Lead researcher
Dr Ashwini Chand, Prof Matthias Ernst, Prof Michael Parker
Institution
Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute
Tumour type:
Gastrointestinal, colorectal
Years funded
2018-2020
What is the project?
We are investigating the therapeutic value of a drug, already clinically approved to treat bone loss (osteoporosis), as a novel treatment in gastric and colon cancers.
What is the need?
With more than 18,000 new patients each year in Australia, gastric and colon cancers are collectively the third most common cause of cancer death. The major clinical challenge for treating gastrointestinal cancers is late diagnosis, resulting in limited opportunity for therapeutic intervention. In addition, currently available therapies fail to target inflammatory pathways which are important in promoting cancer progression.
What are you trying to achieve?
Our research will identify new drugs to allow better targeting of the inflammatory pathways that drive cancer growth in gastric and colon cancers. These can then be used for clinical research to ultimately provide new treatment options for patients.
Funding Body
Cancer Council Victoria Research Grant