DNA methylation-based diagnosis of cancer and identification of novel therapeutic targets. In our aging society, cancer represents a severe economic and quality-of-life threat. DNA methylation switches genes off, and recently, it was shown that defects in DNA methylation contribute to human diseases including cancer. This project will identify defects in DNA methylation associated with cancer. Identifying these defects will enable us to design non-invasive, early diagnostic tests for cancer on b ....DNA methylation-based diagnosis of cancer and identification of novel therapeutic targets. In our aging society, cancer represents a severe economic and quality-of-life threat. DNA methylation switches genes off, and recently, it was shown that defects in DNA methylation contribute to human diseases including cancer. This project will identify defects in DNA methylation associated with cancer. Identifying these defects will enable us to design non-invasive, early diagnostic tests for cancer on blood or bodily excretions, and to pursue novel therapeutic approaches for treating cancer. The expected outcomes would generate exports to markets in the USA and Europe and replace imports of drugs and technology to treat cancer.Read moreRead less
Targeting mitochondria with mitocans to treat cancer: mechanistic aspects. Mitochondria are the power-house of the cell and also the reservoir of proteins causing the demise of cancer cells, therefore suppressing tumour progression. This project proposes a novel way to modify certain compounds, increasing their level in mitochondria in order to maximise their anti-cancer effect.
Psychosocial intervention to improve psychological and quality of life outcomes after cancer. Chronic diseases such as cancer have long-term negative effects on the quality of life of not only patients but also their carers. This project will develop effective ways to support individuals and carers to achieve optimal psychological and quality of life outcomes in the face of serious illness.
Improved Support For Regional And Remote Paediatric Oncology Families: A Randomised Controlled Trial Of Videotelephony
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$304,843.00
Summary
Childhood cancer presents a major life stressor for the entire family. Significant changes to the everyday lives of families, practically, socially and emotionally cause major disruption. There is evidence that this disruption results in isolation and poor communication between family members, anxiety, low self-esteem and school problems for siblings and anxiety, post-traumatic stress symptoms and risk of depression for parents. Providing ongoing support to these families is an essential part of ....Childhood cancer presents a major life stressor for the entire family. Significant changes to the everyday lives of families, practically, socially and emotionally cause major disruption. There is evidence that this disruption results in isolation and poor communication between family members, anxiety, low self-esteem and school problems for siblings and anxiety, post-traumatic stress symptoms and risk of depression for parents. Providing ongoing support to these families is an essential part of care. The Royal Children's Hospital (RCH) Paediatric Oncology Service in Brisbane is the major tertiary paediatric referral centre for Queensland, northern New South Wales and the southwest Pacific. A multidisciplinary team of medical, nursing, and allied health professionals provides care and support to children with cancer, as well as their families. Each year around 100 newly diagnosed patients are cared for. Around 60% of the families cared for by the service live in regional and remote areas. There are a number of challenges which inhibit the equitable provision of specialist health services to these areas including availability of health care professionals and accessibility due to distance, time, cost and transport. For paediatric oncology families, opportunities to receive support are limited. One possible solution is the use of online support mechanisms, such as videotelephony, to facilitate the provision of much needed support to patients, parents, siblings and the family as a whole. The objective of this research is to see if videotelephony can be used to support regional and remote families of the Royal Children's Hospital Paediatric Oncology Service providing indizidualised communication, education, counselling and monitoring. This will present a new and innovative use of videophone technology as well as a new method for supporting regional and remote oncology patients and their families.Read moreRead less
The MYB gene as a model for global transcriptional regulation: stopping, starting and looping. This project will study how transcriptional elongation controls the MYB gene, a key regulator of normal and cancerous growth and regulation. There are three major benefits that are likely to flow from the proposed research It will strengthen research in new and important areas of transcriptional regulation, by building research capacity in Australia in the area of gene expression, particularly with res ....The MYB gene as a model for global transcriptional regulation: stopping, starting and looping. This project will study how transcriptional elongation controls the MYB gene, a key regulator of normal and cancerous growth and regulation. There are three major benefits that are likely to flow from the proposed research It will strengthen research in new and important areas of transcriptional regulation, by building research capacity in Australia in the area of gene expression, particularly with respect to transcriptional elongation and long-range regulation. It will highlight a new approach to the therapeutic targeting of MYB in cancer: data generated from this research may enable us to target MYB expression in a range of cancers including breast cancer by inhibiting transcriptional elongation. And it will provide training in advanced molecular biology to postdoctoral scientists and students.Read moreRead less
THE ROLE OF SMALL NON CODING RNAS IN BONE MARROW MEDIATED TUMOR ANGIOGENESIS. Despite advances in treatment and diagnosis cancer remains the leading underlying cause of deaths, representing about a third of all deaths each year in Australia (ABS stats. www.abs.gov.au). The ability to understand the process of tumour vascularisation and spread has enormous economic and social outcomes. Indeed, the most effective anti-angiogenic therapy developed to date Avastin (aka Bevacizumab), although providi ....THE ROLE OF SMALL NON CODING RNAS IN BONE MARROW MEDIATED TUMOR ANGIOGENESIS. Despite advances in treatment and diagnosis cancer remains the leading underlying cause of deaths, representing about a third of all deaths each year in Australia (ABS stats. www.abs.gov.au). The ability to understand the process of tumour vascularisation and spread has enormous economic and social outcomes. Indeed, the most effective anti-angiogenic therapy developed to date Avastin (aka Bevacizumab), although providing only a modest survival advantage (4-6 months) has annual sales of several billion dollars. microRNA represent a relatively newly discovered form of gene activity regulation. Taking a key leadership role in this area will put Australian science at the forefront of international research initiatives.Read moreRead less
Novel vitamin E analogues disrupt autocrine signalling and angiogenesis: Mechanistic studies and relevance to cancer management. Breast and mesothelioma cancers present a severe problem in Australia and many patients succumb due to lack of appropriate treatment. We believe that vitamin E analogues, selective drugs efficient against cancer cells, hold a promise as future drugs against these two pathologies. Vitamin E analogues act by several mechanisms, including toxic effect on the cancer cells ....Novel vitamin E analogues disrupt autocrine signalling and angiogenesis: Mechanistic studies and relevance to cancer management. Breast and mesothelioma cancers present a severe problem in Australia and many patients succumb due to lack of appropriate treatment. We believe that vitamin E analogues, selective drugs efficient against cancer cells, hold a promise as future drugs against these two pathologies. Vitamin E analogues act by several mechanisms, including toxic effect on the cancer cells and also on cells that are necessary for efficient progression of tumours, such as cells of the malignant blood vessels. Results of this project will be used to prepare clinical testing of these highly promising drugs.Read moreRead less
Developing efficient cancer therapies by targeting of vitamin E analogues to mitochondria. We propose a new strategy of developing efficient anti-cancer agents. Results of this project will lead to establishing highly proising anti-cancer drugs and will open new approaches for the design of novel agents that efficiently kill cancer cells.
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.
Mitochondrially targeted anti-cancer drugs modulate the mitochondrial genome. Successful cancer management requires novel therapeutical approaches. This project will test the effect of a new class of compounds that target mitochondria, the powerhouse of the cells, where they suppress expression of mitochondrial genes. By this mechanism, cancers that are resistant to apoptosis induction can be inhibited.