I am a cell biologist/geneticist focusing on understanding tumourigenesis. Cancer is a multigenic and complicated disease, involving interactions between the tumour and normal tissue. I use the genetically tractable model organism, the vinegar fly, Drosophila, to model cancer in situ and identify novel genes that drive cancer. My 5 year career plan is to use the Drosophila system to model cooperative tumourigenesis in epithelial and brain tissues and translate this to human cancer.
Neuroblastoma (NB) is a common cancer in children, and one of the hardest to cure. Some mature into a benign tumour without needing any treatment, others are aggressive and require intensive treatment, and some regrow despite all treatment. It is often difficult to predict accurately how NBs will behave. We will study the two ways NBs can undergo unlimited growth, to determine whether this predicts tumour behavior, and therefore what treatment is needed.
The Role Of ILK In Hedgehog Signaling And Medulloblastoma.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$452,248.00
Summary
Molecular signaling pathways regulate normal embryo development, and deregulated signaling by these pathways causes many cancers. Hedgehog (Hh) is a signalling pathway commonly activated by mutations in specific genes to cause cancer, including medulloblastoma, the most common brain tumour of childhood. We have discovered novel protein interactions in the Hh pathway, and will use animal models of Hh-dependent medulloblastoma to investigate new anti-cancer drugs targetting these proteins.
Transcriptional Effectors Of Oncogenic ERK Signaling In Colorectal Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$820,776.00
Summary
This project aims to unravel how one of the most frequently deregulated molecular pathways in colorectal cancer controls the expression of genes required for these tumours to grow and spread. We expect this work to uncover novel therapeutic targets to effectively inactivate this pathway and biomarkers to select patients most likely to benefit from existing therapies.
Role Of The EHF Transcription Factor In Regulating The Differentiation Status Of Colon Cancers
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$621,950.00
Summary
New treatment strategies for colon cancer are urgently needed. This application will test a novel approach for treating colon cancer based on the re-induction of differentiation of colon cancer cells, by reactivating a gene called EHF. We expect this to reduce the propensity for colon cancer cells to spread to distant organs and to increase their sensitivity to chemotherpay. This has the potential to significantly benefit the clinical management of patients with this disease.
The Contribution Of Host Caveolin-1 To Breast Cancer Metastasis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$517,992.00
Summary
Mortality in breast cancer rises to 80% in cases where secondary tumors form in other organs. To improve outcome, a better understanding of the processes involved in cancer spread is needed. Normal cells contribute to the growth and spread of a tumour and are a target for therapy. When a protein called caveolin-1 is lost from normal cells in a tumour, the prognosis for the patient is much worse. The aim of this project is to understand how this protein can regulate the spread of breast cancer.
The Role Of Clathrin In The Spindle Assembly Checkpoint And As An Anti-cancer Target
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$651,768.00
Summary
Cell division produces two daughter cells. Incorrect localisation and modification of proteins that regulate mitosis cause errors that can lead to cancer. As well as using a unique machinery mitosis uses proteins involved in non-cell cycle pathways. This project investigates the role during mitosis of one such protein: clathrin. We will identify lead clathrin inhibitory compounds, pitstops, that have potential anti-cancer properties, ultimately to be used as a chemotherapy agent.
Characterisation Of The Tumour Suppressor Function Of Caspase-2
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$605,096.00
Summary
Aberrant cell death (apoptosis) is associated with many diseases including cancer. Apoptosis is mediated by a group of enzymes called caspases. Recently we have discovered that one of these enzymes, caspase-2, acts as a tumour suppressor. We now wish to validate this finding in several preclinical models of cancer and understand precisely how caspase-2 works to safeguard cells against cancer development. These studies will help better understand cancer and ways to treat it.
Alpha-actinin-4 As An Oncogenic Driver And Therapeutic Target In Melanoma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$401,786.00
Summary
Despite the recent advances in targeted therapy and immunotherapy, curative treatment of metastatic melanoma remains an unmet health problem. In this project, we will potentially demonstrate that a protein called ACTN4 is abnormally expressed at high levels in melanoma cells and plays an important role for melanoma cell survival and resistance to treatment, and thus identify inhibition of ACTN4, either alone or in combination with other drugs, as a novel approach in the treatment of melanoma.