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.
Analysis Of Gene Amplification-loss And Methylation Associated With Progression To Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$620,197.00
Summary
Many bowel cancers can be removed by surgery, but in many cases the cancer reoccurs. While chemotherapy can reduce the chance of recurrence, it can produce significant side effects. Currently there are few markers to indicate change of recurrence, therefore deciding who should, or should not receive chemotherapy is difficult to decide. This study will analyse differences in DNA from patients that do and do not relapse, to guide future decisions on patients who will benefit from chemotherapy.
The Breast Cancer Biospecimen Resource will consist of stored samples of the majority of newly diagnosed breast cancers in NSW and through the Australian and New Zealand Breast Cancer Trials Group together with accurate, prospectively tracked clinical data on each specimen. This facility will serve as a model for extension of similar procedures to other common Australian cancers including cancers of the lung, bowel, prostate and melanoma. Research that is facilitated by this Resource holds real ....The Breast Cancer Biospecimen Resource will consist of stored samples of the majority of newly diagnosed breast cancers in NSW and through the Australian and New Zealand Breast Cancer Trials Group together with accurate, prospectively tracked clinical data on each specimen. This facility will serve as a model for extension of similar procedures to other common Australian cancers including cancers of the lung, bowel, prostate and melanoma. Research that is facilitated by this Resource holds real promise for improving patient selection for treatment. This will return a significant humanitarian and cost saving benefit. In addition this advance would also maximise the benefit of population mammographic screening.Read moreRead less
Prospective Ovarian Cancer Cohort To Authenticate Stratification Of Prognosis In Ovarian Tumours (POCCA-SPOT)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$993,580.00
Summary
Ovarian cancer has poor survival, with less than 40% of women surviving 5 years. There is a wide range of survival, but very few characteristics that indicate which patients will do well or poorly. We have developed a tumour test at diagnosis, that can predict prognosis at 5 years. In newly diagnosed cases, we will test tumours to predict prognosis and then determine the accuracy and assess patient acceptability. This study will lead to clinical use of the test and improve treatment decisions.
Characterising The Mutations, Signatures, Potential New Therapeutic Targets And Biomarkers In Malignant Mesothelioma Using Whole Genome Analysis.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,219,288.00
Summary
Malignant mesothelioma is an aggressive tumour that occurs principally in the pleura as a consequence of inhaling asbestos fibres. Currently there is no cure for malignant mesothelioma. Thus new therapeutic approaches are desperately needed. Such new approaches will require a detailed understanding of the genetic lesions of malignant mesothelioma. Therefore we will perform whole genome sequencing of a large cohort of malignant mesothelioma patients to identify mesothelioma-related alterations.
Prognostic Importance Of Androgen Receptors In Epithelium And Stroma In Early Stage Prostate Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$348,750.00
Summary
The use of serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) to screen asymptomatic men for prostate cancer has reduced the stage of disease at diagnosis. The majority of tumours are now small and potentially organ-confined. The use of nomograms, algorithms based on preoperative clinical features of these patients (serum PSA level, Gleason grade, clinical stage) has facilitated this process, but is imperfect as 20-30% of patients experience disease relapse within 5-7 years. Tumours with similar preoperative ....The use of serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) to screen asymptomatic men for prostate cancer has reduced the stage of disease at diagnosis. The majority of tumours are now small and potentially organ-confined. The use of nomograms, algorithms based on preoperative clinical features of these patients (serum PSA level, Gleason grade, clinical stage) has facilitated this process, but is imperfect as 20-30% of patients experience disease relapse within 5-7 years. Tumours with similar preoperative clinical features have markedly different outcomes, reinforcing the inadequacy of current approaches to determining whether or not an individual patient has organ-confined disease. A new approach is to incorporate into the standard diagnostic nomograms, biological features from preoperative core biopsy linked to the process of disease relapse, and which independently predict patient outcome risk group. Our preliminary studies using a small hypothesis-generating cohort of patients with early stage prostate cancer determined that elevated levels of androgen receptors (AR) in malignant epithelial cells and reduced levels of AR in peritumoral stromal cells independently predict disease relapse after surgery. In this project, AR measurements will be analysed in independent cohorts of patients derived from two Australian institutions to determine whether the predictive value is maintained across multi-Institutional cohorts. Selected androgen-regulated markers of tumour growth and spread (proliferative, apoptotic, metastatic) will be examined in microarrayed postoperative tissue samples. The postoperative markers will be examined for independence of prediction of relapse. Independent markers will be examined for ability to increase predictive efficacy in standard diagnostic nomograms. Levels of the two markers with greatest predictive value will be measured in preoperative core biopsies and tested for predictive ability as a prelude to clinical practice.Read moreRead less
Novel Therapeutic Strategies For Pancreatic Cancer Using Next Generation Sequencing
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$354,892.00
Summary
Dr David Chang is a surgeon scientist who specialises in the treatment of pancreatic cancer. His research focus is on the development and implementation of novel therapeutic strategies for pancreatic cancer. He aims to achieve this by utilising novel biomarkers that have the ability to forecast prognosis and response to treatments. Ultimately, this will lead to the “individualised” treatment for each patient.
Incidence And Prognosis Of Metastatic Breast Cancer: A Population-based Data Linkage Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$97,700.00
Summary
This project will provide the first Australian population-based estimates of metastaticbreast cancer (MBC) incidence and survival in women with an initial diagnosis of early stage cancer that reflect current treatment practices. This evidence will help: women with MBC and their clinicians to make decisions about treatment and plan supportive care; researchers planning trials of MBC therapies, and future planning of cancer services.