Identification Of Biomarkers Predictive Of Response To Bevacizumab In Patients With Glioblastoma Multiforme
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$32,628.00
Summary
Despite multimodality therapy, the median survival for patients diagnosed with high grade malignant brain tumours is only 12 months. Patient response to therapy is highly variable. Our aim is to develop a “genetic signature” that will predict response to bevacuzimab (an agent targeting blood vessel formation). Identifying patients who will respond to bevacuzimab will save many patients from a toxic and costly therapy, from which they will derive little benefit.
Biomarkers Of Phenotype, Prognosis And Response To Therapy In Pancreatic Cancer.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$105,845.00
Summary
Pancreatic cancer (PC) is the 4th leading cause of cancer deaths in our society. This research is aimed at the discovery of novel biomarkers with the ability to forecast prognosis and response to treatments in patients with PC. Ultimately, this will lead to the “individualisation” of the treatment for each patient, so that the most appropriate therapy could be given to an individual patient. This would significantly improve the overall survival and the quality of life for patients.
Enhancement Of The Anti-tumour Efficacy Of Ionising Radiation Through Inhibition Of Phosphoinositide 3-kinase
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$123,503.00
Summary
Radiation treatment alone is given to many cancer patients, however often it does not prevent cancers from recurring. Significant promise is offered by new drugs that target molecules which play a key role in cancer growth, and combining these drugs with radiation treatment may lead to improved patient outcomes. Understanding how these drugs enhance the anti-cancer effects of radiation is critical to selecting the most appropriate patients for treatment with this combination.
Australian Prostate Cancer Collaboration (APCC) Bio-Resource
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,310,000.00
Summary
The Australian Prostate Cancer Collaboration (APCC), supported by the Commonwealth Bank, Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia and Andrology Australia, has been developing an Australia-wide network of prostate tissue banks and associated clinical databases for the past 3 years. The concept of this innovative project is to establish “nodes” or branches of the tissue bank in each State where tissues are collected and to coordinate the use of this material from a central committee or “head office ....The Australian Prostate Cancer Collaboration (APCC), supported by the Commonwealth Bank, Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia and Andrology Australia, has been developing an Australia-wide network of prostate tissue banks and associated clinical databases for the past 3 years. The concept of this innovative project is to establish “nodes” or branches of the tissue bank in each State where tissues are collected and to coordinate the use of this material from a central committee or “head office”. A website has been established (www.apccbioresource.org.au) that is the national face of this ‘virtual’ national tissue bank and 7 State-based tissue bank consortiums are participating in this venture. The goal of this ‘virtual bank’ or network is to further enhance the national research effort by facilitating greater collaboration nationally and providing better access to, and optimal utilisation of, the clinical material available to facilitate improvements in prostate cancer management. Operational support for the nodes is critical for the success of a national Bio-Resource.Read moreRead less
The recent cloning of the breast cancer predisposition gene, BRCA1 had an unexpected consequence. Whereas mutations were found in affected individuals from families showing a predisposition to breast and ovarian cancer, mutations were not identified in breast cancers from individuals with no family history. We have identified a type of change called an epigenetic change affecting BRCA1 in breast and ovarian cancers. Epigenetic changes are mechanisms which act at a gene without causing mutations ....The recent cloning of the breast cancer predisposition gene, BRCA1 had an unexpected consequence. Whereas mutations were found in affected individuals from families showing a predisposition to breast and ovarian cancer, mutations were not identified in breast cancers from individuals with no family history. We have identified a type of change called an epigenetic change affecting BRCA1 in breast and ovarian cancers. Epigenetic changes are mechanisms which act at a gene without causing mutations but nevertheless have the stability of genetic change. We plan to examine breast tumours for further epigenetic changes. This project has important implications for our understanding of the development of breast cancer. This new understanding may in turn suggest new strategies for the treatment of breast cancer.Read moreRead less
Radiotherapy Vs Chemotherapy For Low-grade Gliomas Stratified For Genetic 1p Loss: Efficacy And Quality Of Life Benefits
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$410,316.00
Summary
Low-grade glioma is an uncommon malignant brain tumour. Surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy delay growth of this tumour, but cure is uncommon. Currently the goal of treatment is to control tumour growth for as long as possible whilst maintaining quality of life. This study compares treatment with radiotherapy with a new form of chemotherapy to see which treatment controls tumour growth most effectively, which produces the least side effects and which results in the better quality of life.
Novel Strategies In Cancer Cell Invasion In High-density 3D Matrix
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$60,768.00
Summary
The use of high-density (HD) matrix to study cell invasion sets precedence in mimicking the HD breast tissue condition that pose a real cancer risk. Cell invasion promotes the spread of cancer causing organ failures and death. The aims of this project are to determine the molecular mechanisms and to isolate new regulatory markers of cell invasion into HD matrix. Putative markers will be confirmed by investigating their expression levels in tissue arrays of 195 breast cancer samples.
Molecular Markers Of Phenotype, Therapeutic Responsiveness And Prognosis In Human Cancers.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$11,762,117.00
Summary
This proposal aims to identify molecular markers that can be used to classify subtypes of particular cancers according to their prognosis and response to therapy. This will optimise selection of patients for the most appropriate treatment and lead to the development of new therapeutic strategies.