Novel Tools For The Imaging Of Tumor Hypoxia Using PET
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$727,856.00
Summary
Fast growing tumors often outgrow the ability of blood vessels to properly supply them with nutrients and oxygen. This creates tissue areas within the tumor that are lacking oxygen and are highly resistant to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Imaging these areas using nuclear medicine techniques has now become important for therapy planning of cancer sufferers. This project aims to improve the properties of the existing agents in order to better select patients for a particular type of treatment.
Differential Cooperation Of MAPKs With TGF-beta Signaling In Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$497,250.00
Summary
Tumor metastasis - the spread of tumor cells from the original site of growth to other sites in the body, is the biggest threat to survival for patients with solid tumors. The most damage change during cancer progression is the switch from a locally growing tumor to a metastastic killer. For biologist studying cancer, a major challenge is to identify the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the switch of non-invasive tumor to an invasive, metastatic state. This application aims to identi ....Tumor metastasis - the spread of tumor cells from the original site of growth to other sites in the body, is the biggest threat to survival for patients with solid tumors. The most damage change during cancer progression is the switch from a locally growing tumor to a metastastic killer. For biologist studying cancer, a major challenge is to identify the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the switch of non-invasive tumor to an invasive, metastatic state. This application aims to identify key molecular and cellular mechanism controlling this switch, with the ultimate aim being to devise treatments that inhibit tumor metastasis. The results from this work will provide clear and specific targets to prevent and to treat tumor metastasis. More importantly, the success of strategies used in this work can potentially be used clinically for tumor treatment.Read moreRead less
The immune system plays an important role in protecting the host from viral and bacterial infections, and inhibits cancer onset and progression. Unfortunately the immune system can sometimes lose specificity and attack the host resulting in autoimmune diseases such as diabetes. This research team has played a vital role in characterising the specific activities of immune cells and the associated factors. By understanding these complex processes the team aims to harness the unique therapeutic pro ....The immune system plays an important role in protecting the host from viral and bacterial infections, and inhibits cancer onset and progression. Unfortunately the immune system can sometimes lose specificity and attack the host resulting in autoimmune diseases such as diabetes. This research team has played a vital role in characterising the specific activities of immune cells and the associated factors. By understanding these complex processes the team aims to harness the unique therapeutic properties of our own immune system and translate their findings into the clinic.Read moreRead less
The Biology & Therapeutic Manipulation Of Lymphatic Vessels In Cancer & Lymphedema
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,589,101.00
Summary
This proposal brings together a team of researchers from diverse backgrounds who have already made important discoveries about the molecular control of the lymphatic system in normal physiology and cancer. The lymphatic vasculature consists of a network of vessels in organs and tissues that is critical for the regulation of tissue fluid volume and immune function. The lymphatics are also important for the metastatic spread of cancer, as they provide a route by which tumour cells spread to distan ....This proposal brings together a team of researchers from diverse backgrounds who have already made important discoveries about the molecular control of the lymphatic system in normal physiology and cancer. The lymphatic vasculature consists of a network of vessels in organs and tissues that is critical for the regulation of tissue fluid volume and immune function. The lymphatics are also important for the metastatic spread of cancer, as they provide a route by which tumour cells spread to distant sites in the body, and for lymphedema, a condition in which lymphatic dysfunction leads to swelling of tissues. This program will explore the molecular mechanisms that control the growth and differentiation of the lymphatic vessels. It will greatly enhance our understanding of lymphatic vessel growth (lymphangiogenesis) and generate a range of reagents for stimulating or inhibiting this process. These reagents will be tested in animal models for their capacity to modulate lymphatic function in the context of cancer and lymphedema.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0989436
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$400,000.00
Summary
Multiphoton microscopy of living animals as a tool for immunology and cell biology studies. The multiphoton microscope will enable us to watch the growth, migration and interactions of cells in a living animal in response to changes in the cells' environment will give us better understanding of how we work as living machines, and what can go wrong with that process to make us unwell.
Towards Effective Immunotherapy Of Cancer Using Genetically Enhanced Lymphocytes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$465,750.00
Summary
Immunotherapy is a potentially powerful and specific form of cancer therapy that may be more effective and have fewer side effects than current forms of therapy including chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Already dramatic responses have been observed in a proportion of patients receiving immunotherapy for some malignancies but these responses are all too infrequent. T cells constitute an important part of the immune system but they often fail to recognize cancer and do not respond strongly enough a ....Immunotherapy is a potentially powerful and specific form of cancer therapy that may be more effective and have fewer side effects than current forms of therapy including chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Already dramatic responses have been observed in a proportion of patients receiving immunotherapy for some malignancies but these responses are all too infrequent. T cells constitute an important part of the immune system but they often fail to recognize cancer and do not respond strongly enough against tumours. This project investigates the feasibility of endowing patients' T cells with the abilities to recognize cancer and respond vigorously against it by genetically modifying the T cells. In this study, T cells are removed from mice that have cancer and a gene encoding an anti-cancer molecule inserted into the T cells. The T cells are activated, grown to large numbers and given back to tumour-bearing mice followed by booster vaccinations. The strategy used is novel and the proposed studies, together with preliminary data, represent the first investigations of their type in the world. Information derived from these studies will extend our understanding of tumour immunology and provide an appreciation of the importance of various parameters in achieving anti-tumour responses. Improved anti-tumour responses achieved through investigations in these proof-of-principle pre-clinical models could lead to more effective immunotherapeutic regimens in patients.Read moreRead less
The Role Of TGF-beta Signaling In Suppression Of Stat3-mediated Tumorigenesis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$667,000.00
Summary
Stomach cancer is the third most prevalent cancer in the Western World and result in the yearly death of several thousand people in Australia alone. We have discovered a specifice gene mutation of a receptor molecule called gp130 that results in the formation of stomach cancer in mice. We are now aiming to understand the exact molecular events by which this mutation results in the uncontrolled growth of stomach mining cells. Our proposal combines the expertise of the two investigators in signal ....Stomach cancer is the third most prevalent cancer in the Western World and result in the yearly death of several thousand people in Australia alone. We have discovered a specifice gene mutation of a receptor molecule called gp130 that results in the formation of stomach cancer in mice. We are now aiming to understand the exact molecular events by which this mutation results in the uncontrolled growth of stomach mining cells. Our proposal combines the expertise of the two investigators in signal transduction and the making of genetically modified mouse models. These strategies will be employed to specifically address in the laboratory mouse the function of two specififc signaling cascades, called Stat3 and TGF-beta. The identification of detailed description by which these molecules causally relate to cancer formation will provide clear and specific molecular targets for future therapies to treat various cancers, including those of the stomach.Read moreRead less
The Regulation Of Pluripotency And Self-renewal In Embryonic And Germline Stem Cells.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$491,767.00
Summary
Regulation of self-renewal and developmental potential in embryonic and germline stem cells. The capacity of some stem cells to self-renew and under specific conditions, give rise to all adult cell types, a property known as pluripotency , is the key to unlocking the potential of cell based therapies. The development of stem cell based therapies promises to revolutionize the treatment of many common human diseases. For instance, in neurodegenerative conditions such as Parkinsons disease, normal ....Regulation of self-renewal and developmental potential in embryonic and germline stem cells. The capacity of some stem cells to self-renew and under specific conditions, give rise to all adult cell types, a property known as pluripotency , is the key to unlocking the potential of cell based therapies. The development of stem cell based therapies promises to revolutionize the treatment of many common human diseases. For instance, in neurodegenerative conditions such as Parkinsons disease, normal embryonic stem cells grown in culture could be used to replace the lost or disabled neurons in the patient. Many other conditions including diabetes, cystic fibrosis, myocardial infarction (heart attack) and stroke could potentially be treated with stem cell based therapies. Understanding the molecular regulators that govern establishment and maintenance in culture of stem cell lines derived from embryos and from germ cells is the primary goal of this study. We will use well-established techniques to genetically manipulate mouse embryonic stem cells and embryos to examine the role of a specific gene, NANOG. Named after the Celtic legend of Tir NaNog (land of the ever young). When NANOG was forced to remain active, embryonic stem cells were able to grow in media deficient in factors usually required for self-renewal and did not lose their pluripotency even when treated with chemical agents that usually induce differentiation. Understanding the full capacity of NANOG to influence stem cell self-renewal and elucidation of the underlying molecular pathways regulated by this gene will provide valuable insights into the establishment and manipulation of stem cell lines from embryonic and adult tissues.Read moreRead less