Compartmental Analysis Of T-cell Responses In Thoracic Malignancies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$851,403.00
Summary
To improve immune therapy for cancer we have to be able to determine how cancer patients ‘see’ mutated cancer proteins. Blood is the easiest & most useful source of immune ‘killer’ cells for that task, but the lymph node that drains the tumour and the fluid that bathes a tumour probably contain a much higher number of these killer cells than blood. If so, studying them would help us better track responses to therapy and enable us to choose the best mutated proteins for a vaccine.
POSNOC (Positive Sentinel Node – A Randomised Trial Of Adjuvant Therapy Alone Versus Adjuvant Therapy Plus Clearance Or Axillary Radiotherapy)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,223,428.00
Summary
POSNOC (POsitive Sentinel NOde – adjuvant therapy alone versus adjuvant therapy plus Clearance or axillary radiotherapy) will address the key unresolved challenge in breast cancer surgery. A controversial US trial, ACOSOG Z0011, indicates that many breast cancer patients with limited disease in the sentinel node can safely avoid further nodal surgery. This would be a major advance, but there is widespread doubt that the results are broadly applicable. POSNOC will clarify this key issue.
Uncovering The Role Of Collecting Lymphatic Vessels In Cancer.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$688,875.00
Summary
Lymphatic vessels are a critical part of the circulatory system, allowing the return of fluid and cells that escape the blood vessels, and playing an intimate role in the body's immune function. In cancer, the lymphatic vessels serve as conduits for the transport of tumour cells to lymph nodes and may contribute to distant metastasis. Our study is designed to understand the role played by major collecting lymphatic vessels in cancer and to identify molecules that control their activity.
The Relationship Between Cancer Surgery, Lymph Nodes, T Cells And Immunotherapy.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$960,585.00
Summary
Cancer treatment involves surgery for millions of patients annually, however, many patients do relapse. Surgery often involves removal of cancer-associated lymph nodes at the site. To improve surgical outcomes new immunotherapy strategies aim to activate the patients’ immune cells to eradicate tumours. However the main repository for these immune cells is in the very lymph tissue removed at surgery. This project will investigate the role of remaining lymph nodes in patient recovery/response.