Liquid Biopsy For Personalised Monitoring Of Melanoma Patients
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$820,888.00
Summary
Despite the success of recent melanoma treatments, therapies are effective long term in only a proportion of patients. Here we will progress preliminary findings in collaboration with biotechnology and pathology companies to develop highly effective companion biomarkers that will aid treatment decisions throughout disease course. Our team will spearhead translation of these markers into the clinic for routine monitoring of melanoma patients.
Dual 68-Gallium/FDG PET Imaging In Neuroendocrine Tumours
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$75,006.00
Summary
Neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) are uncommon cancers. Low-grade tumours may grow very slowly and not require treatment, but high-grade tumours can grow over weeks and have a poor prognosis. Grade is determined by looking at tissue, but this may vary considerably even in different disease sites in the same patient. Two PET scans (FDG PET and 68Gallium PET) can show high grade and low grade disease respectively, and we plan to investigate their combination in imaging advanced neuroendocrine tumours.
Validation Of A Multiplexed Blood Based Screening Assay For The Diagnosis Of Colorectal Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$556,712.00
Summary
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most common cancer in Australia with poor patient outcome due to late detection of the disease. We have developed a simple blood based test that can diagnose individuals with CRC at an early stage when the chance of cure is greater than 80%.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in Australian women, affecting one in 8. While physical examination, mammography and ultrasound remain first-line screening tools, there are no reliable blood tests to aid diagnosis. This project aims to discover proteins in breast cancer tissue, or in the bloodstream of patients, which can be measured to provide information about the presence and severity of breast cancer. A new, reliable diagnostic test could benefit millions of women.
MICRORNA PREDICTORS OF OESOPHAGEAL TUMOUR RESPONSE TO CHEMOTHERAPY AND RADIOTHERAPY
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$659,990.00
Summary
Chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is used for the treatment of oesophageal cancer before surgical resection, and for patients not undergoing surgery. However, it is unsuccessful for many, causing side effects, no clinical gain, and delaying surgery. MicroRNAs are small molecules that control cellular functions. This project will identify miRNA markers which are able to predict cancer response to CRT, and this will help clinical decision making for individualized treatment.