Melanoma is one of Australia s major cancer problems, but we still do not completely understand why certain people are at higher risk than others. This study is focussed on people who have a strong family history of melanoma, and is part of continuing efforts to identify the gene variants that contribute to melanoma risk. Most of the work described takes place as part of national and international collaborations to map and identify these melanoma susceptibility genes and to characterise their ef ....Melanoma is one of Australia s major cancer problems, but we still do not completely understand why certain people are at higher risk than others. This study is focussed on people who have a strong family history of melanoma, and is part of continuing efforts to identify the gene variants that contribute to melanoma risk. Most of the work described takes place as part of national and international collaborations to map and identify these melanoma susceptibility genes and to characterise their effects. Potential benefits from this research will be a better understanding of the place of genetic testing in assessing people s risk of melanoma, particularly if they have relatives with the disease, and way in which skin features like moles should be taken into account in that assessment. In addition, it is likely that better information about the genes altered in melanoma susceptibility and development will point to useful targets for development of novel anti-cancer agents.Read moreRead less
Mapping And Identification Of Novel Breast Cancer Susceptibility Genes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$354,419.00
Summary
Breast cancer is one of Australia?s major cancer problems, but we still do not fully understand why certain people are at higher risk of the disease than others. In recent years two genes have been shown to be abnormal in a small number of people with strong family history of breast cancer and-or ovarian cancer. This study will search for the identity of other genes of this kind. It will take advantage of a large network of researchers which has been working to recruit women with a strong family ....Breast cancer is one of Australia?s major cancer problems, but we still do not fully understand why certain people are at higher risk of the disease than others. In recent years two genes have been shown to be abnormal in a small number of people with strong family history of breast cancer and-or ovarian cancer. This study will search for the identity of other genes of this kind. It will take advantage of a large network of researchers which has been working to recruit women with a strong family history of breast cancer from around Australia over the last two years. In this short time such large numbers of women have come forward that a study of this kind will be among the largest in the world. The results of this research, in terms of location of possible new genes causing high risk of breast cancer, will be shared with other researchers in Europe and the US who are working toward the same goals. This will ensure that progress is as rapid as possible. Based on experience with the two previously discovered breast cancer genes, this research will also shed light on the types of changes that drive the malignancy of breast cancer cells. It will have implications for improved prevention, diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer.Read moreRead less
Identifying Modifiers For Plasmacytoma Susceptibility
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$265,500.00
Summary
Many oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes have been identified. Activation or deletion of these genes can have profound effects on the control of cell growth and result in tumours. Many tumour suppressor genes give carriers an elevated risk of disease. However in many cases the incidence of these mutations causing cancer is much lower than would be expected, due to other influencing factors. This project aims to try and understand the reasons behind this in a mouse model of cancer, plasmacytoma ....Many oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes have been identified. Activation or deletion of these genes can have profound effects on the control of cell growth and result in tumours. Many tumour suppressor genes give carriers an elevated risk of disease. However in many cases the incidence of these mutations causing cancer is much lower than would be expected, due to other influencing factors. This project aims to try and understand the reasons behind this in a mouse model of cancer, plasmacytomas. Modifers of tumour incidence are proposed for human disease but very little is known about the identity of the genes involved or in the biological pathways regulating tumour incidence. The search for these genes in humans is difficult. We have begun studies to find modifiers of tumourigenesis using the E -v-abl transgenic model of plasmacytomas. This is the mouse equivalent of multiple myeloma. Studies have shown that some strains of mice have markedly different incidences of tumours. C57BL-6 animals are less susceptible with 20% of animals developing tumour by 12 months of age. In contrast, 90% of transgenic animals on the BALB-c background develop tumour by 12 months of age. There is also a significant sex difference with males being more susceptible than females. There is a similar difference in susceptibility in humans to multiple myeloma.Read moreRead less
Determining Patients And Doctors Preferences For Chemotherapy And Incorporating Them Into Clinical Decision-making
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$87,234.00
Summary
Chemotherapy improves survival in early lung cancer and advanced ovarian cancer but has significant side effects. Recent advances in chemotherapy have not been widely adopted because of differing opinions about whether the benefits of these treatments outweigh their harms. This research program will determine the benefits that patients and their doctors judge necessary to make these treatments worthwhile, and how best to incorporate this information into clinical discussions and decision-making.
Identifying The Targets Of MiRNA Regulation In Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$290,600.00
Summary
microRNAs are noncoding RNAs with fundamental functions in biology and significant roles disease. microRNAs control gene expression by destroying RNA or controlling its translation into cellular proteins. To determine how certain microRNAs cause human disease it is essential to know their RNA targets. We are developing methods to identify these targets and aim to apply these methods to identify the targets of microRNAs with known roles in cancer.
Integrin Beta3 As A Therapeutic Target For Breast Cancer Metastasis To Bone
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$431,675.00
Summary
There are limited effective treatments for advanced breast cancer. The project investigates the role of a protein called integrin beta3 in the spread of breast tumours to bone, the most common site of secondary tumour formation (metastasis) in breast cancer patients. We will determine if the presence of integrin beta3 in breast tumours identifies patients at risk of developing bone metastases and test novel drugs against integrin beta3 in mice.
I am a medical oncologist and tumour immunologist, dedicated to basic and translational clinical research particularly in the field of urological cancer and also in melanoma.
An In-vivo Model Of Acquired Chemoresistance In Small Cell Lung Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$363,827.00
Summary
Lung cancer is a common and lethal disease in our community. In this project, we explore how a very aggressive form of lung cancer becomes resistant to chemotherapy. To do this, we use a new mouse model of lung cancer in which we can study how human lung cancer cells develop resistance to chemotherapy in vivo. Understanding these pathways will help us to better treat lung cancer with chemotherapy.