AKR1C3 As A Potential Biomarker For Sensitivity Of T-lineage Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia To The Pre-prodrug PR-104
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$327,797.00
Summary
Multiagent chemotherapy is the most effective modality for the treatment of childhood ALL, the most common paediatric malignancy. Despite dramatic improvements in survival over the past 40 years, relapsed ALL remains one of the most common causes of death from disease in children. Therefore, innovative strategies are needed to benefit those children who respond poorly to established therapy. This application will test a novel therapy for a very aggressive subtype of childhood leukaemia.
Despite the clear epidemiological evidence that physical activity can reduce breast cancer recurrence and risk, little is know about the mechanisms. The aim of this project is determine the metabolic pathways and immunological effects of exercise in preclinical breast cancer models and in breast cancer patients, and to determine if there are synergistic effects with current systemic therapies.
Molecular Subtype Specific Therapy In High Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$832,254.00
Summary
High grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSC) is the most common type of ovarian cancer, accounting for about two thirds of all deaths from the disease.Several years ago we identified distinct subtypes of HGSC (C1, C2, C4, C5) based on patterns of gene activity. We found that women with the C5 subtype generally had poor survival, and we mapped genes that were specifically active in C5 tumours. In this application we aim to develop therapies that are specifically targeted to the C5 HGSC.
ALT-associated PML Bodies: Keys To The Biology And Treatment Of An Important Subset Of Cancers
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$813,614.00
Summary
Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres (ALT) is a molecular mechanism used by ~10% of cancers to sustain their relentless growth. ALT is common in sarcomas and brain tumours which are difficult to treat. ALT cancers contain nuclear structures called ALT-associated PML nuclear bodies (APBs) which may be part of the ALT machinery. This research will investigate characteristics of APBs and how they are formed, and will use this information to identify drugs to treat ALT tumours.
Strategies For Enhancing The Treatment Of Colon Cancer.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$590,785.00
Summary
Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer related death in Australia. Strategies to improve outcomes for these patients are urgently needed. This NHMRC SRF Fellowship will seek to identify new molecules in cancer cells which can be targeted to treat this disease, and to discover genes which can be used to improve patient response to treatment.
Identiification Of Novel Biomarkers And Therapeutic Targets For The Treatment Of Pancreatic Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$362,463.00
Summary
Pancreatic cancer is a devastating disease with an appalling prognosis - only 6% of patient survive 5 years after diagnosis. The aim of this research is to use new technologies to find out how pancreatic cells become malignant and why the cancerous cells are so drug resistant. The goal is to ideantify cell markers to guide drug treatment design and new targets for antibody therapy. By combining emerging technologies we hope to achieve break-through outcomes in the treatment of pancreatic cancer.
Understanding the mechanisms in the development of mutations in cancers will assist in development of targeted therapies to overcome chemotherapy resistance. The recently discovered TMPRSS2:ERG fusion in prostate cancer is unique as dominant fusion translocations are uncommon in solid organ malignancy. Activation induced cytidine deaminase (AID) is thought to play a role. Understanding the role of AID and downstream DNA repair pathways may be a target for future therapies in cancer.
Elucidating The Role Of Claudin-2 In Tumour Initiation And Metastasis Development From Colorectal Cancer: Consequence For Tumour Relapse
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$398,993.00
Summary
Mortality from colorectal cancer is often due to the development of metastases. Cancer stem cells (CSC) are suspected to provide a major drive for metastasis development, to resist current therapies, and to initiate tumour relapse. Yet, little is known about mechanisms that control CSC behaviour. Our project investigates the role of claudin-2, a cell adhesion protein that is strongly overexpressed in colorectal cancer, in the regulation of CSCs, metastasis development and tumour relapse.
The critical role of the class III histone deacetylase SIRT2 in stabilizing N-Myc oncoprotein. Cancer is the commonest cause of death from disease in children. Neuroblastoma is the commonest solid tumor in early childhood. This project will investigate the critical roles of SIRT2 protein in increasing the expression of N-Myc oncoprotein and consequently inducing neuroblastoma, and SIRT2 inhibitors as anticancer agents.