Characterization Of Ras-Stimulated Macropinocytosis In Pancreatic Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$470,964.00
Summary
Pancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the most lethal human cancers, namely due to frequent late stage diagnosis. Thus, there is urgent need to better understand the biology of this disease. Cancer cells are characteristically more reliant on nutrients in order to sustain their growth, making them more vulnerable to inhibition of nutrient supplies. The key aim of this project is to better understand the ways in which PC cells take up nutrients so that these processes may potentially be blocked.
Cancer cachexia is a devastating disease characterised by skeletal muscle wasting and weakness. It impairs patient quality of life and accounts for >20% of cancer-related deaths. My work aims to identify factors contributing to the development of cancer cachexia. This insight will then enable me to test potential strategies to prevent the wasting seen in cancer patients to improve their quality of life and to reduce mortality.