MODULATING MIC-1 CYTOKINE BIOAVAILABILITY: IMPACT ON TUMOUR BIOLOGY

Funded Activity Summary

MIC-1 cytokine is secreted by many tumour cells. It is commonly secreted as an inactive precursor form of MIC-1 which binds to the extracellular matrix surrounding cells, via its propeptide. This creates latent stores of cytokine which can be released and activated under specific conditions. The propeptide controls the balance between latent stores of inactive MIC-1 precursor and soluble forms of mature bioactive cytokine, which can act on surrounding cells or move into the circulation. The significance of these latent stores is underscored by the finding that the level of these stores correlates with prostate cancer outcome, and also that very high circulating levels of active MIC-1 cytokine in the blood, leads to the massive weight loss characteristic of a syndrome called cancer cachexia. This is common in late stages of cancer and is a major contributing factor to the death of cancer patients. Understanding the mechanisms by which latent MIC-1 stromal stores are created and regulated, as well as their role in tumourigenesis, will have major impact on our understanding of the role of this cytokine in cancer. This is essential in order to adequately harness that knowledge for the benefit of patients.

Funded Activity Details

Start Date: 01-01-2007

End Date: 01-01-2009

Funding Scheme: NHMRC Project Grants

Funding Amount: $341,210.00

Funder: National Health and Medical Research Council

Research Topics

ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)

Oncology and Carcinogenesis

ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)

There are no SEO codes available for this funding activity

Other Keywords

MIC-1 | biochemistry and molecular biology | cancer biology | cytokine secretion | cytokines | extracellular matrix | malignant tumour growth

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