Cancer is still a major cause of mortality in adults and children. Several lines of evidence suggest that some childhood cancers may arise due to factors, which interfere with the normal process of early development in embryonal tissues. The nature of the molecular factors which derail normal embryogenesis, their mechanism and timing, is vital information for efforts to generate novel pharmaceuticals. Moreover, factors which are necessary for tumour initiation, might be very good targets for a c ....Cancer is still a major cause of mortality in adults and children. Several lines of evidence suggest that some childhood cancers may arise due to factors, which interfere with the normal process of early development in embryonal tissues. The nature of the molecular factors which derail normal embryogenesis, their mechanism and timing, is vital information for efforts to generate novel pharmaceuticals. Moreover, factors which are necessary for tumour initiation, might be very good targets for a cancer prevention strategy. If entirely successful, our experiments will show that the MYCN oncoprotein is a key factor in the very earliest stages of neuroblastoma tumour formation, we will define the mechanism of the MYCN effect on the normal process of neural crest development, and, we will provide a basis for future cancer prevention strategies in children with this disease.Read moreRead less
Improving Sexual Health In Men With Prostate Cancer: Randomised Controlled Trial Of Exercise And Psychosexual Therapies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$583,416.00
Summary
Sexual dysfunction is one of the most common and distressing side effects of prostate cancer. Despite being a critical survivorship care issue, there is a clear gap in knowledge surrounding the optimal treatment of sexual dysfunction in men with prostate cancer. This project examines whether exercise aids in the management of sexual dysfunction and explores if an integrated treatment model incorporating pharmacological, exercise and psychosexual therapies maximises improvement in sexual health.
Immunotherapy In Mismatch Repair-deficient Colorectal Cancers
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$318,768.00
Summary
A new drug called PD-1 is effective in treating bowel cancers occurring in people at high risk of cancer called Lynch syndrome but little is known why PD-1 is effective at treating these cancer types. Initial studies have found that certain attributes of these cancers such as high amounts of inflammation may help to predict why these cancers respond to PD-1 but further studies of these tumors are needed to identify other tumor characteristics that may help predict responsiveness to PD-1.
Determining The Clinical Relevance Of Intratumour Heterogeneity In Breast Cancer And Its Relationship To Metastases Formation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$314,644.00
Summary
Breast cancer metastasis is generally an incurable disease, yet it is not well-understood. This project aims to understand how cancer metastasises by using a novel and unique approach of analysing multiple regions from matched primary and metastatic tumours from breast cancer patients. Expected outcomes include identifying predictors of treatment resistance and resultant personalised management and therapeutic strategies to improve survival outcomes of breast cancer patients.
Identifying The Missing Heritability Of Breast Cancer.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$461,104.00
Summary
One of the strongest risk factors for the development of breast cancer is having a close relative with the disease. Some advances have been made in understanding the specific genetic factors that underlie this susceptibility but these known genetic factors only explain about a third of the overall familial effects. This research will utilise our prior research, international research resources, new technology and supercomputing to identify the majority of genetic factors associated with breast c ....One of the strongest risk factors for the development of breast cancer is having a close relative with the disease. Some advances have been made in understanding the specific genetic factors that underlie this susceptibility but these known genetic factors only explain about a third of the overall familial effects. This research will utilise our prior research, international research resources, new technology and supercomputing to identify the majority of genetic factors associated with breast cancer susceptibility.Read moreRead less