Role Of Connective Tissue Growth Factor In The Pathobiology Of Lymphoid Tumours And Response To Therapy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$603,615.00
Summary
Leukaemia is the most common cancer in children and the improved cure rates are among the major biomedical advances of the past five decades. However, we still do not fully understand why leukaemia cells have a growth advantage. We identified the growth factor CTGF as being massively activated in leukaemia cells. The project aims to study the role of CTGF in bringing about the disease. Insights gained are expected to lead towards novel treatments for patients with leukaemia.
Targeting Drug-Resistance In Paediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$649,048.00
Summary
Leukaemia is the most common type of cancer in children but resistance to therapy continues to be a significant problem. This project will investigate the biology of drug-resistance and relapse using a mouse model that replicates the human disease. We hope to identify novel therapeutic targets that can be used in combination with existing therapies to improve outcomes in this disease, particularly for patients that develop drug-resistance such as those at the time of relapse.
Improving Risk Evaluation And Outcomes In Paediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$798,022.00
Summary
The main objective of this project is to make substantial improvements in the treatment of patients with childhood leukaemia by greater use of molecular diagnostics to measure minimal residual disease (MRD) and high risk genetic changes in Australian patients enrolled on an international clinical trial which has been designed to reduce the incidence of both relapses and long term side-effects.
An International Clinical Trial To Evaluate New Therapies To Improve Survival Of Children With Relapsed Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,567,500.00
Summary
Children who relapse with childhood leukaemia have only a 50% chance of being alive after 5 years. We will participate in a new international trial involving most European and all Australian and New Zealand childhood oncology centres, to test the effectiveness of promising new treatments and to perform biological studies which should enable doctors in future to pick the best treatment for each of these patients.