The Oncogenic Function Of A Histone H3K9 Demethylase And Its Contribution To The Aggressive Malignant Phenotype Of Leukaemia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$762,501.00
Summary
In contrast to the significant improvements in the treatment of acute lymphocytic leukaemia, advances in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) therapy have been limited. The difficulty in treating AML is thought to arise from a drug-resistant subpopulation of leukaemic stem cells (LSC) that are capable of reinitiating disease after chemotherapy. This project will characterise a key regulator of LSC and provide insights into an important oncogenic process that gives rise to the aggressive and often fatal ....In contrast to the significant improvements in the treatment of acute lymphocytic leukaemia, advances in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) therapy have been limited. The difficulty in treating AML is thought to arise from a drug-resistant subpopulation of leukaemic stem cells (LSC) that are capable of reinitiating disease after chemotherapy. This project will characterise a key regulator of LSC and provide insights into an important oncogenic process that gives rise to the aggressive and often fatal AML.Read moreRead less
Improving Anti-cancer Therapy By Stromal Targeting And Remodelling
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$673,742.00
Summary
We have developed a new drug which binds to abnormal cancer blood vessels. Upon binding, shape and tone of cancer vessels are restored and they become tighter. Our research will now test whether combining this new drug with current standard-of-care therapies such as chemo- and immunotherapy, will improve cytotoxic drugs and also make the immune system work better to fight the cancer. We also expect that tightening of blood vessels will stop cancer cells from spreading throughout the body.
My research projects in the fields of cancer biology, vascular biology and immunology assess molecular mechanisms of vascular remodelling and implications for disease.
Nanomedicines Immunotargeting: Hitting The Target Or Lost In Translation ?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$413,042.00
Summary
Nanomedicines are some of the most exciting novel approaches to improving the way we detect, manage and treat cancers. This cross-disciplinary project aims to provide a rigorous understanding of how nanomedicines penetrate solid tumour tissues. To validate in vitro tumour model developed in the project, in vivo studies will be carried out in a mice model. The penetration and distribution of nanomedicines inside tumour tissues after intravenous administration will be determined.
How Do Bone-active Drugs Increase Patient Survival?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$613,952.00
Summary
Bisphosphonates are a class of drugs used to prevent bone destruction in diseases such as osteoporosis. Evidence is emerging that these drugs also act on cells outside the skeleton to have additional beneficial effects, for example prolonging patient survival. This project will identify the cells affected and the mechanisms involved. With this knowledge, these drugs could be used more effectively and in different ways for the prevention or treatment of cancer and chronic human illnesses.
IMMUNOTARGETED NANOPARTICLES TO IMPROVE TUMOUR DELIVERY OF CHEMOSENSITISING CYTOTOXIC DRUGS AND B-RADIATION
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$548,985.00
Summary
This project aims to develop nano-bullets for advanced cancer therapy and nano-probes for the early assessment of cancer treatment responses, improved patient outcomes and reducing drug development time. Specially engineered, antibody-coated nanoparticles are targeted to dead cancer cells, present in untreated cancer but increased after therapy, for (1) tumour site specific delivery of increased drug or radiation dose than currently achieved and (2) monitoring the tumour response to therapy.
Targeting Tumour-Stromal Interactions In Pancreatic Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$410,095.00
Summary
Pancreatic cancer claims five Australian lives every day and is one of the nations most lethal diseases. Despite aggressive treatment regimes, there has been no improvement in patient survival in the last decade. Evidence suggests that targeting cancer cells alone is not enough. The intense stromal reaction inhibits drug delivery and increases the aggressiveness of the tumours. Thus, depletion of the stroma or pancreatic stellate cells is a potential therapeutic target.
Genetic Engineering Of Tumor-infiltrating Monocytes To Inhibit Primary And Metastatic Breast Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$792,470.00
Summary
The immunosuppressive environment within a tumour is the major impediment to the successful application of cancer immunotherapy. To address this, we developed a cell- and gene-based strategy for targeted delivery of a potent immune-stimulatory molecule, IFN-?, which activates the immune response at the site of the tumour. We now propose to combine this strategy with promising cancer immunotherapies for the treatment of advanced breast cancer and breast cancer metastasis.
Improving Immunotherapy By Vascular Targeting And Barrier Alteration
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$526,878.00
Summary
Tumors grow in part because they escape destruction by the immune system. New blood vessels grow inside tumors by a process called angiogenesis, which then stops cancer-fighting cells in their tracks. We hypothesise that breaking down the blood-tumor barrier will open tumors for attack by the cancer-fighting immune system. This proposal continues our work on reversal of angiogenesis in the context of immunotherapy. We expect these findings to lead to highly effective anti-tumor therapies.