Transient Tissue ‘priming’ Via FAK Inhibition To Impair Pancreatic Cancer Progression And Improve Sensitivity To Gemcitabine/Abraxane
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$643,848.00
Summary
The success of cancer drugs is dependent on many factors including the properties of the tumour tissue. As a tumour grows it changes the tissue around it, and this affects response to treatment. Combining classical biology with engineering to generate 3D models that mimic tumours, along with cutting-edge imaging technology and mouse models, we will target FAK-controlled cancer cell pathways that sense tissue changes, together with already approved cancer drugs to improve patient outcome.
Reversing The Biomechanical Dysregulation Of Cancer Cell Signalling To Improve Targeted Therapies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$663,447.00
Summary
The limited success of cancer drugs is dependent on many factors including the physical properties (stiffness) of a tumour. In particular whether a tumour is soft or stiff affects how it responds to treatment. Combining classical biology with engineering to generate 3D models that mimic tumours, along with cutting-edge imaging technology, we will determine how we can target the physical properties of tumours together with already approved cancer drugs to improve treatment and patient outcome.