Clinical And Molecular Analyses Of Nodular Melanoma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$130,904.00
Summary
There have been very recent advances in our understanding of the biology of melanoma that are now poised to have major impacts in the outcome of patients with this disease. The nodular subtype of melanoma contributes disproportionately to mortality from melanoma. By using the latest molecular techniques to study these melanomas I will identify causative factors, diagnostic features and molecular profiles associated with these poor-prognosis melanomas leading to new approaches in the prevention, ....There have been very recent advances in our understanding of the biology of melanoma that are now poised to have major impacts in the outcome of patients with this disease. The nodular subtype of melanoma contributes disproportionately to mortality from melanoma. By using the latest molecular techniques to study these melanomas I will identify causative factors, diagnostic features and molecular profiles associated with these poor-prognosis melanomas leading to new approaches in the prevention, early detection and treatment of these melanomas.Read moreRead less
Identification And Erradication Of Pre-malignant B Cells In The Prevention Of Lymphoma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$607,771.00
Summary
B Cell Lymphoma is the most frequent type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in adults and despite improved treatment, 40-50% of patients succumb to their disease. T cells are critical in the in the prevention B cell lymphoma development. In this project we aim to identify the earliest stages of B cell lymphoma and mechanisms of escape from T cell control with the ultimate aim to translate these findings to human studies to improve disease diagnosis, treatment and prognosis.
Development Of Effective Biomarkers For The Diagnosis And Prognosis Of Prostate Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,062,585.00
Summary
Every year ~20,000 Australian men are diagnosed with prostate cancer and more than 3,000 die of this disease. The current PSA test for the diagnosis of prostate cancer is not specific and this can result in incorrect diagnosis, unnecessary biopsies and lead to wrong treatments. We have discovered a novel change in the biology of prostate cancer. We will use this information to develop new tests for prostate cancer, which provide early accurate detection and can predict disease progression.
Role Of Proline-rich Tyrosine Kinase 2 (Pyk2) In Ovarian Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$85,254.00
Summary
Ovarian cancer is one of the most lethal gynaecological cancers in the developed world. Elevated levels of gonadotropin hormones and cell protein Pyk2 have been implicated in ovarian cancer. Our aim is to determine the role of Pyk2 in growth and metastasis of ovarian cancer when stimulated with gonadotropins. In addition, we aim to identify protein changes which occur in ovarian cancer when stimulated by gonadotropins in order to identify new biomarkers for the disease.
Neuroblastoma (NB) is a common cancer in children, and one of the hardest to cure. Some mature into a benign tumour without needing any treatment, others are aggressive and require intensive treatment, and some regrow despite all treatment. It is often difficult to predict accurately how NBs will behave. We will study the two ways NBs can undergo unlimited growth, to determine whether this predicts tumour behavior, and therefore what treatment is needed.
Molecular Characterisation Of Telomere Trimming And Its Role In Cell Proliferative Capacity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$403,439.00
Summary
Telomeres are protective structures at the ends of chromosomes. Telomere length is a major determinant of how many times a cell can proliferate. We have recently discovered a rapid telomere shortening process that we have called telomere trimming. We will analyse the molecular details of this process to determine whether it could be used to shorten telomeres and stop cancer cell proliferation, and whether blocking it could increase cell proliferation in patients with short telomere syndromes.
Using MiR-200 To Find New Therapeutic Targets For Neuroblastoma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$563,152.00
Summary
Neuroblastoma is one of the most common cancers in children. We have found that a genetic regulator, called microRNA, can limit the ability of neuroblastoma cells to invade surrounding tissues and metastasise. We aim use the microRNAs to find new therapeutic targets that may work in combination with existing treatments, reducing the short term toxicity and long term deleterious effects of current treatments.
Interaction Of TRF2 With DNA Repair Proteins In Alternative Lengthening Of Telomeres
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$297,246.00
Summary
10-15% of human cancers, including some of the most difficult-to-treat and aggressive, depend for their continuing growth on a molecular process called Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres (ALT). We have identified for the first time a protein whose normal role includes repressing ALT. We will study how this protein works, what its molecular partners are, and how these molecules interact with each other. This information is expected to lay the foundations for cancer treatments that target ALT.