A Clinical Trial To Determine The Optimal Timing Of Androgen Deprivation In Relapsed Or Non-curable Prostate Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$627,600.00
Summary
The aim of the study is to clarify when is the optimal time to start hormone treatment for men with certain stages of prostate cancer. It has long been known that testosterone removal impedes prostate cancer growth, although not permanently. The removal of testosterone, however, has side effects , including loss of libido, hot flushes, weight gain, and in the longer term osteoporosis, loss of muscle bulk and mental changes such as loss of memory. Any benefit to be gained for a patient must there ....The aim of the study is to clarify when is the optimal time to start hormone treatment for men with certain stages of prostate cancer. It has long been known that testosterone removal impedes prostate cancer growth, although not permanently. The removal of testosterone, however, has side effects , including loss of libido, hot flushes, weight gain, and in the longer term osteoporosis, loss of muscle bulk and mental changes such as loss of memory. Any benefit to be gained for a patient must therefore be weighed against these side effects. This is particularly relevant in situations in which cure is not possible, when the aim of treatment should be to manage symptoms (either by preventing or delaying them or treating them as they arise). There are two situations in which a man may be diagnosed as having active prostate cancer but be without symptoms requiring immediate treatment. The first is after the failure of curative treatment, shown by the presence of prostate specific antigen (PSA) in the blood, but without any other evidence of prostate cancer. The second is a man newly diagnosed with asymptomatic prostate cancer, but with other reasons (such as heart disease) which make an attempt at cure inappropriate. We do not know in either case whether or not men live longer if treatment is started immediately, or whether it is reasonable to wait until symptoms develop, thus potentially postponing the side effects of treatment. The trial will therefore include these two groups of men. Half the men will be randomised to receive immediate treatment, and half to treatment starting when symptoms develop, or when there is evidence of progressive disease. The main endpoint is overall survival, balanced against quality of life and side effects from the disease and treatment. The hypothesis is that early treatment will improve survival with acceptable effects on quality of life.Read moreRead less
Canine Adenovirus-mediated Gene Therapy For CNS Pathology In LSD
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$490,029.00
Summary
Lysosomal storage disorders (LSD) are inherited diseases that affect about 1 in 7700 Australian children; all share common physical symptoms include heart and breathing difficulties, stiff joints, skeletal deformities, enlarged head, and a characteristic facial appearance. Two-thirds of patients will also develop brain disease. The lysosome is a component of each cell in the human body; its role it is to break down and remove waste from the cell. This involves a series of proteins (enzymes) that ....Lysosomal storage disorders (LSD) are inherited diseases that affect about 1 in 7700 Australian children; all share common physical symptoms include heart and breathing difficulties, stiff joints, skeletal deformities, enlarged head, and a characteristic facial appearance. Two-thirds of patients will also develop brain disease. The lysosome is a component of each cell in the human body; its role it is to break down and remove waste from the cell. This involves a series of proteins (enzymes) that act in sequence. A LSD arises when the lysosome lacks the activity of one protein in this chain. This loss of protein activity means that the waste removal process is impaired. Waste begins to 'store' in the lysosome, clogging the cell and interfering with its usual functions. This gives rise to devastating symptoms that worsen over time as storage increases. Brain disease in LSD has profound effects on the child: mental capacity declines, they become hyperactive and aggressive and progressively lose learned skills (e.g. walking, talking) and control of bodily functions. Artifically made protein is being successfully used to treat some LSD via intravenous injection. However, it cannot access the brain because of a protective barrier that surrounds it. Gene therapy is a method by which we are attempting to overcome this problem. By using a virus called canine adenovirus (or CAV), we plan to produce and insert the missing protein into mice who are deficient in it. CAV will be the protein carrier. CAV is safe in humans and does not have many of the problems associated with some other viruses being tested in gene therapy. We have diagnosed mice who are naturally affected by a LSD with brain disease called MPS IIIA. Their symptoms are similar to that seen in humans, making them ideal for study. CAV vectors are being considered as a long-term treatment for patients who suffer from MPS IIIA and other degenerative brain diseases.Read moreRead less
Cisterna Magna Delivery Of Therapeutic Lysosomal Enzyme To Correct CNS Pathology In Lysosomal Storage Disorders
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$760,282.00
Summary
Lysosomal storage disorders (LSD) are inherited diseases that affect about 1 in 7700 Australian children; all share common physical symptoms include heart and breathing difficulties, stiff joints, skeletal deformities, enlarged head, and a characteristic facial appearance. Two-thirds of patients will also develop brain disease. The lysosome is a component of each cell in the human body; its role it is to break down and remove waste from the cell. This involves a series of proteins (enzymes) that ....Lysosomal storage disorders (LSD) are inherited diseases that affect about 1 in 7700 Australian children; all share common physical symptoms include heart and breathing difficulties, stiff joints, skeletal deformities, enlarged head, and a characteristic facial appearance. Two-thirds of patients will also develop brain disease. The lysosome is a component of each cell in the human body; its role it is to break down and remove waste from the cell. This involves a series of proteins (enzymes) that act in sequence. A LSD arises when the lysosome lacks the activity of one protein in this chain. The loss of protein activity impairs the waste removal process. Waste begins to 'store', clogging the cell and interfering with its usual functions. This gives rise to devastating symptoms that worsen over time as storage increases. Brain disease in LSD has profound effects on the child: mental capacity declines, they become hyperactive and aggressive and progressively lose learned skills (e.g. walking, talking) and ability to control bodily functions. Artifically made protein is being successfully used to treat some LSD via intravenous injection. However, it is not able to access the brain because of a protective barrier that surrounds it. This project tests a method to deliver protein to the brain to reduce and stop waste build-up. It involves the injection of artificially made protein into the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord using techniques being used to treat other diseases. This method is likely to be the quickest way in which we can treat both the body AND the brain of an affected child. We have diagnosed animal models who were born with a LSD with brain disease, called MPS IIIA. Their symptoms are similar to that seen in humans over the course of the disease, making them ideal for study in this project. Success in this project will allow us to advance this treatment to human trials.Read moreRead less
Development Of A Safe And Effective Treatment For Neuropathology In MPS IIIA.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$665,320.00
Summary
MPS IIIA is an inherited disorder that results in progressive brain disease in affected children. The disorder cannot be treated at present because it has not been possible to find an effective way to deliver treatment to the brain. This project seeks to evaluate a method to overcome this problem. Findings in this project can be applied to other, similar disorders that affect the brain.