Mechanisms Of Resistance To Immunological Targeting Of Primary And Metastatic Colorectal Cancers
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$612,828.00
Summary
The immune system influences the outcome in patients with cancer. We have been early adopters of immunotherapy approaches to target cancer cells using the novel approaches to enhance immune attack on cells that aberrantly express cancer regulators. These represent drivers to which cancer cells are addicted. A central tenant of optimizing immunotherapies has been to employ immune stimuli in concert with removing immune blocking systems. Our research plan is to improve immunotherapy efficiency.
Translating Risk Models To Improve Prevention And Early Diagnosis Of Cancer In Primary Care
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$479,882.00
Summary
Primary care plays a key role in prevention and early diagnosis of cancer. This fellowship will apply evidence about cancer risk to help GPs provide tailored advice to patients about preventing common cancers. It will also use new risk tools to assess people with symptoms suggestive of cancer to support earlier diagnosis. The research extends to studies relating to how people interpret symptoms and ways of promoting earlier presentation to the GP in patients who are at higher risk of cancer.
The CRISP Trial: An RCT Of Risk Assessment And Decision Support To Implement Risk-stratified Colorectal Cancer Screening In Primary Care.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$936,641.00
Summary
There is a mismatch between people’s use of bowel cancer screening tests through faecal occult blood testing or colonoscopy and their individual risk of bowel cancer. Building on the work of our NHMRC Centre for Research Excellence (CRE) on Optimising Colorectal Cancer Screening, this trial will test the effect of an electronic risk assessment tool, implemented in general practice, on use of the most appropriate screening test for bowel cancer based on a person’s risk of developing the condition
This award will allow Associate Professor Marie Pirotta to continue her work in establishing whether the complementary medicines widely used in our community for cancer are actually effective and safe. Her research plans include a clinical trial of acupuncture for arm swelling after breast cancer surgery and of the nutrient lycopene, found in tomatoes, for symptoms in men after treatment for prostate cancer.
The incidence of melanoma in Australia continues to increase, with Queensland having the highest incidence worldwide. This research uses latest advances in genomics, imaging technologies and microbiopsy devices to develop a personalized screening program for high-risk individuals, with the aim of improving early detection, and reducing the burden of melanoma.
Improving Implementation Of Guideline Recommendations For Early Detection And Prevention Of Cancer In General Practice
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$277,205.00
Summary
An intervention targeting key barriers to preventive care will be implemented in 3 general practices. A multiple baseline design will be used to evaluate the success of the intervention. Key outcomes will include the proportion of eligible patients within each practice for whom 3 or more health risk behaviours have been assessed in accordance with guidelines recommendations; and the proportion of eligible patients who have been screened appropriately for breast, cervical and bowel cancer.
Use Of Advanced Bronchoscopic Techniques In The Diagnosis And Staging Of Suspected Primary Lung Cancer.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$118,796.00
Summary
Lung cancer is common in Australia. Multiple diagnostic procedures may be used, thought they have never been directly compared. Our study will determine the optimal path of investigation of patients with suspected lung cancer, examining safety, diagnostic accuracy, cost, and the ability to provide essential information required in lung cancer care. Work will focus on use of CT-guided tests, or bronchoscopy (examination of the inside of the airways), the two most commonly used diagnostic methods.
Molecular Classification Of Carcinoma Of Unknown Primary
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$418,250.00
Summary
Carcinoma of unknown primary (CUP) is the fourth largest cause of cancer death. The condition has a particularly poor outlook, with a median survival of less than one year. Current methods for diagnosis of CUP include histopathology and sophisticated imaging. These are successful in approximately 40% of cases. Frequently the reason for the poor outcome in this disease is that the 60% of patients with CUP for whom no diagnosis is made do not benefit from chemotherapy specifically designed for a p ....Carcinoma of unknown primary (CUP) is the fourth largest cause of cancer death. The condition has a particularly poor outlook, with a median survival of less than one year. Current methods for diagnosis of CUP include histopathology and sophisticated imaging. These are successful in approximately 40% of cases. Frequently the reason for the poor outcome in this disease is that the 60% of patients with CUP for whom no diagnosis is made do not benefit from chemotherapy specifically designed for a particular tumour origin. These patients receive a less effective, generic, chemotherapy. The aim of this project is to use microarrays to identify the gene expression profile in many known tumours to create a molecular fingerprint of the various tumour types. By comparing the fingerprint from a CUP with the database we should be able to identify the true tumour type in CUP, and allow patients to benefit from more specific chemotherapy.Read moreRead less
Investigation Of The Role Of The Renin-Angiotensin System In Hepatic Fibrosis.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$246,990.00
Summary
Hepatic fibrosis is a common response to chronic liver injury, during which the normal liver architecture is distorted by scar tissue. Hepatic fibrosis can lead to cirrhosis and liver transplantation may be required for patients with liver failure and hepatocellular carcinoma. The chronic liver injury may result from a number of causes including alcohol, persistent viral infections and metabolic disorders. The mechanisms causing fibrosis in liver are similar to those causing fibrosis in other or ....Hepatic fibrosis is a common response to chronic liver injury, during which the normal liver architecture is distorted by scar tissue. Hepatic fibrosis can lead to cirrhosis and liver transplantation may be required for patients with liver failure and hepatocellular carcinoma. The chronic liver injury may result from a number of causes including alcohol, persistent viral infections and metabolic disorders. The mechanisms causing fibrosis in liver are similar to those causing fibrosis in other organs such as kidney and heart. In those organs, the renin-angiotensin system has been shown to contribute to the progression of fibrosis. This system has not been investigated in hepatic fibrosis. We have recently shown in patients with chronic hepatitis C (HCV), that those patients who are genetically pre-disposed to produce higher levels of angiotensin have more liver fibrosis. This application will investigate the role of the renin-angiotensin system in hepatic fibrosis and whether using currently available drugs to inhibit this system can decrease the rate of progression of fibrosis in liver. Liver failure due to chronic HCV infection is currently the leading indication for liver transplantation in Australia. For those patients who fail to respond to anti-viral therapy, there are currently no approved therapeutic options designed to delay or reverse the progression of fibrosis. Based on current known numbers of HCV patients it has been estimated that by the year 2020, over 2000 HCV patients will require a liver transplant each year in Queensland alone. Currently the number of donor livers available allows about 50 transplants per year. Thus there is a desperate need for therapeutic treatments that will delay or reverse the progression of hepatic fibrosis. A successful conclusion to this study will provide a clinically useful treatment strategy that can delay the progression of hepatic fibrosis and thus prevent the need for liver transplantation in many patients.Read moreRead less