This tells you briefly what’s new in the Cancer Council research program. Please search our research for information about specific cancer topics, researchers or research types.
$70,000 has been awarded to Proessor Vasso Apostolopoulos, Dr Dodie Pouniotis and A/Prof Christine McDonald of the Macfarlane Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health to evaluate pulmonary macrophage function in primary lung cancer patients.
Research description: Lung cancer is the leading cause of death due to cancer in Australia. One in 20 men and 1 in 47 women will develop lung cancer in their lifetime. Unfortunately, once diagnosed with advanced lung cancer, patients only tend to live a few months. Early detection methods such as chest x-ray or CT scan do not appear to have much impact on either treatment or number of deaths, therefore, more research is needed in other aspects of lung cancer. Our project study will aim to identify potential defects in the immune response of lung cancer patients compared to healthy patients. The specific defects identified in this study will allow us to potentially manipulate the immune system via novel treatments that could potentially prolong life expectancy and decrease mortality associated with this disease. Specific outcomes of this project are to identify which aspects of the function of pulmonary macrophages is defected. Pulmonary macrophages are the main cells in the lung which engulf foreign particles and dead cells. They are an important part of the immune system for defense against cancer and potential infections in the lung.
$70,000 has been awarded to Dr Phillip Darcy, Dr Michael Kershaw, Prof Joseph Trapani at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre to conduct research into the treatment and early detection of leukaemia in older people
Research description: White blood cells of the immune system can cure cancer in rare cases. However, in most patients the immune system does not recognise cancer as a danger. By genetically engineering white blood cells we will enable the immune system to recognize and fight cancer. Our previous studies have demonstrated that white blood cells genetically engineered with an anti-cancer gene can reject cancer in mice. However these cancers eventually relapse. Thus in this project one of our major aims is to investigate why cancer relapses in this model and test new approaches to overcome this problem. The second part of the project will evaluate several key issues with regard to testing our approach in patients. This includes testing the capacity to insert our anti-cancer gene into white blood cells from patients and testing the safety and toxicity of our approach. These studies may lead to new therapy options for cancer patients.
$70,000 has been awarded to Prof Suzanne Garland, A/Prof Dorota Gertig, Prof John Wark, A/Prof Sepehr Tabrizi, Prof Marian Pitts and Dr Bircan Erbas of The University of Melbourne to study genetic and environmental factors in invasive cervical cancer: a twin study.
Research description: The cause of cervical cancer (neck of the womb) is a virus called human papillomavirus (HPV). This virus is extremely common, with many sexually active women being infected early in their sexual life. Most, women however clear the virus. In a small proportion of women the virus becomes persistent and can lead to abnormal cellular changes of the cervix as it is picked up on a Pap smear. Treatment of these abnormalities prevents development of cancer. Why some women develop persistent infection and others not is unknown. Similarly we do not understand why some women develop cancer and others do not. It is recognized that those who smoke, long-term use of the oral contraceptive pill, have other infections such as Chlamydia and genital herpes are more at risk of progression. There may be some genetic factors also which determine why some women once infected have chronic infection with the ultimate development of cancer. One way to evaluate environmental from genetic effects is to study twins. If the risk is greater in twins in general it is more like to be due to genetics. This is particularly so if the risk is greater in identical twins as compared to non identical twins. The study proposes to study twins with abnormal Paps (as a likelihood of underlying chronic infection from HPV), to define the HPV they may have been infected with. Another way to see if they have had infection previously will be to take a blood test. Twin pairs whereby both have been infected with HPV will be compared for: 1) the development of persistent infection with HPV (2x tests positive at least 12 months apart); and 2) development of abnormal cells on Pap suggesting high-grade abnormality (the lesion recognized occurring before cancer develops). We will compare the outcome for 1 and 2 above and link this with identical versus non-identical status, plus various environmental risk factors (these will be determined by a questionnaire give to the women).
A new funding initiative in 2006 and 2007, our Venture Grants Scheme is designed to support research that pushes the conventional boundaries. Addressing a lack of resources and funding to investigate highly imaginative research ideas in Australia, the Venture Grants Scheme aims to provide leading researchers with the financial backing to undertake their cutting edge projects.
Applicants were required to present a case to be funded for a maximum amount of $500,000 per annum for one to five years, and to demonstrate that the grant would significantly advance their research program and could yield important new knowledge in their field.
The Cancer Council has provided initial funding for the first milestones of the five successful projects (a total of $758,250) and is seeking a further $5.3 million from visionary, philanthropic individuals who understand our vision for innovative, adventurous research.
Announcement about the Venture Grants Scheme
Download the Venture Grants booklet
The Cancer Council Victoria’s Health 2020 study, formerly known as Health 2000, is a major research initiative involving 41,500 Victorians.
One of the main aims of Health 2020 is to investigate how diet affects the risk of getting cancer. Health 2020 researchers believe different dietary habits may increase the risk of colon, breast and prostate cancer.
Health 2020 (also known as the Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study) is a prospective cohort study that began in the early 1990s. The aim is to investigate prospectively the role of diet and other lifestyle factors in causing common chronic diseases (especially cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes) and to investigate possible interactions between these exposures and common variations in genes (usually called genetic polymorphisms). Planning for the study took several years and included developing specific dietary instruments, extensive pilot studies and thorough review by international experts.
Dixon HG, Hill DJ, Karoly DJ, Jolley DJ, Aden SM. Solar UV forecasts: a randomized trial assessing their impact on adults’ sun protection behaviour.
Health Education & Behavior. Prepublished April 13, 2007; [epub]
DOI:10.1177/1090198106294644. Available from: http://heb.sagepub.com/cgi/rapidpdf/1090198106294644v1
Siahpush M, Borland R, Yong H. Socio-demographic and psychosocial correlates of smoking-induced deprivation and its effect on quitting: findings from the International Tobacco Control Policy Evaluation Survey.
Tobacco Control 2007; 16:e2; doi:10.1136/tc.2006.016279 [epub]. Available from:
http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/cgi/content/abstract/16/2/e2
Makin JK, Dobbinson SJ, Herd NL. (Letter to Editor) The increase in solariums in Australia, 1992-2006.
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health 2007; 31(2): 191-192.
A hugely popular relay-style event that raises money for cancer research.
