1153-1154

Mohr, A., Henderson, G., Dudus, L., Herr, I., Kuerschner, T., Debatin, K-M., Weiher, H., Fisher, KJ. and Zwacka, RM., (2004). AAV-encoded expression of TRAIL in experimental human colorectal cancer leads to tumor regression. Gene Therapy. 11 (6), 534-543

Stahnke, K., Mohr, A., Liu, J., Meyer, LH., Karawajew, L. and Debatin, K-M., (2004). Identification of deficient mitochondrial signaling in apoptosis resistant leukemia cells by flow cytometric analysis of intracellular cytochrome c, caspase-3 and apoptosis. Apoptosis. 9 (4), 457-465

Stahnke, K., Eckhoff, S., Mohr, A., Meyer, LH. and Debatin, K-M., (2003). Apoptosis induction in peripheral leukemia cells by remission induction treatment in vivo: selective depletion and apoptosis in a CD34+ subpopulation of leukemia cells. Leukemia. 17 (11), 2130-2139

Stefan, M., Koch, A., Mancini, A., Mohr, A., Weidner, KM., Niemann, H. and Tamura, T., (2001). Src Homology 2-containing Inositol 5-Phosphatase 1 Binds to the Multifunctional Docking Site of c-Met and Potentiates Hepatocyte Growth Factor-induced Branching Tubulogenesis. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 276 (5), 3017-3023

Conferences (6)

Mohr, A., Tianyuan, C., Brooke, G. and Zwacka, RM., (2021). SOLUBLE TRAIL HAS BETTER EFFICACY THAN FULL-LENGTH MEMBRANE-BOUND TRAIL, AND IN COMBINATION WITH AKTI BLOCKS PRO-METASTATIC CYTOKINE PRODUCTION IN PROSTATE CANCER CELLS

Albarenque, SM., Mohr, A., Rui, Y., Reidy, M., Zwacka, RM. and Laura, LD., (2010). RNAi-Mediated Inhibition of XIAP Combined with Systemic Mesenchymal Stem Cell-mediated Delivery of STRAIL Inhibits Metastatic Growth of Pancreatic Carcinoma Cells

Mohr, A., Behrend, L. and Zwacka, RM., (2006). Overexpression of MnSOD induces mitochondrial depolarization and p53-dependent senescence

Mohr, A., Debatin, KM. and Zwacka, RM., (2003). 5-fluorouracil induced apoptotis inhuman colon cancer cells is mediated by caspase-8 and-2 and inhibition of thymidilate synthase in p53 deficient cells.

Mohr, A., Zwacka, RM., Schrezenmeier, H., Döhner, K., Wiesneth, M., Stahnke, K. and Debatin, KM., (2003). Caspase-8L expression contributes to the protection of CD34+hematopoietic progenitor cells from C95-mediated apoptosis.

Mohr, A., Henderson, G., Dudus, L., Herr, I., Debatin, KM., Weiher, H., Fisher, K. and Zwacka, RM., (2003). AAV encoded expression of TRAIL in experimental human colorectal tumor cells leads to tumor regression.

Reports and Papers (1)

Mohr, A., Tianyuan, C., Clarkson, CT., Brooke, GN., Teif, VB. and Zwacka, RM., (2020). Fas-threshold signalling in MSCs causes tumour progression and metastasis

Grants and funding

2024

Next-generation liquid biopsies for early detection of pancreatic cancer based on cell-free DNA nucleosomics

Pancreatic Cancer UK

2023

Optimisation of exosome-based therapies from 3D BioPrinted stem cell structures

[UOE_BIAA] University of Essex (BBSRC IAA)

2022

ESNEFT Haematology PhD studentship Biomedical Unit

East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust

Rapid and Agile Project Fund - The development of therapeutics for COVID-19 variants

University of Essex