Regulation Of Stat1 Activity Levels: Abnormalities In Human Melanoma Cells Resistant To Interferon.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$227,036.00
Summary
Melanoma and its treatment continues to be an important health concern in Australia. The interferons comprise an elaborate system of natural substances produced in the body, one of whose functions is to prevent cancer cells from developing. The interferons have been widely used to treat human diseases including viral infections and cancers like malignant melanoma. However, results of recent trials have cast doubt on its effectiveness. We have found that advanced stage melanoma cells resist the d ....Melanoma and its treatment continues to be an important health concern in Australia. The interferons comprise an elaborate system of natural substances produced in the body, one of whose functions is to prevent cancer cells from developing. The interferons have been widely used to treat human diseases including viral infections and cancers like malignant melanoma. However, results of recent trials have cast doubt on its effectiveness. We have found that advanced stage melanoma cells resist the direct anti-cancer effects of interferons because they have abnormalities in their ability to respond to interferon. We have made good progress in understanding why the melanoma cells do not respond to the interferons. In particular they show a deficiency in the activity of protein, Stat1, required to send the interferon signal inside the cells. The current proposal will allow us to gain a greater understanding of the processes inside cancer cells regulating Stat1 activity and the reasons for its abnormality in interferon resistant cancer cells. This study will help establish an assay to predict which cancer patients will respond to interferon therapy, saving pateints from unecessary discomfort and costs. It will also have a broad significance to many human diseases where abnormalities in interferon signaling occur and will help to bring about ways to produce the necessary changes in cell properties to overcome the abnormalites, restore the responses and improve the application of interferons to treat melanoma and perhaps other human diseases as well.Read moreRead less
Intrauterine Growth Restriction And Development Of The Peripheral And Coronary Vasculature
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$437,176.00
Summary
There have been no studies which have investigated the extent to which fetal substrate restriction and associated fetal growth restriction alter the expression of nerve growth factors which determine the extent of sympathetic innervation of the peripheral vasculature and the interaction of changes within the peripheral and coronary vasculature which may explain the association between fetal growth restriction and the emergence of cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure in later life. Thes ....There have been no studies which have investigated the extent to which fetal substrate restriction and associated fetal growth restriction alter the expression of nerve growth factors which determine the extent of sympathetic innervation of the peripheral vasculature and the interaction of changes within the peripheral and coronary vasculature which may explain the association between fetal growth restriction and the emergence of cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure in later life. These studies ill provide new insights into the lifelong cardiovascular sequelae of a suboptimal intrauterine environment.Read moreRead less