Clinicopathological Characterisation Of Male Breast Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$113,322.00
Summary
Male Breast Cancer is an uncommon and poorly understood disease. Due to its low frequency, there is a paucity of studies with large numbers of patients. Our aim will be to establish one of the largest worldwide databases of Male Breast Cancer. This will allow us to more thoroughly investigate clinical, pathological and molecular characteristics of male breast cancer, improve treatment of these patients and potentially develop novel and innovative strategies for treatment of female breast cancer.
The Oligoadenylate-RNAseL Pathway May Provide A Specific And Low Toxicity Approach To Therapy For Breast Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$439,314.00
Summary
We have discovered that a pathway used to fight viral infections can be triggered to produce massive cell death in the mammary gland. We hope to be able to trigger this response in breast cancers through the strategic combination of available drugs. If successful this project will establish a new therapeutic strategy for breast cancer.
A Functional In Vivo ShRNA Screen For Regulators Of Breast Cancer Metastasis.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$555,417.00
Summary
Breast cancer is generally incurable if detected after the tumour has spread to other organs. The genes driving the tumour cells to other sites have not been clearly resolved. This project aims to accelerate the discovery process by using a genome wide functional screen to identify genes that control the spread of breast cancer. If successful, this project could lead very quickly to identification of genes that might be good targets for new therapy against advanced breast cancer.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, causing about 3,300 deaths per year. We have identified some small RNAs called microRNAs and other hormone regulators that can interfere with prostate cancer cell growth and signaling via the testosterone pathway. In this application we will be exploring the potential for each of these agents to reduce prostate cancer growth and the possibility that one or more could develop into a therapeutic target in the future.
The Transcription Factor ZNF652: Deciphering Its Role In Breast Cancer.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$342,996.00
Summary
From our continuing research we have shown a protein called ZNF652 is involved in cancer. This proposal focuses on the role of this gene in the spread of cancer within the breast and to other organs. We will determine its role in a process where a cancer cell changes its characteristics to make it more likely to spread to other tissues. Our preliminary results suggest ZNF652 could be a marker that will predict poor prognosis. This proposal will further investigate this finding.
Targeting A Master Regulator Of Tumour Cell Plasticity As A New Adjuvant Therapy For Prostate Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$780,338.00
Summary
Prostate cancer (PCa) claims the lives of over 3,000 Australian men each year. This highlights the urgent need to identify new molecular targets that can be developed as additional therapies for men with PCa. Our team has identified the protein, Zeb1, to be highly expressed in aggressive and treatment resistant forms of PCa. This study aims to characterise the role of Zeb1 in the lethal progression of PCa and to develop a new therapeutic agent to inhibit the production of ZEB1 by cancer cells.
Targeting MicroRNA-driven Mesenchymal To Epithelial Transition To Suppress Prostate Cancer Metastasis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$741,831.00
Summary
Prostate cancer kills ~3,000 men per year in Australia. The development of metastasis is the major cause of prostate cancer-associated death and has limited treatment options. In this study, we will characterise the role of a group of molecules, termed microRNAs, in prostate cancer metastasis. We will also test whether targeting microRNAs using novel drugs termed antagomiRs is an effective strategy to inhibit metastasis and thereby improve prostate cancer mortality.
The Landscape Of Cancer Genes And Associations With Prognosis In Breast Cancer Diagnosed In Premenopausal Women
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$700,512.00
Summary
Using state of the art technology, the purpose of this project is understand the implications of known cancer mutations in breast cancer diagnosed in premenopausal ER-positive breast cancer. Mutations are abnormalities in the DNA of genes that can provide a signal for uncontrolled growth, a hallmark of cancer. The unique aspect of this project is use of tissue samples from patients who were diagnosed with breast cancer at a young age. This information will help us develop new treatments.
Identification Of PACE-1 As A Novel Therapeutic Target For The Treatment Of Prostate Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$606,144.00
Summary
Advanced prostate cancer (PCa) remains the major therapeutic challenge since neither surgery nor systemic therapies are effective at this stage. Recently, we identified a protein called PACE-1 that is essential for PCa cell survival. We plan to investigate the roles of PACE-1 in the development and progression of prostate cancer. We will then test if PACE-1 inactivation alone or in combination with systemic cancer therapies will inhibit prostate tumor growth and disease progression.
Targeting The Oncoprotein MDMX As A Novel Treatment For Triple Negative Breast Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$561,672.00
Summary
Breast cancer (BrCa) is a leading cause of cancer death in women worldwide. BrCas unable to respond to current therapies have the worst outcomes. We propose a novel strategy to treat these cancers, based on our new findings. Our two protein targets are: (1) MDMX, that we found drives BrCa with its partner, (2) mutant p53, which causes cancer spread. We plan to directly target these drivers of aggressive BrCas, using new drugs that individually show great promise in trials in a number of cance