Cancer Council Western Australia Suzanne Cavanagh Early Career Investigator Grants for 2010
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Regulation of mitochondrial RNA processing in prostate cancer
Chief Investigators: Dr Stefan Davies
Associate Investigators: Dr Aleksandra Filipovska, Dr Oliver Rackham
This project will investigate a newly discovered protein that is involved in the expression of proteins in mitochondria, the energy regulating and producing components of cells. Mutations in this protein lead to susceptibility to prostate cancer, one of the leading causes of death in Australian men. This project will, for the first time, characterise the role of this protein and how its dysfunction leads to prostate cancer. We will investigate if changing the level of this protein affects the function of cancer cells and if it is possible to reverse or rescue tumorigenic cells or selectively destroy them.
This research project is proudly supported in the names of: The Pearl Bethel Allan Memorial and Edna Maskell
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Vascular Normalization and Cancer Therapy
Chief Investigators: Dr Mitali Manzur
Associate Investigators: Prof Ruth Ganss
As cancers grow, they form abnormal blood vessels which prevent effective anti-cancer therapy. We have recently shown that this process can be reversed to “normalize” blood vessels in tumours, and consequently improve tumour treatment. I will investigate the impact of vessels normalization on the effectiveness of chemotherapy. Additionally, this project aims to analyze the changes which occur in blood vessels after normalization and identify the key players involved in this process. Importantly, these identified proteins represent potential targets for pharmacological intervention, and may possibly greatly enhance current anti-cancer treatment regimes.
This research project is fully supported in the name of: Australia Post
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Metabolomic profiling of glucocorticoid resistance in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia
Chief Investigators: Dr Amy Samuels
Associate Investigators: Mr Martin Firth, Mr Richard Francis, Dr Kim Carter, Prof Ursula Kees
Children diagnosed with leukaemia receive modern therapy consisting of up to ten drugs given over more than two years. Despite cure rates approaching 80%, some patients relapse and face a dismal prognosis. Resistance to steroid drugs is a major cause of relapse. Significantly, the mechanisms important in the development of steroid-resistance are not well understood. We have discovered steroid-resistant cells utilise sugar as an energy source in a different way to sensitive cells. To define this critical difference we will use a novel metabolomics profiling approach to identify key molecules and pathways deregulated in steroid-resistant leukaemia cells. Understanding the mechanisms underlying drug resistance in cancer is critical and is likely to provide novel screening strategies and drug targets for exploitation.
This research project is proudly supported in the names of: The Lion Alan Sanderson Memorial, Jordan HillsRoss Clark and Deeny O’Shaughnessy
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Transcriptome sequencing to identify novel gene fusions in a rare, aggressive carcinoma
Chief Investigators: Dr Katherine Thompson
Associate Investigators: Dr Kim Carter, Mr Richard Francis, Prof Ursula Kees
Genetic changes are one of the hallmarks of cancer; these include fusions between different chromosomes, present only in cancer cells, and not in the patient’s normal cells. Targeting such fusions has led to vital drug discoveries, providing cancer therapies that do not harm normal cells, thus avoiding side effects. We have a teenage patient who was diagnosed with a currently incurable cancer. Our study of the cancer cells from this individual found that an important gene on chromosome 19 has been fused to an unknown gene on chromosome 6. We intend to use a novel technique, transcriptome sequencing analysis, to characterise the chromosomal fusions present in this disease. Investigating the underlying genetics of this cancer may provide avenues for more targeted and effective therapies.
This research project is fully supported in the name of: The West Coast Eagles Football Club
