Improving The Surgical Outcomes For Barretts-derived Oesophageal Adenocarcinoma Through Early Detection.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$796,144.00
Summary
Some people with severe reflux develop Barrett's oesophagus, which puts them at high risk of developing cancer. Patients with Barrett's can be monitored by regular endoscopy to detect cancer early enough so that they can be treated successfully with surgery. The aim of this work is to identify patients who are at highest risk of cancer using molecular biomarkers. We will then determine the cost effectiveness of using biomarkers for surveillance of patients with Barrett's oesophagus.
Development And Assessment Of Novel Assays To Predict Response To Second-line TKI Therapy In Imatinib-resistant CML
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$491,308.00
Summary
Patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) respond well to imatinib, the first small molecule developed to block the kinase activity of the causative oncogene in CML, BCR-ABL. However some patients develop resistance. Several new kinase inhibitors are now available that are effective in some patients with imatinib resistance. We plan to develop biological and molecular assays to predict if a CML patient will respond to a specific second-line kinase inhibitor to optimise second-line therapy.
Lewy body dementia is a common yet under-recognised form of dementia in older people. There is a great need for biomarkers to reduce misdiagnosis and improve outcomes for patients and families. Recently there have been exciting advances in research regarding blood tests that might improve diagnosis and understanding of dementia. We will study these blood markers of neurodegeneration and inflammation in people with Lewy body dementia, which may improve diagnosis and help discover new treatments.
DETECTION OF OCCULT DISSEMINATED TUMOUR CELLS AND TUMOUR DNA IN EARLY STAGE OPERABLE BREAST CANCER PATIENTS
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$561,000.00
Summary
Most of the reduction in breast cancer death rate in recent years is due to earlier diagnosis because of mammographic screening. Even among women with very favorable tumours, at least 20% will die of breast cancer. The risk increases to over 50% in less favorable cases of operable early breast cancer. Current practice relies very heavily upon prognostic factors such as lymph node status and tumour size in determining the risk of subsequent failure and the need for therapy. There is a significant ....Most of the reduction in breast cancer death rate in recent years is due to earlier diagnosis because of mammographic screening. Even among women with very favorable tumours, at least 20% will die of breast cancer. The risk increases to over 50% in less favorable cases of operable early breast cancer. Current practice relies very heavily upon prognostic factors such as lymph node status and tumour size in determining the risk of subsequent failure and the need for therapy. There is a significant risk of under treating good prognosis disease patients (20%) and over treating women with intermediate and high risk disease (40%). The first aim of the study is to use novel molecular methodologies to detect breast cancer cells in the blood of patients with early stage breast cancer at diagnosis. The presence of tumour cells will be correlated with the usual prognostic factors used in the management of women with breast cancer. The patients will be followed long-term to clarify the relationship between disseminated tumour cells in the blood and bone marrow and eventual outcome to assess the effectiveness of these new methodologies in patient management. We will also assess new molecular methodologies which will allow us to track very low levels of disease, and thereby monitor the effectiveness of treatment, and allow prediction of impending relapse. Studying the blood of breast cancer patients represents a unique opportunity for determining whether the cancer has spread before surgery and for monitoring of disease after surgical removal of the tumour. This study may prove invaluable in predicting disease free and survival outcomes and provide a more rational approach to the use of chemotherapy in patients with early breast cancer.Read moreRead less
Antiphospholipid Syndrome Related Thrombosis: Understanding The Disease Pathogenic Mechanisms Is The Key To Better Diagnosis And Treatment
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$607,497.00
Summary
Patients with the Antiphospholipid Syndrome develop thrombosis at a young age. It requires long-term treatment with blood thinning medications, which have risks of severe bleeding. Methods are needed to decide which patients require long term treatment, avoiding unnecessary treatment in low risk patients. Such methods do not currently exist. In this study we explore how useful two novel assays developed by us are in identifying which of these patients are at high risk of thrombosis.
Waxing And Waning Of Asthma During Transition From The Teens To Adulthood: Identification Of Immunophenotypic Markers To Predict Disease Trajectory And Guide Development Of Treatment Strategies To Prevent Progression To Chronicity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$736,166.00
Summary
The project will seek to identify biomarkers in teenage/young adult asthmatics that can distinguish between those who are "growing out" of the disease, versus those who are progressing towards chronic severe asthma. This knowledge will inform the development of more effective treatment programs for this age group.
Characterising The Tumour Suppressive Function Of Myoepithelial Cell Stefin A In Ductal Carcinoma In Situ
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$474,840.00
Summary
Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is a pre-invasive stage of breast cancer, whereby the tumour cells remain restrained by myoepithelial cells that surround breast ducts. Predicting which cases of DCIS will later develop invasive cancer is difficult, meaning that the majority of patients have treatment. Stefin A is a protease inhibitor in myoepithelial cells shown to block cancer invasion and we aim to test the function of this protein in DCIS and its potential as a prognostic marker.
Biomarkers In Barrett's Oesophagus And Oesophageal Adenocarcinoma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$67,690.00
Summary
Barrett’s oesophagus (BO) is a condition in which the normal lining of the lower oesophagus is replaced with intestine-like tissue as a response to long-standing acid reflux. BO can progress to oesophageal adenocarcinoma (OAC), an aggressive cancer with poor 5-year survival rates of ~15%. This project aims at detecting genetic and molecular changes that occur in both BO and OAC and which may help predict the risk of progression as well as survival for patients affected by this disease entity.