Effects Of Nevogenesis Susceptibility Genes And Phenotypic Correlation With Dermoscopic Characteristics Of Nevi
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$554,099.00
Summary
Melanoma is a form of skin cancer that arises from the cells that produce pigment and is a major public health issue in Australia. We will examine the relationship between the form, structure and colour of existing types of moles and their subsequent risk of developing into melanoma. This will be the first study to combine dermoscopy, a non-invasive examination technique, with DNA tests of the genes that determine skin, hair and eye colour, aiding in the early prediction and diagnosis of skin ca ....Melanoma is a form of skin cancer that arises from the cells that produce pigment and is a major public health issue in Australia. We will examine the relationship between the form, structure and colour of existing types of moles and their subsequent risk of developing into melanoma. This will be the first study to combine dermoscopy, a non-invasive examination technique, with DNA tests of the genes that determine skin, hair and eye colour, aiding in the early prediction and diagnosis of skin cancer.Read moreRead less
Effect Of Ultraviolet Radiation On Development Of Effector And Memory T Cells To Melanoma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$498,328.00
Summary
Australia has the highest incidence of skin cancer in the world, due to our lifestyle that involves high levels of exposure to sunlight. Skin cancer, including melanoma can be destroyed by the immune system, but sunlight inhibits immunity, enabling skin tumours to grow. Our aim is to determine how sunlight affects the activation of effector anti-melanoma T cells, and their development into memory T cells, and the dose of sunlight required to have this effect. It is unknown whether ultraviolet ra ....Australia has the highest incidence of skin cancer in the world, due to our lifestyle that involves high levels of exposure to sunlight. Skin cancer, including melanoma can be destroyed by the immune system, but sunlight inhibits immunity, enabling skin tumours to grow. Our aim is to determine how sunlight affects the activation of effector anti-melanoma T cells, and their development into memory T cells, and the dose of sunlight required to have this effect. It is unknown whether ultraviolet radiation in sunlight suppresses the activation of effector cells that mediate rejection of skin tumours, or their development into memory cells, or migration of activated-memory lymphocytes into skin tumours. The number of antigen reactive T cells is a key issue for tumour immunity and the aim of many clinical immunotherapy trials is to boost these to levels that can effectively destroy the tumour. It is important to establish whether low doses of sunlight readily achievable during normal living, or only higher exposures received when sunbaking, inhibit the number of these effector T cells, and their migration into skin tumours. It is important to determine whether there is a relatively safe threshold level of sunlight exposure to be able to give better advice on sunlight doses that can be achieved without causing serious deleterious health effects. Also these levels of sunlight may interfere with immunotherapy trials and therefore need to be determined. An additional outcome will be to determine whether chemopreventative agents that enhance recovery from sunlight induced suppression of skin allergies are also protective for anti-tumour immunity. The establishment of procedures for prevention of suppression of anti-tumour immunity may enhance the number of T cells activated by natural immunity or during immunotherapy, thereby improving immune rejection of melanoma.Read moreRead less
Genetic Polymorphisms Associated With Clinical And Dermoscopic Naevus Signature Patterns
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$842,841.00
Summary
Melanoma is a form of skin cancer that arises from the cells that produce pigment and is a major public health issue in Australia. We will examine the relationship between the form, structure and colour of existing types of moles and their subsequent risk of developing into melanoma. This study will combine dermoscopy, a non-invasive examination technique, with DNA tests of the genes that determine number of naevi, skin, hair and eye colour, aiding in the early prediction and diagnosis of skin c ....Melanoma is a form of skin cancer that arises from the cells that produce pigment and is a major public health issue in Australia. We will examine the relationship between the form, structure and colour of existing types of moles and their subsequent risk of developing into melanoma. This study will combine dermoscopy, a non-invasive examination technique, with DNA tests of the genes that determine number of naevi, skin, hair and eye colour, aiding in the early prediction and diagnosis of skin cancer.Read moreRead less
Centre Of Research Excellence For The Study Of Naevi
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,496,835.00
Summary
Most melanomas grow adjacent to or within pre-existing benign neoplasms of the skin called naevi. Many studies have shown that the number of nevi on an individual predicts their risk of developing melanoma. New naevi form and existing ones change regularly in children and also adults. While previous work aimed to reduce the burden of melanoma has focussed on malignant tumours, much can be learned from increasing our understanding of tumorigenesis by studying benign tumours such as naevi.
The incidence of melanoma in Australia continues to increase, with Queensland having the highest incidence worldwide. This research uses latest advances in genomics, imaging technologies and microbiopsy devices to develop a personalized screening program for high-risk individuals, with the aim of improving early detection, and reducing the burden of melanoma.
The University of Queensland Dermatology Research Centre are committed to conducting and promoting high quality clinical research into skin disease, particularly skin cancer, aimed at improved patient outcomes. Telemedicine and cutting edge imaging technologies are employed with a view towards their implementation into clinical practise to potentially overcome geographical inadequacies of health care in Qld. We expect the research will impact on Australian policies and guidelines in the field of ....The University of Queensland Dermatology Research Centre are committed to conducting and promoting high quality clinical research into skin disease, particularly skin cancer, aimed at improved patient outcomes. Telemedicine and cutting edge imaging technologies are employed with a view towards their implementation into clinical practise to potentially overcome geographical inadequacies of health care in Qld. We expect the research will impact on Australian policies and guidelines in the field of telemedicine and skin cancer management.Read moreRead less
Muir Torre Syndrome: The Role Of IHC And Genotyping In Sebaceous Neoplasia To Facilitate Prevention Strategies In Colorectal And Endometrial Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$396,786.00
Summary
Sebaceous neoplasia (SN), may be an early warning sign for Lynch syndrome (LS), an inherited cancer predisposition caused by mutations in a group of genes. There are high lifetime risks of bowel and uterine cancer, for which there are effective risk management plans if the risk is known. Clinicians are challenged by the role of SN in identifying LS. At present, it is hard to differentiate. We aim to determine features to improve the diagnosis of LS carriers.