CLINICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF GENETICALLY DEFINED GERMLINE SUB-GROUPS OF MELANOMA AND BREAST CANCER PATIENTS.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$140,949.00
Summary
In this project I will assess how cancer patients’ genetic makeup influences the nature and outcome of their cancer, especially in terms of how successful treatment is likely to be. We will show how key genetic variants influence cancer behaviour and by combining these genes we will have a better understanding of how to develop more successful treatments.
Incorporating Genomics Into Breast Cancer Management
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$128,224.00
Summary
This study will investigate use of genomic sequencing in advanced and early breast cancer. We will characterise genetic characteristics of patients who benefit from two different therapies in the metastatic setting. We will use circulating tumour DNA analysis to monitor for and genetically characterise minimal residual disease (MRD) in patients apparently cured by initial therapy. This will thus identify potential therapeutic targets for preventing MRD progressing to metastatic disease.
Tracking The Origins And Drivers Of Metastasis In Prostate Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,022,600.00
Summary
Prostate cancer is now the most commonly diagnosed cancer but only 10% of men with it, will die from it. Our current ability to discriminate between cancers with an indolent course and those that are lethal is poor. This project will examine the mixture of tumour clones (subclones) that are present in prostate cancers and define and track those cancer subclones that break away from the prostate and lodge in distant sites, causing death.
Genetic Variants, Phenotypic Spectrum And Breast Cancer Risk Associated With Germline Mutations In PALB2: Identifying Female PALB2 Mutation Carriers At The Time Of Diagnosis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$45,093.00
Summary
Population studies of female breast cancer (BC) show only a small proportion of familial aspects of BC can be explained by current knowledge of its causes. Women carrying PALB2 mutations who also have a strong family history of BC are of increased risk of BC. Our work will further define the risks and devise criteria to identify women most likely to carry PALB2 mutations. This will help prioritize testing, classify PALB2 variants and provide appropriate clinical management to carriers.
Genetics And Genomics Of Breast And Ovarian Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$714,745.00
Summary
Our knowledge of the number and nature of the genes involved in breast and ovarian cancer is limited. To rapidly define the critical breast and ovarian cancer-causing genes my laboratory uses an integrative genomics approach whereby information from several genome-wide platforms are combined. A key initiative that will underpin much of our work is Lifepool, which is a unique cohort of 100,000 Victorian women attending BreastScreen that will support a range of research into breast cancer.
Metagenomic Analysis To Determine The Prostate Microenvironment And The Aetiology Of Inflammatory Mediated Prostate Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$339,534.00
Summary
Infectious organisms have been implicated in the development of several different malignancies. This project aims to determine if this may also be applicable in prostate cancer and if so, to define which organism/s may be responsible, thus providing targets for improving diagnosis, treatment and prevention strategies. The approach will be to identify DNA in the prostate tumour tissue that is foreign to the �normal� prostate environment and indicative of an invading organism.
Determining The Origin Of Lethal Metastases In Multifocal Primary Prostate Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$696,470.00
Summary
New biomarkers are required to accurately predict lethal prostate cancer from benign, indolent disaese that doesn't require expensive treatment. To do this relies on finding molecular differences between disease states. Advancements in high throughput genomic technologies enables us to now probe the lethal prostate cancer genome and transcriptome and distinguish this disease state from other forms of prostate cancer.
Kallikrein Gene Variants In Prostate Cancer: In-depth Association And Functional Studies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$302,123.00
Summary
The number of men diagnosed with prostate cancer varies substantially between races, indicating a role of genetics in prostate cancer development. Recently, genetic variations in the PSA gene have been related to prostate cancer risk. I aim to elucidate the molecular mechanism of this correlation and to systematically investigate the association of other novel genetic variations in PSA and related genes with prostate cancer risk in a search of sensitive clinical biomarkers for prostate cancer di ....The number of men diagnosed with prostate cancer varies substantially between races, indicating a role of genetics in prostate cancer development. Recently, genetic variations in the PSA gene have been related to prostate cancer risk. I aim to elucidate the molecular mechanism of this correlation and to systematically investigate the association of other novel genetic variations in PSA and related genes with prostate cancer risk in a search of sensitive clinical biomarkers for prostate cancer diagnosis and prognosis.Read moreRead less
Translation Of PALB2 Genetic Information Into Breast Cancer Clinical Genetic Services
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$423,081.00
Summary
Today in Australia women attending clinical genetics services and receiving genetic counselling due to a personal and/or family history of breast cancer are not considered for testing of PALB2 despite mounting evidence that the risk of breast cancer in mutation carriers is at least as high as the risk for BRCA2 mutation carriers. This project will provide the evidence base to support the incorporation of PALB2 gene testing into routine clinical genetics services both in Australia and around the ....Today in Australia women attending clinical genetics services and receiving genetic counselling due to a personal and/or family history of breast cancer are not considered for testing of PALB2 despite mounting evidence that the risk of breast cancer in mutation carriers is at least as high as the risk for BRCA2 mutation carriers. This project will provide the evidence base to support the incorporation of PALB2 gene testing into routine clinical genetics services both in Australia and around the world.Read moreRead less
Circulating Tumour DNA Analysis Of Acquired Treatment Resistance In Breast Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$511,807.00
Summary
Taxanes are commonly used chemotherapeutic agents in breast cancer, yet treatment resistance remains a significant clinical problem for which new approaches are needed. Many cancers shed small amounts of DNA (circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA)) into the bloodstream, and analysis of ctDNA can allow assessment of tumour specific genomic changes occurring during treatment. This project aims to utilise ctDNA to study acquired treatment resistance to taxane-based chemotherapy in metastatic breast cancer.