Detection Of Metastases In Sentinel Nodes From Patients With Breast Cancer Using Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$186,372.00
Summary
The objective is to develop magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) for the rapid and accurate intra-operative detection of cancer cells in sentinel lymph nodes from breast cancer patients. Accurate intra-operative diagnosis of cancer in lymph nodes will enable informed decisions to be made regarding surgery and therapy and reduce the morbidity associated with complete clearance of axillary nodes. Using current histopathological techniques (frozen section) this is not possible. Proton MRS can dete ....The objective is to develop magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) for the rapid and accurate intra-operative detection of cancer cells in sentinel lymph nodes from breast cancer patients. Accurate intra-operative diagnosis of cancer in lymph nodes will enable informed decisions to be made regarding surgery and therapy and reduce the morbidity associated with complete clearance of axillary nodes. Using current histopathological techniques (frozen section) this is not possible. Proton MRS can detect chemicals in malignant cells in lymph nodes with a greater sensitivity than histology and can detect micrometastases in 20 minutes. The MR diagnostic information can be obtained from fine needle biopsies (FNB) making the technique eminently suitable for rapid intra-operative diagnosis. The FNB technique has been shown to be a rapid and accurate method for the assessment of breast lesions, distinguishing benign lesions and invasive cancer with a sensitiviy and specificity of 95% and 96%, respectively. Here we propose to evaluate the use of MRS for the rapid and accurate assessment of sentinel nodes from breast cancer patients. Two blinded studies will be conducted comparing the MRS chemical fingerprints with serial section histopathological data. To evaluate the clinical significance of the MRS diagnosis, all patients will be entered into a prospective study correlating the MRS data with recurrence of disease within 3 and 5 year periods.Read moreRead less
Relationship Between Cell-cell Interactions And Disease Severity In Patients With Cerebral Malaria
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$545,183.00
Summary
Severe malaria is a collection of disease complications that leads to about 2 million deaths each year worldwide. Young children in Africa and young adults in several parts of South-East Asia are particularly affected. Travellers to these regions are also at considerable risk. One of the most dangerous complications of malaria is when the brain becomes affected, which is called cerebral malaria. We still do not understand enough about the changes that link the parasite circulating in the blood w ....Severe malaria is a collection of disease complications that leads to about 2 million deaths each year worldwide. Young children in Africa and young adults in several parts of South-East Asia are particularly affected. Travellers to these regions are also at considerable risk. One of the most dangerous complications of malaria is when the brain becomes affected, which is called cerebral malaria. We still do not understand enough about the changes that link the parasite circulating in the blood with the devastating disturbance of brain function that causes death in some people who develop cerebral malaria. In this project we will investigate some new ideas about how cerebral malaria develops. We will perform a detailed study of brain tissue taken from victims of cerebral malaria and compare the observations with similar ones in children who died of other causes. Then we will work with an experimental model we have developed, in which we put together in culture flasks the various types of cell that are found in the brain lesions in people who die from cerebral malaria. Our aim is to identify some new therapeutic targets for later use in treatment of cerebral malaria patients.Read moreRead less
Endothelial Cell Membrane Stabilisation: Deciphering Protective Mechanisms Against Cerebral Malaria
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$358,319.00
Summary
Each year 3.2 billion people are exposed to the threat of malaria, resulting in about 2 million deaths annually. Deaths due to malaria often result from complications that affect the brain; this is called cerebral malaria . We still do not understand enough about the changes that cause cerebral malaria, so this project will investigate some new ideas about how cerebral malaria develops. Our aim is to identify new therapeutic targets that could help people survive this fatal disease.