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.
Novel Targeting Of Therapy-resistant Prostate Cancer Cells.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$596,978.00
Summary
Prostate cancer is treated by removing male hormones (androgens). Although the bulk of the tumour regresses, some cells remain and the cancer often grows back in an aggressive form. We will study new ways to eliminate therapy resistant cancer cells and thereby provide more lasting treatments for prostate cancer. Ultimately, we hope to inform the design of ground-breaking clinical trials that could re-shape the treatment paradigm of advanced prostate cancer.
Role Of LncRNA IDH1-AS1 In Regulating C-Myc Driven-glycolysis And Tumorigenesis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$685,043.00
Summary
It is thought that understanding cancer metabolism will reveal vulnerabilities that can be exploited in the clinic. Indeed, compared to most normal cells, cancer cells utilise different fuels to sustain proliferation and to adapt to their environment. Herein we have discovered a molecular switch that regulates the key metabolic enzyme IDH1 and show this controls tumour growth. Given this switch may be active in 50% of cancers we anticipate our work will have significance to many cancer types.
A Single Nucleotide Resolution Map Of A Cancer Associated Neochromosome
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$567,350.00
Summary
Neochromosomes (NCs) are large chromosomes which are not usually found in a normal cell. Well differentiated liposarcoma (WDLPS) is a tumour which is almost universally associated with the presence of NCs. We are using the approach of purifying the NC from a series of WDLPS cell lines, and using new techniques to derive the DNA sequence of the neochromosome. We will use this information to identify the genetic factors on the NC which are involved in the initiation or progression of WDLPS.
Identification of novel therapeutic targets for selectively eliminating cancer stem cells in paediatric leukaemia. Leukaemia is the most common form of cancer in children, and while the majority of children can be cured, those who relapse face a dire prognosis. It is widely believed that leukemic stem cells are responsible for relapse and this project will aim to unravel their underlying biology and identify new targets for therapeutic approaches to the disease.
mTOR signalling in serous ovarian cancer. Serous ovarian cancer is the most aggressive and lethal gynaecological cancer in Australian women. Activation of Mammalian Target of Rapamycin (mTOR) is frequently observed and associated with poor prognosis in ovarian cancer patients. However, the mechanisms dysregulating mTOR in the pathogenesis of ovarian cancer are unknown. In preliminary studies, deletion of genes regulating mTOR signalling in up to 60 per cent of human serous ovarian cancer patien ....mTOR signalling in serous ovarian cancer. Serous ovarian cancer is the most aggressive and lethal gynaecological cancer in Australian women. Activation of Mammalian Target of Rapamycin (mTOR) is frequently observed and associated with poor prognosis in ovarian cancer patients. However, the mechanisms dysregulating mTOR in the pathogenesis of ovarian cancer are unknown. In preliminary studies, deletion of genes regulating mTOR signalling in up to 60 per cent of human serous ovarian cancer patients was observed. This project will provide mechanistic details of involvement of mTOR signalling in pathogenesis of the serous ovarian carcinoma, and develop a rationale for targeting mTOR pathway in these patients. Read moreRead less
SFRP4 As A Novel Diagnostic And Therapeutic Target For Gastric Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$137,700.00
Summary
Gastric cancer is a common cancer with poor survival, but is and potentially curable when diagnosed at an early stage. However currently there are no non-invasive markers for the early detection of gastric cancer, and treatments for advanced cancer are limited. Secreted frizzled related protein 4 (SFRP4) is a protein that is thought to play a role in invasion of gastric cancer. This study will investigate the utility SFRP4 as a diagnostic test and possible therapeutic for gastric cancer.
Targeting mitochondria with mitocans to treat cancer: mechanistic aspects. Mitochondria are the power-house of the cell and also the reservoir of proteins causing the demise of cancer cells, therefore suppressing tumour progression. This project proposes a novel way to modify certain compounds, increasing their level in mitochondria in order to maximise their anti-cancer effect.