Muir Torre Syndrome: The Role Of IHC And Genotyping In Sebaceous Neoplasia To Facilitate Prevention Strategies In Colorectal And Endometrial Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$396,786.00
Summary
Sebaceous neoplasia (SN), may be an early warning sign for Lynch syndrome (LS), an inherited cancer predisposition caused by mutations in a group of genes. There are high lifetime risks of bowel and uterine cancer, for which there are effective risk management plans if the risk is known. Clinicians are challenged by the role of SN in identifying LS. At present, it is hard to differentiate. We aim to determine features to improve the diagnosis of LS carriers.
Expanding Diagnostic Approaches For Lynch Syndrome
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,269,355.00
Summary
Currently, there are ~1,000 families who have attended Family Cancer Clinics across Australia who have the hallmarks of having Lynch syndrome, a hereditary bowel cancer syndrome, but who have no gene defect identified, i.e. their cancer is unexplained. Clinicians are challenged by these “Lynch-like” patients as their family cancer risk is unknown. Our research has identified new gene defects in Lynch-like patients. Our aim is to optimise clinical testing approaches for Lynch-like patients.
The Mutagenic Influence Of 5-methylcytosine And Its Relevance For Cancer Treatment
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$844,462.00
Summary
Over time our cells accumulate damage to their DNA, which introduces mistakes in the genetic code. These mistakes can alter genes that regulate cell growth and survival and, in this way, they begin the process of turning a normal cell into a cancer. This research is investigating the cellular repair mechanisms that safeguard against DNA damage. Manipulating these repair mechanisms may offer a new way to treat cancer, by selectively inducing DNA damage within cancer cells.
Tailoring Targeted Therapy To DNA Repair-defective High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$802,247.00
Summary
Ovarian cancer is a major cause of cancer death in women because current treatments are inadequate. Half of aggressive ovarian cancers have abnormalities in DNA repair and should be susceptible to new PARP inhibitor therapy, yet not all those respond. By developing a new model of studying human ovarian cancers in mice, we can discover markers to predict which ovarian cancers will respond best to these exciting new treatments.
Evolutionary Genomics Approaches For Studying Acquisition Of Drug Resistance In Tumours
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$313,390.00
Summary
Chemotherapy often fails because some of the cells in tumour evolve resistance to the drugs the patient is given, causing relapse. We study how a tumour’s unstable genome and high rate of mutation drives its evolution by observing tumour cells in the laboratory as they evolve resistance to drugs and the genetic differences between resistant and sensitive cells. This work will help develop therapeutic strategies to prevent tumours from evolving resistance to chemotherapy.
Comprehensive Assessment Of Genetic And Environmental Risk Factors For Melanoma: A Population-based Family Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$150,679.00
Summary
Excessive sunlight can cause melanoma, a serious type of skin cancer. However, there are other factors including a person's genetic make-up that are thought to put some people at higher risk. Many 'healthy' people have small changes in their genes that might make them more likely to develop melanoma. We need to know more about these genetic factors. Our study will investigate how particular small genetic changes influence a person's likelihood of developing melanoma.