Investigating Tumour Development And Metastasis Using A Novel Drosophila Cancer Model.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$505,500.00
Summary
The majority of cancers are derived from epithelial cells. The primary cause of cancer related deaths is due to the ability of these epithelial cancer cells to migrate and invade other tissues within the body away from their primary tissue of origin (metastasise). This proposal seeks to understand the pathways that are important in regulating the processes of epithelial cell migration and invasion that are instrumental in promoting the metastatic spread of tumour cells. As controls usually opera ....The majority of cancers are derived from epithelial cells. The primary cause of cancer related deaths is due to the ability of these epithelial cancer cells to migrate and invade other tissues within the body away from their primary tissue of origin (metastasise). This proposal seeks to understand the pathways that are important in regulating the processes of epithelial cell migration and invasion that are instrumental in promoting the metastatic spread of tumour cells. As controls usually operate to induce cell death in any cell that attempts to break away and invade other tissues, this proposal also seeks to understand some of the pathways that are responsible for causing these cells to die. To carry out these investigations we have developed a novel Drosophila model of epithelial cancer development. We use this model because of the ease with which it is possible to carry out complex genetic analyses and so dissect the roles of the many different signalling pathways involved in these processes. The strength of the model is that it is dependent upon genetic alterations that are also implicated in the development and metastatic spread of many mammalian cancers, namely activating mutations in two genes, Ras and Notch. It is expected, therefore, to offer considerable insight into why these activated genes also cause the spread of cancer cells in humans.Read moreRead less
Defining The Molecular Events That Initiate The Genesis Of Lymphatic Vessels.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$555,325.00
Summary
Lymphatic vessels are a vital component of the cardiovascular system. Abnormalities in the growth and development of lymphatic vessels are associated with human disorders including lymphoedema, cancer and inflammatory diseases. The focus of this application is to determine the molecular events that initiate the construction of lymphatic vessels, with the aim of identifying targets to which novel therapeutics for the treatment of lymphatic vascular diseases could be generated.
Every cell in our body has an intrinsic orientation that is controlled by a universal set of genes known as polarity genes. Loss of this orientation is a common and early feature of cancer. We have identified the gene Scribble as a gene that controls cell orientation and is essential to prevent the development of prostate cancer. We propose experiments to discover how Scribble controls prostate cancer and whether it can be used to better predict outcome for prostate cancer patients.
Expansion Of TGF-beta-Smad Signaling Network And Intrinsic Epithelial-mesenchymal-endothelial Transition
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$557,297.00
Summary
The majority of tumor death occurs due to tumor metastasis. Both tumor growth and tumor spread require angiogenesis, which is thought to be driven by tumor but originated from host endothelial cells. Could tumor cells behave and function like endothelial cells? This application aims to detect the transition of adult epithelial cells to endothelial cells through a transient mesenchymal state. Our studies should reveal both the molecular and cellular causes of vasculogenic mimicry, thus establishi ....The majority of tumor death occurs due to tumor metastasis. Both tumor growth and tumor spread require angiogenesis, which is thought to be driven by tumor but originated from host endothelial cells. Could tumor cells behave and function like endothelial cells? This application aims to detect the transition of adult epithelial cells to endothelial cells through a transient mesenchymal state. Our studies should reveal both the molecular and cellular causes of vasculogenic mimicry, thus establishing a new paradigm in understanding tumor growth and metastasis. Such novel molecular understanding will open up new anti-tumor therapeutic opportunities.Read moreRead less
Australian Drosophila Biomedical Research Support Facility
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,008,895.00
Summary
Breakthroughs in biomedical research frequently come from the study of model organisms, one of the most important of which is the vinegar fly, Drosophila melanogaster. In Australia, Drosophila is used in biomedical research with a particular focus on understanding processes that result in human cancer or are associated with birth defects or inherited diseases. Drosophila-based research is funded by bodies such as the Anti-Cancer Foundation, the National Health and Medical Research Council (NH an ....Breakthroughs in biomedical research frequently come from the study of model organisms, one of the most important of which is the vinegar fly, Drosophila melanogaster. In Australia, Drosophila is used in biomedical research with a particular focus on understanding processes that result in human cancer or are associated with birth defects or inherited diseases. Drosophila-based research is funded by bodies such as the Anti-Cancer Foundation, the National Health and Medical Research Council (NH and MRC) and the National Institutes of Health of the USA. This proposal seeks to establish infrastructure support for Drosophila research in the form of a central collection of key research stocks, a centralized facility for the importation of genetically defined stocks and a facility for the generation of transgenic Drosophila for use in biomedical research.Read moreRead less