Early Detection Of Melanoma Metastases Using MicroRNA As Novel Biomarkers
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$109,363.00
Summary
The use of a minimally invasive blood test to measure the circulating levels of melanoma-specific miRNAs may provide a rapid assessment for clinical management of the disease during dissemination of the tumour. This work has the potential to provide new prognostic markers for melanoma as well as to identify new gene targets for the design of rational therapies to treat this disease.
Genetic And Genomic Dissection Of Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2) In Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$576,598.00
Summary
The evolution of normal cells to cancer involves mutations that activate cancer-causing genes and/or prevent the actions of anti-cancer genes. It has become increasingly evident that cancer development also involves changes to epigenetic regulation, or control of gene activity by chemical modification of the gene or its environment rather that changes in DNA sequence. This project aims to explore the tumour suppressor activity of an important epigenetic regulatory complex in lymphoma.
Next-generation Sequencing Of Candidate Ovarian Tumour Suppressor Genes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$101,899.00
Summary
In Australia in 2001 there were approximately 1300 new cases of ovarian cancer. Survival of ovarian cancer is very poor and current treatments inadequate. To develop more effective treatments we need to understand the molecular events that cause ovarian cancer. Some genes are inactivated by loss of a copy or mutation. We aim to find these genes using new DNA sequencing techniques.
HIC1 Prevents Tumour Initiation By Maintaining Genomic Stability
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$531,681.00
Summary
Chromosomes are large structures that package the genome. Abnormalities in the structure and function of chromosomes are now recognised an in important driver of cancer. Using a genetically engineered mouse model this project seeks to understand how this process evolves from the very earliest stages in the evolution of a tumour.
Tracking The Origins And Drivers Of Metastasis In Prostate Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,022,600.00
Summary
Prostate cancer is now the most commonly diagnosed cancer but only 10% of men with it, will die from it. Our current ability to discriminate between cancers with an indolent course and those that are lethal is poor. This project will examine the mixture of tumour clones (subclones) that are present in prostate cancers and define and track those cancer subclones that break away from the prostate and lodge in distant sites, causing death.
Ovarian cancer is frequently fatal and an extremely distressing cause of death in women. Our research program draws on the Australian Ovarian Cancer Study (AOCS), involving over 2000 women with ovarian cancer to investigate the genetic causes, and molecular changes that control cancer growth and response to therapy. The program is part of Australia’s $27m commitment to the International Cancer Genomics Consortium, an ambitious, worldwide effort to map the cancer genome.
Genomic Analysis Of The Novel Epigenetic Modifier Smchd1 As A Tumour Suppressor
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$619,142.00
Summary
Epigenetic modifications are changes made to our DNA that act like punctuation marks in the genome, to instruct the cell when to turn genes on and when to switch them off. Epigenetic control is critical to range of different biological processes, and also goes awry in cancer. We are specifically interested in the role of one new protein involved in epigentic control and characterising its role as a tumour suppressor.
Feasibility Of Implementing Precision Medicine For The Treatment Of Metastatic Melanoma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$314,644.00
Summary
Melanoma is the most aggressive form of skin cancer, accounting for 75% of skin cancer deaths in Australia. When it progresses to stage IV disease, patient prognosis is poor, with less than 10% of cases surviving to 5 years. The goal of this project is to determine whether drugs currently used to treat different diseases could also be used to treat melanoma patients and improve their survival, particularly those that do not respond in current clinical trials.
Lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer death globally. Symptoms may not develop until disease is advanced, so it is often incurable at diagnosis. Scientific developments have greatly improved our ability to test for the changes in DNA structure and function responsible for this deadly disease and its progression. This study examines whole lung cancer genomes then uses these findings to develop safer methods for detection based on changes in DNA sequence.