KConFaB - A CONSORTIUM FOR RESEARCH ON FAMILIAL BREAST CANCER
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,624,711.00
Summary
Breast cancer is the most common disease of women. In families with an inherited form of breast cancer, nearly half the women in every generation can develop the disease. The aim of this Australia-wide study is to collect clinical, epidemiological and genetic data on approximately 700 of these severely-affected families. This national resource will be of great value for researchers who want to identify and characterize the genetic and life-style factors that affect the onset and progression of t ....Breast cancer is the most common disease of women. In families with an inherited form of breast cancer, nearly half the women in every generation can develop the disease. The aim of this Australia-wide study is to collect clinical, epidemiological and genetic data on approximately 700 of these severely-affected families. This national resource will be of great value for researchers who want to identify and characterize the genetic and life-style factors that affect the onset and progression of the disease. The data emerging from the study will lead to more accurate genetic counselling, better surveillance and, ultimately, better methods to prevent and treat the disease in families who inherit a predisposition to the disease.Read moreRead less
Genome-wide Epigenetic Analysis Of Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$410,469.00
Summary
Of all cancers in children, Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia is the most common. To date, the causal mechanism(s) for leukaemia in children remain unclear. Although 5-year event-free survival rates are relatively high (up to 80%) it is still unclear why children expected to survive with a good prognosis, succumb to the disease. Therefore, there is still a need to further refine current diagnosis and prognosis parameters that will together lead to improved outcomes to children with leukaemia.
CpG Island Methylation In Microsatellite Stable Colorectal Cancers: Epigenetics Or Epiphenomenon?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$245,402.00
Summary
For years researchers have known that changes in the sequence of DNA in genes within a cell can lead to cancer, particularly when those changes are passed on to daughter cells. This has lead to massive research interest in the field of cancer genetics. In the last few years, it has become clear that as well as changes in DNA, other more subtle changes can be passed on. These changes, which do not directly involve changes in DNA sequence, are referred to as epigenetic changes. One of the most com ....For years researchers have known that changes in the sequence of DNA in genes within a cell can lead to cancer, particularly when those changes are passed on to daughter cells. This has lead to massive research interest in the field of cancer genetics. In the last few years, it has become clear that as well as changes in DNA, other more subtle changes can be passed on. These changes, which do not directly involve changes in DNA sequence, are referred to as epigenetic changes. One of the most commonly recognised epigenetic changes is known as methylation. Methylation of genes can switch that gene off, meaning that the protein normally made is no longer present in the cell. This can have profound effects on the way cells behave, and importantly may be involved in the development of cancer. In this study, we will look at a group of colorectal cancers that show abnormally high amounts of DNA methylation , to test our hypothesis that these cancers share a common origin that is distinct from the usual type of bowel cancer. The findings will be important, as they may allow us to show that all bowel cancers are not the same, and that simple gene testing may be able to identify the different subtypes. If bowel cancers can be classified according to the way in which they have developed, then this will help us to understand what causes them why some are more aggressive than others, and why some may respond differently to existing or future cancer treatments.Read moreRead less
I am a cancer cell biologist investigating molecular mechanisms of leukaemia cell resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs, and novel strategies for the management of high risk or relapsed disease. For these purposes I have developed orthotopic xenograft mode
One of the hallmarks of cancer cells is their ability to divide and multiply in an uncontrolled manner. Specific proteins that make up the skeleton of cells (cytoskeleton) play an important part in the cell division process and as such make extremely important targets for anticancer therapy. Our research is developing ways to best target cell division proteins so that we can make drug resistant cancer cells sensitive to chemotherapy.
Primary Care: What Is Their Approach To Patients With Advanced Cancer And Those Who Require Radiotherapy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$50,000.00
Summary
It is recommended that 50-60% of all cancer patients receive radiotherapy at some time in their disease. However, only 38% of all cancer patients receive radiotherapy in Australia. Advanced cancer patients may be missing out on radiotherapy because they are not referred for palliative radiotherapy. The specific aims of this study are to: Explore the primary care approach to patients with advanced cancer and particularly those who require radiotherapy; Define factors that influence how Australian ....It is recommended that 50-60% of all cancer patients receive radiotherapy at some time in their disease. However, only 38% of all cancer patients receive radiotherapy in Australia. Advanced cancer patients may be missing out on radiotherapy because they are not referred for palliative radiotherapy. The specific aims of this study are to: Explore the primary care approach to patients with advanced cancer and particularly those who require radiotherapy; Define factors that influence how Australian GPs respond to symptoms of advanced cancer; Map the patients’ perspective on current referral practice for palliative care. This project will be comprised of three stages: simulated consultations with GPs, survey of GPs and patient interviews. These methods will enable researchers to develop an understanding of the primary care approach to patients with advanced cancer and those who require radiotherapy and how patients with advanced disease are referred for treatment.Read moreRead less
The Role Of A Protease Activated Receptor System In Prostate Cancer Bone Metastasis.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$582,204.00
Summary
Prostate cancer is one of the most significant health issues for men. This disease occurs because certain proteins start to function abnormally. Our focus is on a protein called PAR2, present on the surface of prostate cancer cells and bone cells, which we propose helps cancer cells to spread to bone. In our project, we aim to understand how this happens so that we can develop ways to block prostate cancer metastasis to bone.
Molecular Epidemiology Of Ovarian Cancer: The Australian Ovarian Cancer Study National Clinical Follow-Up Core
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$883,244.00
Summary
Ovarian cancer is the seventh most common cancer in Australian women and fifth most common cause of cancer death, with approximately 1200 new cases diagnosed and 750 deaths each year. There is an urgent need to better understand the molecular, epidemiological and genetic characteristics of epithelial ovarian cancer and how these influence response to treatment and clinical outcome. Ovarian cancer is a histologically and clinically diverse disease and the variability in clinical outcome in ovaria ....Ovarian cancer is the seventh most common cancer in Australian women and fifth most common cause of cancer death, with approximately 1200 new cases diagnosed and 750 deaths each year. There is an urgent need to better understand the molecular, epidemiological and genetic characteristics of epithelial ovarian cancer and how these influence response to treatment and clinical outcome. Ovarian cancer is a histologically and clinically diverse disease and the variability in clinical outcome in ovarian cancer patients suggests that reliable predictive factors would be of clinical value. However, it is clear that the collection of hundreds of annotated biospecimens is essential if the interaction of genes and environment in the genesis of this disease is to be understood or the molecular features of this disease dissected. Recognizing that this can only be achieved through large-scale collaboration, the Australian Ovarian Cancer Study (AOCS) was established in 2000 by scientists from the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, the Queensland Institute for Medical Research, Melbourne University and Westmead Institute for Cancer Research in collaboration with clinicians across Australia. AOCS has recruited 1105 patients to date and this Research Proposal aims to complete the collection of clinical data on all AOCS patients nationally, to validate the use of microarray gene expression profiles to predict clinical outcome and to find genetic variants that may determine clinical outcome in individual patients. The creation of AOCS has provided a unique oportunity to collect one of the finest ovarian cancer biological sample sets in the world. We believe that this internationally significant study will shed light on the basis of response of ovarian cancer to treatment and provide an ongoing resource for research into the causes of ovarian cancer, and studies on the response to treatment.Read moreRead less
Regulation Of The Androgen Signaling Pathway In Prostate Cancer By MicroRNAs
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$540,075.00
Summary
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men and is dependent upon signaling from male hormones (androgens) for continued growth. We recently identified some novel small RNAs (intracellular messengers), called microRNAs, that are likley to play important roles in maintaining the androgen signaling pathway in prostate cancer. This project will evaluate the functional role of these microRNAs in human prostate cancer, and may provide the foundation for new avenues for therapeutic intervention.