Funded projects

Developing a novel dual-functional antibody-drug conjugates against growth hormone and prolactin for breast cancer treatment

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide. While treatments have improved, breast cancer remains challenging due to its complex growth and resistance to therapies. Our research focuses on developing a novel treatment targeting two key hormones: growth hormone (GH) and prolactin.

GH and PRL are crucial in promoting cancer cell growth and survival by activating specific receptors on breast cancer cells, driving tumour progression. Elevated levels of these hormones are linked to worse outcomes in breast cancer patients. Additionally, GH increases insulin-like growth factor-1, another significant driver of cancer growth.

Current treatments that block GH or prolactin individually show promise but are not sufficient. For example, Pegvisomant blocks GH but not prolactin, and the prolactin receptor blocker LFA102 had limited success in clinical trials. We hypothesise that a dual-targeted approach is essential for more effective treatment.

Our innovative project aims to develop a new drug that simultaneously blocks GH and prolactin pathways. By doing so, we hope to comprehensively shut down the cancer-promoting signals from these hormones, slow tumour growth, and overcome resistance to existing treatments. This pioneering approach has the potential to offer a more effective therapy that can significantly improve outcomes for breast cancer patients.

Psychosocial Oncology New Zealand (PONZ) and Oncology Social Work Australia New Zealand (OSWANZ) are non-profit organisations dedicated to supporting health professionals working, within oncology services in Australasia, to strive for excellence in the psychosocial care of those affected by cancer. We aim to promote the importance of the psychosocial needs of patients and their support networks as an integral part of their health care journeys. This conference provides an essential role in connecting health professionals within the psycho-oncology space, enabling learning, collaboration and developing networks across the psycho-social community.

AGITG is a multidisciplinary collaborative group with a focus on gastrointestinal cancers. The Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) provides opportunity for involvement and engagement in clinical trial development and the scientific activities of AGITG. The theme of the 2023 ASM is "equity, diversity and inclusion in clinical trials", recognising the need to increase equity of access for people from culturally diverse backgrounds, including Māori. Associate Professor Paringatai and Kahurangi Tipene are members of the AGITG Translational Research Committee, providing expertise in te ao Māori. Support from the CRTNZ will allow them to attend the ASM enabling them to share their knowledge in person.

Presenting a workshop at the Lowitja Institute International Indigenous Health and Wellbeing Conference 2023

Travel to attend EMBL: Cancer genomics conference in Germany and visit LMB laboratory in UK

Presentation of a keynote talk at the 5th International Caparica Conference in SPLICING 2023 in Caparica, Lisbon, Portugal in July 2023, followed by laboratory visits with collaborators in Germany and UK.

Funding to travel to, and present at, the European Society for Oncology (ESMO) World Congress on GI cancer, and meetings with collaborators at Imperial College London.

Funding to attend PONZ (Psychosocial Oncology NZ) and OSWANZ (Oncology Social Work Australia and NZ) conference.

Travel to attend European Association for Cancer Research (EACR) - Goodbye Flat Biology: Next Generation Cancer Models in Berlin, Germany

Registration and travel expenses to disseminate research findings at the 14th International Academy of Health Preference Research conference in Sydney.

This funding will sponsor Prof. Arie Perry, Professor of Neuropathology, University of California, San Francisco, to be the keynote speaker at the ANZSNP Annual Scientific Meeting in August 2024. Professor Perry is a world expert in brain tumour diagnostics. He will update New Zealand pathologists on the incorporation of testing into brain tumour diagnosis and improve accuracy of brain tumour classification in New Zealand patients according to international standards. Co-badging with Australasian Winter Conference for Brain Research (AWCBR) provides the opportunity for researchers in NZ to participate in the event. The conference will also attract delegates from Australia and Asia- Oceania region, providing opportunity for regional collaboration.

Attendance at the World Indigenous Cancer Conference, March 2024, Melbourne, Australia

Collaboration and information gathering visits to clinical trials units/organisations in UK, Ireland and conference attendance in the US to plan, prepare and position cancer trials in the new clinical trial infrastructure changes in NZ

Attendance at the 21st Annual European Neuroendocrine Tumour Society Conference

Attendance at the 19th International p53 workshop, Trieste, Italy