Optimal Duration Of Neoadjuvant Androgen Deprivation Therapy In Localised Prostate Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$275,000.00
Summary
Each year approximately 8000 men in Australia and New Zealand develop prostate cancer which has not spread widely and which is amenable to attempted cure by surgery or radiation. Prostate cancer depends for its growth on the male hormone, testosterone, which circulates in the blood. As a result treatment which reduces testosterone level ('androgen deprivation' [AD] therapy) can produce shrinkage of prostate cancer. In fact AD has caused temporary but valued relief to millions of men with cancer ....Each year approximately 8000 men in Australia and New Zealand develop prostate cancer which has not spread widely and which is amenable to attempted cure by surgery or radiation. Prostate cancer depends for its growth on the male hormone, testosterone, which circulates in the blood. As a result treatment which reduces testosterone level ('androgen deprivation' [AD] therapy) can produce shrinkage of prostate cancer. In fact AD has caused temporary but valued relief to millions of men with cancer of the prostate that has spread throughout the body for the last five decades, worldwide. It remains uncertain however whether AD administered before surgery or radiation will benefit any of the 8000 men each year who develop localised cancer by shrinking the cancer first. In 1996 a trial involving 800 men across Australia and New Zealand commenced under the auspices of the Trans-Tasman Radiation Oncology Group (TROG) to answer the questions: 1 - Does either 3 or 6 months AD prior to radiotherapy reduce the chances of recurrence of the cancer after radiotherapy? 2 - Does such therapy reduce the volume of tissue requiring radiotherapy and hence the chances of long term side effects after radiotherapy? This grant will support collection of follow-up information from the trial and hence answers to the questions asked.Read moreRead less
Value Of Androgen Deprivation And Bisphosphonate In Patients Treated By Radiotherapy For Localised Prostate Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,533,827.00
Summary
Following on from significant findings in the TROG 96.01 trial, the 03.04 trial, known as the RADAR trial was developed. This is a large-scale randomised controlled clinical trial currently conducted at 23 cancer treatment centres throughout Australia and New Zealand. The RADAR trial aims to recruit 1000 men with localised but inoperable prostate cancer. It was anticipated that the length of time required to enrol 1000 participants to the trial would be 5 years. However, because enrolment has ex ....Following on from significant findings in the TROG 96.01 trial, the 03.04 trial, known as the RADAR trial was developed. This is a large-scale randomised controlled clinical trial currently conducted at 23 cancer treatment centres throughout Australia and New Zealand. The RADAR trial aims to recruit 1000 men with localised but inoperable prostate cancer. It was anticipated that the length of time required to enrol 1000 participants to the trial would be 5 years. However, because enrolment has exceeded expectations and 728 patients have already been recruited, it is anticipated that the recruitment target will be reached in mid 2007. Patients are randomly assigned to receive one of four treatment options in the RADAR trial. The first option: Option A: Radiation Therapy and 6 months of Hormone Therapy (Leuprorelin acetate), is currently the standard of care. Option C is a further 12 months of hormone therapy after the current standard of care. Two of the options (B and D) are identical to options A and C except that subjects also receive 18 months of zoledronate (a 'bone' drug) in addition to hormone therapy and radiotherapy. The main goal of the RADAR trial is to determine whether 12 months of hormone therapy using Leuprorelin acetate starting immediately after standard therapy (ie 6 months of Leuprorelin acetate before and during radiotherapy) will reduce risk of return of the cancer, either within the prostate region or at remote sites in the body, and prolong life. An additional goal is to see whether 18 months of bisphosphonate therapy (bone density therapy) using zoledronate will reduce the risk of cancer returning in the bones as well as stopping dangerous bone thinning which can sometimes be caused by hormone therapy. The trial also seeks to determine whether the additional therapy given in this trial alters quality of life.Read moreRead less
Optimal Duration Of Neoadjuvant Androgen Deprivation Therapy In Localised Prostate Cancer Treated By Radiotherapy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$422,335.00
Summary
The 96.01 trial aims to find out whether androgen deprivation (AD) administered prior to and during radiotherapy (i.e., neo-adjuvant AD) will improve outcomes in patients with locally advanced prostate cancer that is considered inoperable and is treated for cure by radiotherapy. The trial also aims to find out whether six months AD produces outcomes superior to those achieved by three months AD. The trial has been running since 1996 and involves 802 men who attend 19 cancer treatment centres acr ....The 96.01 trial aims to find out whether androgen deprivation (AD) administered prior to and during radiotherapy (i.e., neo-adjuvant AD) will improve outcomes in patients with locally advanced prostate cancer that is considered inoperable and is treated for cure by radiotherapy. The trial also aims to find out whether six months AD produces outcomes superior to those achieved by three months AD. The trial has been running since 1996 and involves 802 men who attend 19 cancer treatment centres across Australia and New Zealand. It would not have been possible without the continuous funding support of the NHMRC. So far this trial has shown that AD does prevent prostate cancer from returning after radiotherapy. This is very important because the need for treatment of recurrent cancer (usually AD for the rest of the patient's life) is halved by 6 months AD compared to standard treatment (radiotherapy alone). However, it is now necessary to observe the patients in this trial for another 5 years to find out whether AD also prolongs life, and whether 6 months AD is more effective than 3 months. Further patient follow up is also necessary to identify whether some men respond better to treatment than others. This is very important because it will enable treatment to be tailored to individual patients, in particular those who require more treatment than is given in this trial. This funding application is therefore to enable patient follow up on this large scale trial for another 5 years.Read moreRead less
Molecular Regulation Of CRH Gene Expression In The Human Placenta
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$70,285.00
Summary
Approximately 70% of infant death is a result of premature birth. Preterm delivery occurs in 6-10% of pregnancies, and there has been no reduction in this rate in the last 30 years. This is largely because we remain ignorant of how normal and preterm birth is controlled. Understanding the physiology of human pregnancy is a critical step in the development of ways to detect and prevent preterm birth. Our group has demonstrated a link between production of a hormone (corticotropin releasing hormon ....Approximately 70% of infant death is a result of premature birth. Preterm delivery occurs in 6-10% of pregnancies, and there has been no reduction in this rate in the last 30 years. This is largely because we remain ignorant of how normal and preterm birth is controlled. Understanding the physiology of human pregnancy is a critical step in the development of ways to detect and prevent preterm birth. Our group has demonstrated a link between production of a hormone (corticotropin releasing hormone, CRH) in the placenta and the length of time the baby is carried in the mother. In women who will deliver prematurely the rise in CRH production occurs earlier and more rapidly, while in women who deliver late the rise occurs more slowly. This work has led to the concept of a biological clock that determines the length of time the fetus will be carried by the mother before birth, and in which production of CRH in the placenta plays a central role. We have been studying how the CRH gene is controlled in placental cells. We have discovered some regions in the DNA of the CRH gene which have important roles in controlling how much CRH is made by the placenta. The experiments described in this project will determine the molecular mechanisms that control the production of CRH in the human placenta. This will be done by examining the DNA sequences involved in controlling the CRH gene and by identifying the proteins that actually perform the regulating functions that result in either increased or decreased amounts of CRH being produced by the placenta. This important information will help us better understand how normal and preterm birth is controlled, and from that knowledge new ways to detect and prevent premature birth can be developed.Read moreRead less
Alpha-2-Macroglobulin And The Transport And Uptake Of The Hormone, Hepcidin
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$533,541.00
Summary
Hepcidin is a peptide hormone that is a major regulator of iron metabolism. It has been suggested that hepcidin is free in the blood. However, we recently identified that hepcidin binds with alpha-2-macroglobulin (a2-M) in the plasma and this increases the efficacy of this peptide. The demonstration that a2-M plays a role in hepcidin biology will lead to a better understanding of hepcidin physiology, the development of methods for its measurement and improved treatment of iron related diseases.
Establishing evidence for the functional properties of a whole grain in weight management. The successful development of functional foods relies on communicating proven effects. This project aims to prove that the food containing the satiety properties of a whole grain (OG) may help in weight management. We will conduct basic research investigating the link between consumption of OG-containing foods and the regulatory mechanisms of satiety, and test whether the satiety properties can be used to ....Establishing evidence for the functional properties of a whole grain in weight management. The successful development of functional foods relies on communicating proven effects. This project aims to prove that the food containing the satiety properties of a whole grain (OG) may help in weight management. We will conduct basic research investigating the link between consumption of OG-containing foods and the regulatory mechanisms of satiety, and test whether the satiety properties can be used to prevent, reduce and correct body weight gain in the early, middle and late stages of obesity. We will then apply this understanding in a human trial of mildly and long term overweight subjects, to aid the formulation of statements on the potential health benefits from consuming OG.Read moreRead less
Gene therapy for islet transplantation. Improved understanding of aetiology of type I diabetes. Development of islet transplantation as a clinical therapeutic for type I diabetes. Improved efficacy of islet transplantation. Improved health for subjects with type I diabetes. Decreased diabetic complications. Improved quality of life for subjects with type I diabetes. Reduced burden on health system for management of diabetic complications for subjects with type I diabetes
Development of natural herbal medicines for managing metabolic syndrome in order to prevent type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes affects almost 7% of Australia~{!/~}s population. Its incidence continues to grow, as indicated by high rates of metabolic syndrome, a pre-stage of type 2 diabetes. Using novel and bio-molecular techniques, we will evaluate the effects and mechanisms of three natural compounds from anti-diabetic Chinese herbs on cellular and rodent models with metabolic syndrome. This stud ....Development of natural herbal medicines for managing metabolic syndrome in order to prevent type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes affects almost 7% of Australia~{!/~}s population. Its incidence continues to grow, as indicated by high rates of metabolic syndrome, a pre-stage of type 2 diabetes. Using novel and bio-molecular techniques, we will evaluate the effects and mechanisms of three natural compounds from anti-diabetic Chinese herbs on cellular and rodent models with metabolic syndrome. This study will provide scientific evidence as to how and why herbal compounds improve insulin resistance and abnormalities in glucose and lipids metabolism. The outcome of this project will support the development of natural products to manage metabolic syndrome and prevent type 2 diabetes.
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