Biomarkers Of Phenotype, Prognosis And Response To Therapy In Pancreatic Cancer.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$105,845.00
Summary
Pancreatic cancer (PC) is the 4th leading cause of cancer deaths in our society. This research is aimed at the discovery of novel biomarkers with the ability to forecast prognosis and response to treatments in patients with PC. Ultimately, this will lead to the “individualisation” of the treatment for each patient, so that the most appropriate therapy could be given to an individual patient. This would significantly improve the overall survival and the quality of life for patients.
Prevention Of Late Breast Cancer (BC) Events In Postmenopausal Women With Endocrine Responsive BC.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$4,687,599.00
Summary
This proposal is from Australia's national breast cancer (BC) trials group, the ANZ BCTG, for a new phase III, multi-centre clinical trial evaluating whether much later endocrine therapy with an aromatase inhibitor can prevent BC recurrence in postmenopausal women who have: had hormone sensitive BC at least 6 years ago; were treated by Tamoxifen more than 1 year ago; and, are currently disease free. Subjects will randomly receive letrozole or placebo as a daily tablet for five years.
Inhibition Of Estrogen Signalling By Androgen Receptors: A Potential Mechanism For Suppression Of Breast Cancer Growth.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$525,000.00
Summary
Breast cancer is a major health problem in Western countries including Australia, where it is the second-leading cause of cancer deaths in women. Breast cells require female sex hormones, called estrogens, for their growth and survival and consequently most current treatments for breast cancer aim to block the actions of these hormones in breast cancer cells. However there is still a large proportion of women who do not respond to these therapies or have an initial response but subsequently deve ....Breast cancer is a major health problem in Western countries including Australia, where it is the second-leading cause of cancer deaths in women. Breast cells require female sex hormones, called estrogens, for their growth and survival and consequently most current treatments for breast cancer aim to block the actions of these hormones in breast cancer cells. However there is still a large proportion of women who do not respond to these therapies or have an initial response but subsequently develop resistance. Evidence from our laboratory and others indicates that the male sex hormones, androgens, also play an important role in breast cancer. Androgens oppose the effects of estrogens in breast cancer cells, and inhibit their growth. Historically androgens were used to treat patients with advanced breast cancer, with good results, but the masculinising side effects (eg excess hair growth and acne) of these hormones led to a discontinuation of their use since the 1960s. The major objective of our current studies is to determine how androgens can stop breast cancer cells from growing by investigating the effects of the androgen receptor, which mediates the growth regulatory effects of androgens, in breast cancer cells. We believe that a better understanding of this signalling pathway could potentially lead to new treatments for breast cancer that act more specifically to inhibit cancer growth without the unpleasant side effects of androgenic drugs.Read moreRead less
Prospective Study Of Medical Emergency Team Calls To Define Issues Of End Of Life Decision Making
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$48,700.00
Summary
A Medical Emergency Team (MET) is a specialised team of doctors and nurses from the Intensive Care Unit who urgently come to patients on the general wards whose medical condition is very unstable. They have to make crucial decisions about their treatment in a very short time. The previous research in this area has been focussed on improving medical outcomes, however it is also apparent that the patients having MET calls are often seriously ill with life limiting illnesses. This study aims to exp ....A Medical Emergency Team (MET) is a specialised team of doctors and nurses from the Intensive Care Unit who urgently come to patients on the general wards whose medical condition is very unstable. They have to make crucial decisions about their treatment in a very short time. The previous research in this area has been focussed on improving medical outcomes, however it is also apparent that the patients having MET calls are often seriously ill with life limiting illnesses. This study aims to explore the broader aspects of care at this time, which are of paramount importance to patients and their families, such as various aspects of communication, particularly focusing on changing goals of care; and also the symptoms that may be causing significant distress for the patient. This project will provide information that will assist development of interventions that will both aim to improve quality of life and also communication in the setting of medical emergencies in patients with life limiting illness.Read moreRead less
Improving Cancer Therapy: Nanoparticle Delivery Of SiRNA To Cancer Cells
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$610,499.00
Summary
Lung cancer accounts for 8000 diagnosis and 1000 deaths in Australia each year. We are using cutting edge nanotechnology and coupling this with potent gene silencing to target solid tumours of the lung. If successful, this approach could increase survival of patients with this difficult to treat malignancy and may prove valuable in the treatment of other lung tumours.
The future of cancer therapy lies in the tailoring of treatment to the characteristic of individual tumour. We have previously identified a subset of breast tumours that are characterised by the presence of large excess of proteins called D-type cyclins. Similar overexpression of cyclin D1 has been shown to lead to the development of cancer in mammary gland in animal models. In normal cells, D-type cyclins are degraded rapidly, therefore the regulation of protein degradation, or proteolysis, is ....The future of cancer therapy lies in the tailoring of treatment to the characteristic of individual tumour. We have previously identified a subset of breast tumours that are characterised by the presence of large excess of proteins called D-type cyclins. Similar overexpression of cyclin D1 has been shown to lead to the development of cancer in mammary gland in animal models. In normal cells, D-type cyclins are degraded rapidly, therefore the regulation of protein degradation, or proteolysis, is crucial in preventing the accumulation of D-type cyclins. In the subset of breast cancers we have identified, D-type cyclin proteolysis is defective. We, and others, have obtained evidence for the involvement of the SKP2 gene in the proteolysis of D-type cyclins. SKP2 has also been shown to be required for the proteolysis of another important protein, called p27. In the clinic, accumulation of p27 in tumours is used as a good prognostic indicator. However, some exceptions have been found where the accumulation of p27 correlates with aggressive tumours. As D-type cyclins are able to counteract the effect of p27, we hypothesise that the aggressive behaviour of these tumours is due to the simultaneous accumulation of D-type cyclins and that this is due to a mutation in the SKP2 gene. The experiments described in this proposal are designed to test this hypothesis. As the choice of treatment is affected by the interpretation of p27 levels, the results obtained from this study may have a direct impact in the clinic.Read moreRead less
The Role Of The EphA1 In The Normal Epithelial Organs And In Epithelial Tumour Progression.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$564,500.00
Summary
The Eph family of proteins were initially found to be important in normal development. In humans this corresponds to the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. In parallel with these studies, other work provided evidence of abnormally high levels of these proteins in a number of human cancers. More recent evidence suggests that these proteins have important roles in the maintenance of normal tissues and in non-malignant diseases. This proposal seeks to understand how one of these proteins (EphA1) works in ....The Eph family of proteins were initially found to be important in normal development. In humans this corresponds to the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. In parallel with these studies, other work provided evidence of abnormally high levels of these proteins in a number of human cancers. More recent evidence suggests that these proteins have important roles in the maintenance of normal tissues and in non-malignant diseases. This proposal seeks to understand how one of these proteins (EphA1) works in the cells which form the skin, liver, kidneys, breast and prostate. These cells also form the lining of the mouth, stomach, bowel and lungs. Understanding how the EphA1 protein and other members of this family cooperate to control the development and maintenance of these organs will allow us to determine whether this protein might be involved in congenital defects and diseases in these organs (such as kidney failure, cirrhosis of the liver and skin diseases). A second main aim of this project is to explore further the observation that Eph proteins are abnormally highly expressed in a wide rangre of human cancers. This abnormal expression is directly correlated with the tumours spreading throughout the body. EphA1 is abnormally highly expressed in cancers of the bowel, lung, breast and prostate. These are the commonest cancers in man and some of the most difficult to treat. The work proposed asks how EphA1 contributes to the development and progression of these cancers. These results will have very direct implications for the development of therapies which target the EphA1 protein.Read moreRead less
Targeting Prostate Cancer And Metastases With Novel Anti-tumour Drugs.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$292,639.00
Summary
Prostate cancer is highly aggressive, causing one death every 4 minutes. It is the most common tumour and is the second highest cause of cancer death in men in Western society. Once it escapes the prostate and spreads to other parts of the body it cannot be cured. Current treatment options are limited and cause debilitating side effects. In this study I will investigate a new class of anticancer drugs developed in my host laboratory for prostate cancer treatment.
Identifying The Targets Of MiRNA Regulation In Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$290,600.00
Summary
microRNAs are noncoding RNAs with fundamental functions in biology and significant roles disease. microRNAs control gene expression by destroying RNA or controlling its translation into cellular proteins. To determine how certain microRNAs cause human disease it is essential to know their RNA targets. We are developing methods to identify these targets and aim to apply these methods to identify the targets of microRNAs with known roles in cancer.
Evidence For Psychological And-or Educational Interventions For Cancer-related Fatigue: A Systematic Review
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$28,283.00
Summary
Potential benefits to the community: Fatigue is one of the most common and distressing symptoms experienced by people with cancer and can exacerbate the experience of other symptoms, negatively affect mood, and impact on function and quality of life. Understanding which interventions are effective in helping people cope with cancer-related fatigue is important to inform decision-making by consumers, clinicians working in palliative care and policy makers. Objectives: This study aims to systemati ....Potential benefits to the community: Fatigue is one of the most common and distressing symptoms experienced by people with cancer and can exacerbate the experience of other symptoms, negatively affect mood, and impact on function and quality of life. Understanding which interventions are effective in helping people cope with cancer-related fatigue is important to inform decision-making by consumers, clinicians working in palliative care and policy makers. Objectives: This study aims to systematically review the evidence for psychological and-or educational interventions for managing cancer-related fatigue. Methods: This study will use the Cochrane Collaboration’s methodology to search, critically appraise, and analyse randomised controlled trials of psychological and-or educational interventions. This will involve collaboration with consumers and with the Cochrane Pain, Palliative Care, and Supportive Care Collaborative Review Group. This review will inform decision-making at all levels, assist in research translation and identify further gaps in the research regarding this distressing symptom.Read moreRead less