Funded projects

Overcoming Immune Suppression in People with Colorectal Cancer

The immune system of the bowel is unusual in that it is suppressed, allowing the healthy digestive bacteria to survive. However, since a strong immune response in cancer is associated with good patient prognosis, this same bowel immune suppression may be responsible for progression of colorectal cancers. We will use new techniques established in our laboratory to identify the suppressive immune cells recovered from the tumours of people with colorectal cancer and design interventions to switch these cells from suppressive to active against the tumour. Our research will identify ways to improve the immune response against colorectal cancer.

The fetal origins of childhood leukaemia

We hypothesise that childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), which originates before birth, occurs because specific fetal lymphocytes persist inappropriately after birth. Childhood ALL cells show a distinct pattern of DNA modification (methylation) that is very different from that of normal blood and marrow. The extent of the difference suggests that the methylation profile of ALL reflects its cell of origin; i.e., a population of fetal lymphocytes that would normally disappear before birth. We propose to detect normal fetal lymphocytes with this "leukaemia" signature in normal neonatal blood. By so doing we expect to reveal the true target for anti-leukaemia therapy.

Pateamine analogues as a new type of cancer therapeutic

Cachexia, or cancer-associated muscle wasting, causes one-fifth of cancer-related deaths. There is currently no accepted treatment for this condition. The natural product pateamine is produced by marine sponges found in New Zealand coastal waters. Its biological effects include the ability to change the profile of proteins produced within cells. Beneficially, pateamine appears to inhibit the production of proteins that promote cachexia whilst not having an equivalent effect on normal muscle proteins. We will discover how pateamine binds to its target to cause these effects and develop new compounds that will have fewer side effects..

Boosting human anti-cancer immune responses using a glycolipid-conjugated vaccine

Many cancers respond well to initial treatment, but subsequently relapse. Stimulating the immune system to destroy cancer cells may reduce this risk. However, patients' immune systems are often weakened by cancer itself or by chemotherapy. We have found a powerful way to activate immunity by stimulating unique types of ‘innate' white blood cell. Developed in collaboration with Callaghan Innovation, our new compounds combine conventional vaccines with this approach. Preliminary experiments show this may boost cancer-targeting immune cells. This project will investigate the effect of these compounds on human cells, with a view to developing a new class of cancer vaccine.

Genesis Oncology Trust palliative care breakfast lecture series

Now in its 10th year, the Genesis Oncology Trust Lecture Series continues to provide an easily accessible palliative care education opportunity. Delivered via teleconference, the eleven lecture series is attended by approximately 400 people each month. Registered sites throughout the country participate in the series. Participant numbers have seen more than 2000 people listen to the breakfast lectures to date in 2013. Thanks to the generosity of the Genesis Oncology Trust the lectures will continue to be available without charge to registered participants in 2014.

Interactive Drawing Therapy – Foundation Course

Interactive Drawing Therapy (IDT) is successfully used to assist clients faced with health challenges and life changing conditions. Over 6000 people have registered with this programme in the last ten years in Australasia. IDT is widely used by a diverse range of practitioners, including counsellors, social workers and doctors. When faced with the challenges of a cancer diagnosis and ongoing treatment, IDT can enable clients to see their situation more objectively and to empower change. This therapy is a psychological tool that is client-centred and assists clients to find inner strength and insight into the difficulties presenting them.

The role of oestrogen receptor β in cancer: the other receptor

Many tumours express high levels of oestrogen receptor alpha (ERα), and it is a well-known prognostic marker for various cancers thus provides an important target for therapy. The closely related beta subtype (ERβ) acts in opposition to ERα but its involvement in cancer is unclear. This project will investigate the molecular role of ERβ in breast, colorectal and ovarian cancer, with the aim to use ERβ as a novel biomarker for tumour classification and prediction of treatment response. Further understanding may also allow the development of ERβ-targeted treatments to help improve outcomes of existing therapies in cancer patients.

Attenuation of Immunosuppression to complement GBM Immunotherapy

Over the last three years we have developed anti-tumour vaccines that show some efficacy in eradicating intracranial models of glioblastoma multiforme. However, to achieve full eradication of existing intracranial tumors it was first necessary to remove a network of "regulatory" cells, which are induced by the tumour to deliberately suppress immune responses. It is now recognized that such regulatory cells are a general feature of cancer. We therefore propose to investigate a series of clinically approved drugs that can potentially deplete or alter the function of tumor-induced regulatory cells, which will be used with our vaccines to provide effective therapy.

Titania nanoparticle targeted theranostics for breast, colorectal and prostate cancer

Cancer is the leading cause of death in New Zealand that accounts for 29.4% of all deaths. Current cancer therapies are not targeted to cancer cells leading to side effects. The project aims to develop targeted-non invasive cancer therapy with significantly reduced side effects compared to existing therapies. In this project theranostics (i.e. diagnostics therapy) based on titania nanoparticles will be used for managing breast, colorectal and prostate cancer. Titania nanoparticles will be capable of targeted cancer cell death by producing reactive oxygen species inside cancer cells upon exposure to x rays and sonic waves.

To attend the Australia and New Zealand Gynaecological Oncology group (ANZGOG) Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) will be held on 20-23 March at the Sofitel Gold Coast Australia

To attend the Trans-Tasman Radiation Oncology Group 25th Annual Scientific Meeting, 26 February – 1st March 2013, Te Papa Conference Centre, Wellington

To attend the 2nd ESTRO Forum in Geneva, Switzerland from 19-23 April 2013

To attend the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO) 2nd International Congress Forum, Geneva, Switzerland, 19-23 April 2013

To attend the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO) 2nd International Congress Forum, Geneva, Switzerland, 19-23 April 2013

To attend the Keystone Symposium "Immunological Mechanisms of Vaccination" conference in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. From 13th-18th December 2012. Laboratory Visit: Michel C. Nussenzweig, Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA.