A Genomic Approach Towards An Understanding Of Clonal Evolution And Disease Progression In Multiple Myeloma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$671,689.00
Summary
Cancer development is associated with changes in the genetic composition of the cell. These changes involve the loss/gain of genetic material and/or changes in gene expression. Using sophisticated technology, we will define the changes in the genes that are associated with the transition from a benign to a malignant cancer state. We will examine this process in the blood cancer, multiple myeloma, in order to identify new treatment targets for this incurable disease.
Identification And Molecular Characterisation Of High-risk Premalignant Breast Lesions
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$560,382.00
Summary
Understanding the full repertoire of genetic events that underlie the development of breast cancer may allow development of prevention strategies. This study will analyse genetic data of benign breast lesions that may be non-obligate precursors of breast cancer. Importantly, clinical management of these lesions is difficult. A reliable method of predicting the risk of progression to cancer would be a significant advance, with benefits to individual patients and also the health system.
Melanoma Mutation Profiling For Personalised Treatment
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$571,191.00
Summary
Melanoma is an aggressive skin cancer, and the leading cause of skin cancer related deaths. Disease spread is difficult to detect and extremely difficult to cure. This bleak clinical outcome is changing with the development of personalised therapies which include small molecule inhibitors to treat metastatic melanoma. Here we seek to identify the spectrum of mutations in patient tumours and circulating tumour cells for advanced personalised treatment.
A Comprehensive Genomic Analysis Of Oesophageal Adenocarcinoma: Understanding The Genetic Aetiology Of OAC Towards Biomarkers Of Progression, Prognosis And Targeted Treatment.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$987,906.00
Summary
Oesophageal cancer (OAC) continues to have poor survival despite surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Selecting patients for the most appropriate therapies and improving survival remain unmet research needs. We propose to undertake a detailed genetic study of OAC, including “next generation” sequencing, in order to catalogue the genetic changes in the disease. This information forms an essential basis for identifying genetic signatures of OAC progression, prognosis and treatment response.
Identification Of Genes Responsible For Familial Predispositions To Haematological Malignancies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$713,944.00
Summary
A successful approach to the identification of cancer genes has been to study the 5-10% of cases that occur in families with an inherited predisposition to develop cancer. In contrast to solid tumors, few cancer-causing germ-line mutations have been identified for hematological cancers. We are using cutting edge technologies to identify blood cancer genes in a collection of both Australian and international families and comparing them to similar sporadic cancers.