Effects Of A Novel Hotspot Mutation Of Brm In Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer Development
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$92,314.00
Summary
Australia has the highest incidence of skin cancer in the world. SWI/SNF, a yeast nucleosome remodeling complex, is known destabilise interactions in DNA. It is made up of 8-10 proteins, including a novel tumour suppressor Brm. There is some evidence that Brm acts as a tumour suppressor in skin cancer, but relevance of a recently found mutation in Brm is yet to be characterised. This project aims to identify the effect of this mutation, on cellular sensitivity to UV radiation and examine transfo ....Australia has the highest incidence of skin cancer in the world. SWI/SNF, a yeast nucleosome remodeling complex, is known destabilise interactions in DNA. It is made up of 8-10 proteins, including a novel tumour suppressor Brm. There is some evidence that Brm acts as a tumour suppressor in skin cancer, but relevance of a recently found mutation in Brm is yet to be characterised. This project aims to identify the effect of this mutation, on cellular sensitivity to UV radiation and examine transformation to malignancy.Read moreRead less
Identifying Castrate-resistant Tumour Cells In Localised Prostate Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$573,047.00
Summary
This proposal addresses one of the most important challenges in cancer: what cell population ‘drives’ tumour progression, and how can it be effectively targeted? We will define the prostate cancer cells that survive androgen withdrawal therapy and investigate new ways to target them. Eliminating these important cells earlier in disease progression will lead to increased survival for men with prostate cancer.
The Nature And Significance Of Clonal Evolution In Human Melanoma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$665,420.00
Summary
Cancers can progress in patients by developing genetic changes that favor the growth, survival and spread of cancer cells. However, the rate at which genetic changes occur in human cancer is not known. This project will determine the degree and biological significance of genetic change in human melanoma by using a novel method of growing tumors from single cells and comparing genetic differences between them.
Deciphering Mechanisms Of Disease Evolution In Melanoma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$845,093.00
Summary
In many patients, cancers are ever-changing, even after they have formed. This explains why many cancers can spread beyond the point of cure by surgery and why they can become resistant to treatments. This project will use patient melanomas and laboratory modelling to understand how melanomas change as they grow and spread. The results will be used to identify the nature of evolutionary changes in cancer in order to predict and even exploit them in treatment.
Linking Breast Development To Bone Metastasis: Role For The Osteogenic Transcription Factor Runx2 During Breast Carcinogenesis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$565,145.00
Summary
Bone is the principle metastasis site of breast cancer and represents a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Runx2 is one potential candidate gene mediating breast cancer metastasis. Using mice with altered Runx2 levels and breast cancer models, this study will examine the role of Runx2 in breast cancer bone metastasis. Identification of a single gene that controls both breast and bone would open a new area of breast cancer research and a new gene against which therapies could be developed.
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.
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.
Defining The Function Of ROCK In Establishing A Tumour-promoting Microenvironment
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$611,950.00
Summary
Cancer’s spread from its primary to secondary sites causes most cancer-related deaths. As cancers grow and spread, their internal structure is modified. Immune cells within the cancer begin to behave differently to the same types of cells in normal tissues, promoting its spread. We have discovered that many of these changes are regulated by a protein called ROCK. We plan to study how ROCK controls such a wide range of tumour promoting processes.
Mechanistic Basis Of AP-1-regulated Gene Expression During Colorectal Cancer Progression
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$597,802.00
Summary
The spread of colorectal cancers in the body poses a major clinical problem for which current treatment options are inadequate. This project aims to unravel how a specific DNA-binding protein regulates the expression of genes involved in the spread of these cancers. The research is expected to provide a better mechanistic understanding of how disease progression occurs and to identify novel strategies to treat aggressive tumours.
A Randomised Phase III Study Of The Duration Of The Anti-PD1 - Therapy In Metastatic Melanoma (STOP-GAP)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,308,600.00
Summary
PD-1 inhibitors turn on the immune system,so that it can fight the cancer cells in the body and are effective in Melanoma. This study investigates whether interrupted PD-1 inhibitor dosing has no worse Melanoma outcome than continuous treatment for 24 months, which may lead to a reduction in treatment-related toxicities, improvements in patients' quality of life and decrease the cost of treatment to the health system as well as individual. Results may inform treatments for other common cancers.