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.
Despite the clear epidemiological evidence that physical activity can reduce breast cancer recurrence and risk, little is know about the mechanisms. The aim of this project is determine the metabolic pathways and immunological effects of exercise in preclinical breast cancer models and in breast cancer patients, and to determine if there are synergistic effects with current systemic therapies.
Targeting FLT3 Kinase Activity To Treat Haematopoietic Neoplasms
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$673,045.00
Summary
Most leukaemias are incurable so it is important to find new treatments. For this to occur it is essential that the mutated genes that cause leukaemia are identified. We have generated a mouse with a mutation in a gene called c-Cbl that promotes the activation a protein called FLT3 that is involved in the development of many types of leukaemias. By treating mutant mice a drug that specifically suppresses the function of FLT3 we intend to identify the most effective treatments for human leukaemia ....Most leukaemias are incurable so it is important to find new treatments. For this to occur it is essential that the mutated genes that cause leukaemia are identified. We have generated a mouse with a mutation in a gene called c-Cbl that promotes the activation a protein called FLT3 that is involved in the development of many types of leukaemias. By treating mutant mice a drug that specifically suppresses the function of FLT3 we intend to identify the most effective treatments for human leukaemias associated with activated forms of FLT3.Read moreRead less
Single-cell Optical Window Imaging In CDK1-FRET Biosensor Mice To Assess Tissue Stiffness And Optimise Delivery And Therapeutic Response To Gemcitabine/Abraxane In Pancreatic Cancer.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$676,979.00
Summary
Inefficient drug response in solid tumour tissue is commonly a limiting factor in the clinical effectiveness of cancer therapies. Using cutting-edge imaging technology and 3D models that mimic the disease, we have mapped areas of poor drug response within distinct regions of tumours. Here, we pinpoint and specifically target key factors limiting efficient drug targeting in order to improve the encouraging anti-cancer profile of the new drug combination Gemcitabine/Abraxane in pancreatic cancer.
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.
Does CD123 Provide A Biological Advantage To Leukaemia Stem Cells?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$647,637.00
Summary
Leukaemia is a devastating form of blood cancer affecting both young and old. We need to understand the diseased stem cell to eradicate this disease. Current therapy is poorly tolerated and the majority of patients ultimately die at relapse. We intend to investigate how we can make the cells more susceptible to therapy by understanding their biology.
To Determine Whether Myc-driven Transformation In Haematopoietic Cell Lineages Is Dependent On High-levels Of Myc Protein Expression.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$371,896.00
Summary
Myc is an essential cellular protein but is also a common drive of cancer in multiple tissues. In blood cancers Myc is frequently overexpressed. In contrast, Myc is rarely overexpressed in early stage solid cancers, although often elevated levels at later stages. We will employ unique models of cancer in which Myc can be activated at different set levels at different times during blood cell development to address what the specific contributions of different levels of Myc are in the evolution of ....Myc is an essential cellular protein but is also a common drive of cancer in multiple tissues. In blood cancers Myc is frequently overexpressed. In contrast, Myc is rarely overexpressed in early stage solid cancers, although often elevated levels at later stages. We will employ unique models of cancer in which Myc can be activated at different set levels at different times during blood cell development to address what the specific contributions of different levels of Myc are in the evolution of blood cancers.Read moreRead less
Identiification Of Novel Biomarkers And Therapeutic Targets For The Treatment Of Pancreatic Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$362,463.00
Summary
Pancreatic cancer is a devastating disease with an appalling prognosis - only 6% of patient survive 5 years after diagnosis. The aim of this research is to use new technologies to find out how pancreatic cells become malignant and why the cancerous cells are so drug resistant. The goal is to ideantify cell markers to guide drug treatment design and new targets for antibody therapy. By combining emerging technologies we hope to achieve break-through outcomes in the treatment of pancreatic cancer.
Cell Survival Pathways As Potential Targets In Breast Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$142,914.00
Summary
Cancer cells are characterised by their capacity for relentless growth, survival and evasion of cell death. This proposal will use patient derived xenograft models of primary breast cancer to test the hypothesis that addition of BH3-mimetics could improve response to anti-HER2 therapy. This technique involves transplantation of patient tumours into immune-compromised mice. This represents a useful method for testing new agents.