Apo2L/TRAIL Killing Of Tumour Cells And The Role Of Inhibitor Of Apoptosis Proteins
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$390,321.00
Summary
Melanomas and Gliomas are tumour types that respond poorly to current treatments. Current treatments are not only sometimes ineffective, but also unpleasant and may cause co-lateral damage. We will test 2 new targetted anti-cancer treatments, that so far appear to have minor side effects in small animal models, on these difficult to treat tumour types to see if and how they kill them. We also want to know whether these independent treatments can work together to kill tumours more effectively. Al ....Melanomas and Gliomas are tumour types that respond poorly to current treatments. Current treatments are not only sometimes ineffective, but also unpleasant and may cause co-lateral damage. We will test 2 new targetted anti-cancer treatments, that so far appear to have minor side effects in small animal models, on these difficult to treat tumour types to see if and how they kill them. We also want to know whether these independent treatments can work together to kill tumours more effectively. Although we will not personally test these drugs in clinical settings, these drugs or similar are currently in preclinical and clinical trials. This means that understanding how these drugs function is of paramount importance and may result in better clinical trials and possibly more rapid acceptance of the use of these drugs in patients.Read moreRead less
I am a cancer researcher trained in cell biology, immunology and molecular oncology. I made major contributions to the discoveries that defects in cell death can cause cancer, autoimmune disease and impair the response of cancers to chemotherapy. My current work aims to reach a detailed understanding of the molecular mechanisms of programmed cell death and to exploit this knowledge to develop novel therapeutics for cancer and autoimmune diseases that can directly activate this process.
How The Bcl-2 Protein Family Controls Apoptosis And Impacts On Cancer Development And Therapy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$850,346.00
Summary
Impaired cell death (apoptosis) is now recognized as an important step towards cancer and a major barrier to effective therapy. The discoveries on apoptosis by Professor Jerry Adams and colleagues have galvanized the search for drugs that engage the cell’s apoptotic machinery as a new way to treat cancer. His proposed studies aim to clarify how apoptosis is controlled and how the control goes awry in cancer, and to determine how such drugs can be most effectively used to improve cancer treatment ....Impaired cell death (apoptosis) is now recognized as an important step towards cancer and a major barrier to effective therapy. The discoveries on apoptosis by Professor Jerry Adams and colleagues have galvanized the search for drugs that engage the cell’s apoptotic machinery as a new way to treat cancer. His proposed studies aim to clarify how apoptosis is controlled and how the control goes awry in cancer, and to determine how such drugs can be most effectively used to improve cancer treatment.Read moreRead less