Pathophysiology And Alternative Preventative Strategy For Breast Cancer Chemotherapy-induced Bone Loss
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$540,356.00
Summary
Combination cytotoxic chemotherapy is the current optimal approach for treating breast cancer in premenopausal women. However, long-term skeletal defects (osteoporosis and fractures) caused by the chemotherapy have become an increasingly serious problem due to its intensified use and improved patient survival rate. This project seeks to elucidate the mechanisms for chemotherapy-induced bone defects and to initiate development of a preventative treatment using natural bioactive micronutrients.
New Drugs To Counteract The Side Effects And Premature Ageing Caused By Chemotherapy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$577,658.00
Summary
During cancer treatment, commonly used chemotherapy drugs cause profound side effects that include pain, nausea, heart problems, hair loss and can affect almost every system in the body. Even after chemotherapy treatment has stopped, cancer survivors face an increased risk of diseases which resemble the effects of old age. We are testing newly discovered anti-ageing molecules for their ability to reduce these side effects, and drastically improve the quality of life for cancer patients.
Cardio-oncology is dedicated to preventing and treating cardiovascular issues in cancer patients. We aim to establish the first Australian perspective on this emerging field. We will assess the role of biomarkers in detecting cardiotoxicity from cancer therapy so patients can be safely guided through their cancer treatment. Finally, we will investigate if advanced cardiac imaging can detect cardiotoxicity earlier so patients can have optimal cancer therapy whilst preserving cardiac function.
Does Palliative Chemotherapy Palliate? Measuring Symptom Benefit In Recurrent Ovarian Cancer Using Patient Reported Outcomes: The Symptom Benefit Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$405,024.00
Summary
Clinical trials for women with recurrent ovarian cancer traditionally use a reduction in tumour size and time to progression to measure the benefit of chemotherapy, but do not document whether women have symptom improvement as well. The aim of the Symptom Benefit Study is to validate an instrument that will allow patients to report their symptoms and degree of improvement and for the first time allow clinical trials to include a measure of symptom improvement when new drugs are being tested.
Visualisation And Early Prediction Of ROS-mediated Treatment Response In Liver Cancer By A Novel Nanoplatform
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$334,224.00
Summary
Change of tumour microenvironment has potential to serve as an early predictor of drug efficacy. This proposed project aims to develop a new technology to accurately measure tumour microenvironment during treatment, and to explore the correlation between this potential predicator and tumour growth. This technology would significantly improve the patient prognosis by revealing non-response to chemotherapeutics early and allowing the timely administration of alternative therapies.
Assessment Strategies, Treatments And Risk Factors In Neuropathy And Neuromuscular Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$437,034.00
Summary
Neuropathy and neuromuscular disorders provide a major public health challenge. My research efforts are targeted at improving strategies to assess neuropathy and neuromuscular disease, measuring the impact of disease and translating these approaches into clinical trials and clinical practice. The project will identify the best assessment strategies for early detection of nerve damage, determine the impact of nerve disorders in Australia and determine how best to address these disorders.
Determining The Tumour Suppressor Function Of The MCC Gene And Its Significance To Treatment Outcomes In Colorectal Cancer.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$620,716.00
Summary
This project analyses the early stages of bowel cancer, where we have discovered a new gene defect. We want to determine how the MCC gene defect promotes tumorigenesis and how it affects treatment outcomes, by studying a novel mouse model of bowel cancer. This will determine which cellular functions are altered following loss of MCC in bowel tumours and if the MCC defect can be exploited to identify patients who would benefit from radiotherapy or specific chemotherapies.
‘Chemobrain’: Neuroimmunological Consequences Of Chemotherapy-induced Mucositis And Opioid Palliation In Development Of The Condition
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$318,768.00
Summary
Approximately 46% of cancer patients receiving chemotherapy will experience cognitive impairment. The development of this condition may be linked to another common gut side-effect of chemotherapy- mucositis. The treatment of mucositis pain by potent painkillers called opioids may also increase the risk of cognitive change. This project will determine the nervous system changes occurring in mucositis to identify targets for drug intervention to prevent development of cognitive decline.
DOCetaxel With Or Without Radiation Therapy For Resectable Oesophageal Adenocarcinoma Based On Early PET Response To Induction Chemotherapy (DOCTOR).
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,024,738.00
Summary
Oesophageal cancer continues to have poor survival despite surgery. Patients responding to pre-operative chemotherapy have better survival than those who do not. This study proposes using early FDG-PET scan to identify patients not responding to standard chemotherapy. This will permit the timely change of therapy to alternative regimens with a newer agent with or without radiotherapy, aiming to improve outcomes. This represents a paradigm shift in the management of oesophageal cancer.
Determining The Impact Of Cytotoxic Therapies On The Bone Marrow Microenvironment
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$621,499.00
Summary
Treatments for cancers result in markedly impaired blood cell production. Non-blood cell types within the bone marrow (BM) microenvironment are important to the regulation of blood cell production. We have evidence these cancer treatments also damage the BM microenvironment. We aim to fully explore how cancer treatments impact on the BM microenvironment. We can then determine how to improve recovery of the BM microenvironment in order to rapidly restore blood cell production after treatment.