Combined Novel Tumour-targeted Molecular And Traditional Chemotherapy For Treating Androgen Refractory Prostate Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$551,398.00
Summary
Consistent with Cancer Australia and PCFA priorities, in preclinical studies we will evaluate triple therapy for advanced prostate cancer.The three treatments to be tested together are adenoviruses, gene therapy and docetaxel, each of which has therapeutic potential individually. The combination should increase therapeutic effiacy and decrease the doses required, thus reducing side effects and increasing quality of life. Results obtained should enable translation to a clinical trial.
Strategies For Enhancing The Treatment Of Colon Cancer.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$590,785.00
Summary
Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer related death in Australia. Strategies to improve outcomes for these patients are urgently needed. This NHMRC SRF Fellowship will seek to identify new molecules in cancer cells which can be targeted to treat this disease, and to discover genes which can be used to improve patient response to treatment.
Tumour-on-a-chip Models For Ex-vivo Profiling Of Immune Checkpoint Blockades
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$431,000.00
Summary
The overall goal of this project is to build novel 3D biochips to culture primary human tumors with their immune cells, and to investigate patient specific responses to immune checkpoint blockade ex-vivo. Since there are currently no validated methodologies to study immunotherapy response in patient-derived cancer specimens, this proposal has the potential to provide a state-of-the art technology for the ‘personalization’ of immunotherapy.
Cellular And Molecular Mechanisms Of Hedgehog Signaling In Breast Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$551,937.00
Summary
Breast cancer cells create the conditions for their own survival by communicating their needs to the healthy cells that surround them. We have previously shown that a molecule known as ‘hedgehog’ transmits biochemical signals between breast cancer cells and healthy cells. When hedgehog is ‘silenced’, tumours shrink and stop their spread. In this application, we will identify the cells receiving the hedgehog signal and identify how they support the growth and spread of breast cancers.
Cancer Genetics, Epigenetics And Targeted Therapies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$873,684.00
Summary
I aim to gain greater insight into how blood cancers arise and how we should ultimately treat patients with these diseases. I will identify the genetic defects that underpin the development of blood cancers, how these genetic defects de-regulate gene expression through so-called “epigenetic” changes to allow these abnormal blood cells grow and survive. I will test the activity of small molecules that interfere with the cancer-causing epigenetic and signaling pathways in experimental models.
Therapeutic Induction Of Tertiary Lymph Nodes In Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$995,010.00
Summary
Immunotherapy has been an important recent advance in cancer treatment by using the body's own immune cells to fight cancer. Although there have been unprecedented dramatic results, not all patients benefit, and most benefits are temporary. The cellular environment in which cancers are embedded is crucial for controlling treatment success. We aim to apply novel 'precision' therapies to this environment to expose the cancer and enable attack by immune cells for improved immunotherapy.
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.
Over half of all cancers contain mutations in a gene called TP53, also known as the “guardian of the genome”. Mutation of TP53 provides tumour cells with a growth advantage, and leads to resistance to chemotherapy and poor outcomes for patients. We have identified a potential “Achilles heel” in cancers with TP53 mutations. In this project we will establish a new paradigm for treating tumours with TP53 mutations that will be applicable to a large number of patients across all types of cancer.
Personalised Medicine Markers Of Anti-EGFR Antibody Therapy In Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: Accelerating Clinical Translation With Collaborative Meta-analyses Based On Individual-participant Data
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$300,953.00
Summary
When selecting cancer therapy we take into account ‘biomarkers’, biological cancer characteristics that predict treatment success. We will work with an international group, the Advanced Colorectal Cancer Database, to analyse individual patient clinical trial data. We intend to validate biomarkers used to select treatment with cetuximab or panitumumab. Cancer genes called KRAS, NRAS, PTEN, PIK3CA, EREG and BRAF will be examined. Our study will provide best evidence for personalised treatment.