Elf5 And The Basis For Antiestrogen Resistant Breast Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,181,326.00
Summary
Resistance to anti estrogen therapies causes half of breast cancer deaths. We have recently discovered (Plos Biol 2012) that the transcription factor Elf5 is intimately involved in this process. This grant will develop our understanding of the transcriptional and genomic events involving Elf5 that lead to antiestrogen resistance and metatstasis, to develop new models of antiestrogen resistance, biomarkers that predict antiestrogen resistance and new therapeutic targets and strategies that preven ....Resistance to anti estrogen therapies causes half of breast cancer deaths. We have recently discovered (Plos Biol 2012) that the transcription factor Elf5 is intimately involved in this process. This grant will develop our understanding of the transcriptional and genomic events involving Elf5 that lead to antiestrogen resistance and metatstasis, to develop new models of antiestrogen resistance, biomarkers that predict antiestrogen resistance and new therapeutic targets and strategies that prevent antiestrogen resistance.Read moreRead less
Circulating Tumour DNA As A Noninvasive Biomarker In Melanoma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,299,114.00
Summary
The expanding repertoire of treatment options in melanoma is bringing into focus the need for improved ways to accurately monitor treatment responses and guide treatment decisions. Many cancers shed small amounts of DNA (ctDNA) into the bloodstream and changes in ctDNA levels have potential to be used as specific markers of response to cancer therapy. This project will evaluate if ctDNA can be used as a form of ‘liquid biopsy’ to guide treatment decisions in patients with melanoma.
Inherited Genetic Variants As Prognostic Markers For Colorectal Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$623,972.00
Summary
Bowel cancer is a major health burden. Surgical resection of the primary cancer is often possible at diagnosis, yet in many patients the cancer will recur. Together with mutations, inherited genetic variants influence the rate of bowel cancer growth. This study aims to identify inherited variants predictive of cancer recurrence. Improved prediction of recurrence will permit more targeted use of clinical interventions, tailored to the individual patient, ultimately improving patient survival.
Population Genetics And Functional Genomics Approaches To Improve Outcomes For Patients With Colorectal Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$466,492.00
Summary
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third leading cause of cancer related death in Australia, and the 5-year survival rate for metastatic disease remains below 10%. Over the next 4 years, my translational research program will focus on improving patient outcomes in four ways: Discovery of inherited variants affecting CRC risk and progression, tumour molecular classification, discovery of markers for prognosis and drug response, and elucidation of the molecular mechanisms driving CRC development.
Translational Genomics And Combinatorial Drug Discovery To Improve Outcomes For Patients With Colorectal Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$640,210.00
Summary
Bowel cancer is a major public health burden in Australia. Over the next 5 years, A/Prof Sieber’s research will focus on understanding the molecular pathology of bowel cancer and how this determines the course of disease and response to therapy. Integrated genomic, functional and drug discovery studies will provide significant new insights into fundamental tumour biology and open up new avenues for diagnosis and treatment.
Identification Of Novel Colorectal Cancer Susceptibility Genes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$358,093.00
Summary
Colon cancer is one of the most common cancers, with around 1 million cases diagnosed annually. These cancers can be caused by a combination of lifestyle/environmental and genetic factors. Genetics cause ~30% of colon cancers, although the cause is unexplained in ~2/3 of these cases. The aim of this project is to discover new colon cancer genes by extensive gene sequencing of multi-case unexplained colon cancer families, and screening of additional cases and cancer-free individuals.
Metagenomic Analysis To Determine The Prostate Microenvironment And The Aetiology Of Inflammatory Mediated Prostate Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$339,534.00
Summary
Infectious organisms have been implicated in the development of several different malignancies. This project aims to determine if this may also be applicable in prostate cancer and if so, to define which organism/s may be responsible, thus providing targets for improving diagnosis, treatment and prevention strategies. The approach will be to identify DNA in the prostate tumour tissue that is foreign to the �normal� prostate environment and indicative of an invading organism.
Leukaemia, the most common form of childhood cancer, constitutes an important component of Australia's overall cancer burden. We aim to improve our understanding of the genetic and familial contributions to this disease. By establishing the Victorian Paediatric Family Cancer Study, we have evidence of a relationship between maternal age, onset of leukaema and overall risk of cancer in the family. We aim to determine if this finding is genetically based, implying a larger inherited component than ....Leukaemia, the most common form of childhood cancer, constitutes an important component of Australia's overall cancer burden. We aim to improve our understanding of the genetic and familial contributions to this disease. By establishing the Victorian Paediatric Family Cancer Study, we have evidence of a relationship between maternal age, onset of leukaema and overall risk of cancer in the family. We aim to determine if this finding is genetically based, implying a larger inherited component than previously recognized.Read moreRead less
Tracking The Origins And Drivers Of Metastasis In Prostate Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,022,600.00
Summary
Prostate cancer is now the most commonly diagnosed cancer but only 10% of men with it, will die from it. Our current ability to discriminate between cancers with an indolent course and those that are lethal is poor. This project will examine the mixture of tumour clones (subclones) that are present in prostate cancers and define and track those cancer subclones that break away from the prostate and lodge in distant sites, causing death.