Targeting Cancer-initiating Cells With DNA Methyltransferase Inhibitors: Single-cell Analysis To Decipher Molecular Mechanisms And Improve Efficacy.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$175,000.00
Summary
Certain cancer cells, termed cancer-initiating cells (CICs), have special properties allowing them to drive cancer growth and disease progression. These cells are particularly sensitive to low-dose treatment with drugs called DNA methyltransferase inhibitors. Using cutting-edge "single-cell" technologies this project will determine how these drugs target CICs and identify new ways to increase treatment efficacy. This work will identify new clinical opportunities for prevention of cancer relapse.
Breast cancers have diverse characteristics such as their response to treatment and their propensity to relapse. We know that the individual suit of oncogenic lesions probably influences diversity but the characteristics of the cell type from which the cancer arose probably also plays a part. This Application addresses this question and investigates a major new discovery made by the applicant that the ets transcription factor Elf5 plays a key role in specifying the diversity in breast cancer.
Dual Targeting Of The Androgen Receptor For Effective And Durable Control Of Lethal Prostate Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$946,177.00
Summary
Preventing binding of androgens to the androgen receptor is the mainstay treatment for advanced prostate cancer, but resistance inevitably develops and the disease becomes lethal. We will develop a new drug that targets a part of the androgen receptor unrelated to its androgen binding function to overcome resistance to current therapy. As this drug will be effective in all stages of prostate cancer, it has high potential to improve survival outcomes for men with prostate cancer.
Real-time Imaging Of Cell Cycle Progression In Melanoma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$526,911.00
Summary
Melanoma is the most aggressive skin cancer and is highly therapy resistant, reasons of which are poorly understood. Here we hypothesise that differences in the growth capacity of melanoma cells in different tumour regions contribute to therapy resistance. We will use a novel microscopic system that allows us to visualise division of individual melanoma cells in intact tumours in real time. Using this system, we will test the effects of targeted therapies on melanoma cell growth and survival.