The Ghrelin Axis As A Target For Prostate Cancer Therapy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$585,497.00
Summary
Prostate cancer affects one in nine Australian men in their lifetime, and although there have been great advances in treatments, advanced prostate cancer remains incurable. Current treatments often lead to side effects which affect quality of life. We have found that the appetite hormone, ghrelin, stimulates prostate cancer cell growth and may be a useful target for prostate cancer therapy. We predict that targeting the ghrelin axis will prevent some of the side effects of other treatments that ....Prostate cancer affects one in nine Australian men in their lifetime, and although there have been great advances in treatments, advanced prostate cancer remains incurable. Current treatments often lead to side effects which affect quality of life. We have found that the appetite hormone, ghrelin, stimulates prostate cancer cell growth and may be a useful target for prostate cancer therapy. We predict that targeting the ghrelin axis will prevent some of the side effects of other treatments that reduce quality of life for patients.Read moreRead less
HEREDITARY ENDOCRINE CANCER: A MODEL BASED ON PHAEOCHROMOCYTOMA- PARAGANGLIOMA SYNDROMES
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$875,894.00
Summary
Phaeochromocytomas and paragangliomas are tumours remarkable for their very high heritability. They have a high burden of disease themselves, and their associated hereditary syndromes include risks for other malignancies. Our study will rationalize the pathological approach to diagnosing these hereditary syndromes, find new therapeutic targets for metastatic disease, and provide a template for other cancers with high heritable component.
The Function Of The Natural Antisense Ghrelin Receptor Gene (GHSROS) In Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$493,750.00
Summary
Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer deaths in men and women in the world and the incidence in Australia is rising with our aging population. Survival rates for lung cancer are very poor. We have discovered a new gene that is produced by lung cancer cells and may contribute to the aggressive nature of this disease. We will investigate this gene to determine if it could be a useful target for new therapies for lung cancer and it determine its utility as a biomarker for the severity of t ....Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer deaths in men and women in the world and the incidence in Australia is rising with our aging population. Survival rates for lung cancer are very poor. We have discovered a new gene that is produced by lung cancer cells and may contribute to the aggressive nature of this disease. We will investigate this gene to determine if it could be a useful target for new therapies for lung cancer and it determine its utility as a biomarker for the severity of the disease.Read moreRead less
Roles Of The Nuclear Growth Hormone Receptor In Cell Proliferation And Survival
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$429,387.00
Summary
We have discovered that the cell surface receptor for growth hormone travels to the cell nucleus in dividing cells, including cancer cells. Given the role of growth hormone in promoting growth postnatally, we seek to uncover how the nuclear receptor promotes proliferation directly, and by gene splicing. We have identified strong candidates for its direct actions through proteomics, and a DNA binding site for the receptor. Here we will investigate its role in proliferation, gene splicing and DNA ....We have discovered that the cell surface receptor for growth hormone travels to the cell nucleus in dividing cells, including cancer cells. Given the role of growth hormone in promoting growth postnatally, we seek to uncover how the nuclear receptor promotes proliferation directly, and by gene splicing. We have identified strong candidates for its direct actions through proteomics, and a DNA binding site for the receptor. Here we will investigate its role in proliferation, gene splicing and DNA strand break repair after cell irradiation.Read moreRead less
Innovative Approaches for Defining the Interaction of Insulin like Growth Factor I (IGF I) with the Type 1 IGF Receptor. This study will improve our understanding of the interactions of Insulin-like Growth Factors (IGFs) with their principal receptor, the IGF-1R. A sound understanding of these interactions is essential for the development of non-peptide IGF antagonists designed for therapeutic applications. Such molecules could lead to new therapeutic approaches for diseases in which dysregul ....Innovative Approaches for Defining the Interaction of Insulin like Growth Factor I (IGF I) with the Type 1 IGF Receptor. This study will improve our understanding of the interactions of Insulin-like Growth Factors (IGFs) with their principal receptor, the IGF-1R. A sound understanding of these interactions is essential for the development of non-peptide IGF antagonists designed for therapeutic applications. Such molecules could lead to new therapeutic approaches for diseases in which dysregulation of the IGF system has been implicated including cancer, diabetes and atherosclerosis.
Since IGFs are major determinants of growth, the outcomes of this project could also lead to improvements in animal production with major benefit to primary industry. New IGF analogues developed could assist biotechnology exports.
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New insights into mammalian gene transcription - the role of parafibromin. Increasing our knowledge of fundamental gene and protein interactions is imperative as we move into an era of targetted molecular therapies to treat disease. Cancer is at the forefront of these diseases with hope of improved treatments firmly based in understanding the basic cell biology of tumours. This proposal describes research into a protein called parafibromin. We propose that parafibromin acts in major pathways res ....New insights into mammalian gene transcription - the role of parafibromin. Increasing our knowledge of fundamental gene and protein interactions is imperative as we move into an era of targetted molecular therapies to treat disease. Cancer is at the forefront of these diseases with hope of improved treatments firmly based in understanding the basic cell biology of tumours. This proposal describes research into a protein called parafibromin. We propose that parafibromin acts in major pathways responsible for how a cell manages stress by regulating levels of proteins involved in the cellular stress response. Discoveries made during the course of this research will provide knowledge of gene and protein interactions that will be important in the future to develop anti-cancer therapies. Read moreRead less