Molecular Mechanisms That Mediate The Anti-osteosarcoma Properties Of Pigment Epithelium-derived Factor (PEDF)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$123,453.00
Summary
Cancer results from a sequence of alterations to genes which lead to abnormal cells dividing without control. Osteosarcoma is a cancer involving bone and can rapidly spread to surrounding and distant tissues. A number of mediators have been identified as being able to provide some regulation of this abnormal cell division. Pigment epithelium-derived factor is one such protein and further understanding of how it achieves this could be used for the development of targeted osteosarcoma treatment.
Contribution Of Tumour And Stroma Derived Cysteine Cathepsins To Breast Cancer Metastasis To Bone
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$447,094.00
Summary
Breast cancer is a serious clinical problem once the disease spreads to distant tissues such as lung and bone. We have identified a group of genes called the cysteine cathepsin proteases that have increased activity in breast cancers that spread to bone and we have shown this in a mouse model and also in human cancer. We will investigate the contribution of these genes to invasion and test whether inhibiting specific cathepsins can prevent spread of breast cancer to bone in our mouse model .
Integrin Beta3 As A Therapeutic Target For Breast Cancer Metastasis To Bone
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$431,675.00
Summary
There are limited effective treatments for advanced breast cancer. The project investigates the role of a protein called integrin beta3 in the spread of breast tumours to bone, the most common site of secondary tumour formation (metastasis) in breast cancer patients. We will determine if the presence of integrin beta3 in breast tumours identifies patients at risk of developing bone metastases and test novel drugs against integrin beta3 in mice.