Role Of Integrin Signalling In Breast And Prostate Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$411,931.00
Summary
Integrins have an essential role in the control of mammary gland development and cell function. During tumour progression, integrins enable cancer cells to detach, proliferate, migrate and survive during metastasis. To test whether integrins regulate breast and prostate tumour progression, mice with mammary or prostate specific integrin deletion will be crossed with mice engineered to develop cancer. The effects of integrin loss on tumour growth and metastasis will be determined.
Characterisation And Therapeutic Targeting Of Molecular Pathways That Promote Breast Cancer Metastasis To Bone
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$442,573.00
Summary
Breast cancer that has spread to bone cannot be cured. Using the most clinically relevant model of breast cancer available we have identified that tumour cells growing in bone need to suppress immune elimination (by suppressing the Type I interferons) and invade through the bone tissue (by activation of cysteine cathepsins). Studying the functional role of these pathways will provide novel insight into the mechanisms of breast cancer spread to bone that can be augmented therapeutically.
Dynamic In Vivo Imaging Of Molecular And Cellular Events Shaping The Immune Response In Mouse Models And Human Diseases
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$401,361.00
Summary
We plan to develop the instruments and associated technologies required to directly visualise biological processes as the occur in real-time deep inside living organisms. Thus we will use two-photon microscopy to provide deep tissue imaging of immune cell interactions in mouse models and confocal endomicroscopy to provide molecular imaging of cancer biomarkers in patients with colorectal cancer.
Identifying And Characterizing Genes That Regulate Breast Tumorigenesis And Metastasis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Summary
I am a breast cancer biologist. My research focuses on identifying the changes in normal cells that allow cancer to form, and identifying the changes in cancer cells that allows them to spread. To accomplish this, I have developed new methods using mouse models of breast cancer. My goal is to use these methods to further our understanding of the causes of breast cancer development and progression.
Investigating The Dynamic Interactions Between Immune And Cancer Cells Using Two-photon Intravital Microscopy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$401,361.00
Summary
Immune cells normally aid tumour destruction, but in some situations do the reverse and promote tumour spread. We will utilize cutting edge techniques including 2-photon microscopy together with novel transgenic mouse models to track immune cells in real time during tumour development in order to identify what factors determine a positive versus negative outcome. This will give us an unprecedented opportunity to ‘see’ how these cells interact with malignant cells which could lead to novel therap ....Immune cells normally aid tumour destruction, but in some situations do the reverse and promote tumour spread. We will utilize cutting edge techniques including 2-photon microscopy together with novel transgenic mouse models to track immune cells in real time during tumour development in order to identify what factors determine a positive versus negative outcome. This will give us an unprecedented opportunity to ‘see’ how these cells interact with malignant cells which could lead to novel therapeutic approaches.Read moreRead less