Transgenic Expression Of The EWS-WT1 Fusion Protein,inducing The Development Of Tumour That Replicates The Human Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$112,976.00
Summary
A genetic translocation encoding the EWS-WT1 fusion protein is found desmoplastic small round cell tumours. Our aim is to examine the effect of this protein in inducing tumour growth in tissue cell lines. A virus will then be used to introduce the genetic translocation into mice to examine the effect of this protein on tumour growth in a mammal, thereby serving as a 'solid tumour model' to try and identify therapeutic targets.
Investigating Tumour Biology Using Regulated RNAi In Cells And Mice
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$305,915.00
Summary
Inhibiting gene expression using the recently discovered process known as RNA interference (RNAi) can be used as an experimental tool to analyse specific genes, in cells and genetically engineered animal models of human disease. I propose to use RNAi to mimic human cancer gene mutations in mouse cancer models, and aim to discover novel tumour suppressor genes. A further aim is to validate potential drug targets in cancer by using RNAi to inhibit specific genes in established mouse tumours.
Investigating Tumour Maintenance Using Regulated RNA Interference
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$511,294.00
Summary
Inhibiting gene expression using the recently discovered process known as RNA interference (RNAi) can be used as an experimental tool to analyse specific genes, in cells and genetically engineered animal models of human disease. I propose to validate potential drug targets in cancer by using RNAi to inhibit specific genes in established mouse tumours. A further aim is to use RNAi to mimic human cancer gene mutations in mouse cancer models, to discover novel tumour suppressor genes.
In Vivo Role Of LMO4 And Isolation Of An LMO4-containing Proteosome In Breast Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$455,250.00
Summary
Breast cancer is the most common cancer to affect women, with one in 10 developing the disease. Although treatment of breast cancer has substantially improved over the last few years, 25% of women diagnosed with this cancer will die from the disease. A major objective of cancer research is the identification of genes involved in tumour development and definition of their precise role in both normal and cancer cells. The design of effective therapeutic inhibitors of cancer requires an understandi ....Breast cancer is the most common cancer to affect women, with one in 10 developing the disease. Although treatment of breast cancer has substantially improved over the last few years, 25% of women diagnosed with this cancer will die from the disease. A major objective of cancer research is the identification of genes involved in tumour development and definition of their precise role in both normal and cancer cells. The design of effective therapeutic inhibitors of cancer requires an understanding of the basic molecular and cellular biology behind the genetic changes thought to contribute to cancer. The focus of our research is to understand normal cellular mechanisms that drive growth and differentiation of breast tissue, and those changes that lead to breast cancer. Nuclear regulatory proteins have been implicated in many different types of cancers and leukaemias. We aim to identify the key regulators in breast tissue, characterising both their structural properties and biological roles, with the ultimate view of understanding how they divert a normal cell to a cancerous cell. This proposal centres on the characterisation of a specific regulatory molecule which we recently demonstrated to be overexpressed in 56% of human primary breast cancers and in 38% of pre-invasive ductal carcinoma in situ. These studies will include defining its normal biologic function and identification of the proteins that this regulator associates with in breast cancer cells.Read moreRead less
Convergence Of Activated C-myb And Wnt Pathways In Colon Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$256,320.00
Summary
c-myb is essential for the normal biology of the blood system and the colon. It is involved in regulating the balance between the production of new cells and their timely removal once they have completed their assigned tasks. Another group of factors that make up theWnt pathway also contribute to the normal biology of the colon in man and mouse. Defects that lead to too much c-myb and ineffective control of the Wnt pathway appear to work together to increase the risk and severity of colon cancer ....c-myb is essential for the normal biology of the blood system and the colon. It is involved in regulating the balance between the production of new cells and their timely removal once they have completed their assigned tasks. Another group of factors that make up theWnt pathway also contribute to the normal biology of the colon in man and mouse. Defects that lead to too much c-myb and ineffective control of the Wnt pathway appear to work together to increase the risk and severity of colon cancer. This project is designed to specifically test this observation in animals. In addition it examines in fine detail how c-myb levels increase in colon cancer and how it combines with the Wnt pathway to regulate other genes in colon cancer.Read moreRead less