Download THE HON TANYA PLIBERSEK MP Minister for

THE HON TANYA PLIBERSEK MP
Minister for Health
MEDIA RELEASE
1 February 2013
BOOST FOR CANCER RESEARCH
Australia’s world-class researchers will receive a significant boost in their continued fight
against cancer from $10.6 million in new funding for 38 research grants.
“Cancer continues to have a significant impact on our community. One in two men and
one in three women will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime in Australia,” Minister for
Health Tanya Plibersek said.
“It is important that there continues to be targeted investment in cancer research aimed
at reducing the impact of the disease and improving the quality of life and outcomes for
patients.
“Many of the successful recipients are at the forefront of cancer research in this country
and their research provides hope for everyone affected by cancer.”
Also marking the beginning of Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, Ms Plibersek said that
research to receive funding included understanding the genetic variants of cancers,
improved support for carers, and research into improved treatments.
Since its inception in 2007, 209 grants totalling $71.8 million have been funded through this
scheme.
“An important feature of this scheme is the collaborative partnership with government and
non-government organisations to maximise investment in cancer research at a national
level,” Cancer Australia CEO Professor Helen Zorbas said.
“The successful recipients reflect Cancer Australia’s current research priority areas,
including prevention of cancer; improving screening programs; early detection of cancer; the
application of emerging new treatments and technologies; and coordination, integration or
delivery of treatment and care using a multidisciplinary approach.”
The 38 new cancer research projects include joint ventures between Cancer Australia,
and Australian Rotary Health, Cancer Council Australia, Cancer Council NSW, Cure
Cancer Australia Foundation, National Breast Cancer Foundation and Prostate Cancer
Foundation of Australia.
Cancer Australia’s Priority-driven Collaborative Cancer Research Scheme is an annual
national research grants scheme conducted by Cancer Australia in partnership with The
National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).
For more information, please call the Minister Plibersek’s office on 02 6277 7220
Grants being funded include:
Professor Wayne Tilley (University of Adelaide) and co-funded by Cancer
Australia, Australian Rotary Health and Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia
Mechanism and targeting of castration-resistant prostate cancer
Growth of the lethal forms of prostate cancer can be driven by permanently-active
variants of the receptor for the male androgen hormone, because these receptor
variants are resistant to current therapies for prostate cancer. In this study, a new class
of drugs which can effectively inhibit the androgen receptor variants and stop the growth
of lethal prostate cancer will be studied.
Associate Professor Monika Janda (Queensland University of Technology) and
funded by Cancer Australia
Mirena ± Weight Loss to treat early Endometrial Cancer: (MAxWEL Trial)
Endometrial cancer is the most common gynaecological cancer in Australia. While highly
effective, surgical standard treatment (hysterectomy) leads to infertility and women with
medical co-morbidities may develop postoperative complications. Conservative hormone
treatment (e.g. with Mirena IUD), may be an alternative. This world-first study will
examine whether Mirena can cure early stage endometrial cancer, and whether adding
weight loss improves its effectiveness.
Professor Michael Friedlander (Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, NSW) and cofunded by Cancer Australia, and Cancer Council Australia
ICON8: An international multi-stage randomised phase III trial of dose-fractionated
chemotherapy compared to standard three-weekly chemotherapy for women with newly
diagnosed epithelial ovarian cancer
This Australian arm of an international clinical trial will determine if a significant
improvement in survival and quality of life for women with ovarian cancer can be made
by simply changing how chemotherapy is administered. If successful, this trial has the
potential to change the standard of care of ovarian cancer.
Associate Professor Penny Schofield (Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre) and
funded by Cancer Australia
Solving Unknown Primary cancER - SUPER
This multidisciplinary team, with consumer-investigators at the core, will establish a
cohort of patients with Cancer of Unknown Primary (CUP) to establish for the first time
the frequency of genetic mutations in tumours and define quality of life issues and
psychosocial needs unique to these patients. This will provide concrete direction for new
and effective treatments, clinical management and supportive care programs.
Professor Melissa Southey (University of Melbourne) and co-funded by Cancer
Australia and National Breast Cancer Foundation
High Risk genes for Lobular Breast Cancer
One of the strongest risk factors for the development of lobular breast cancer is having a
close relative with this disease. Some advances have been made in understanding the
specific genetic factors that underlie this susceptibility but these known genetic factors
only explain a very small proportion of the overall familial effect. This research will utilise
our prior research, international research resources, new technology and
supercomputing to identify lobular breast cancer susceptibility genes.
Dr Lorraine O’Reilly (The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research) and
funded by Cancer Council NSW
Understanding the role of NF-κ B in the progression of gastric adenocarcinomas and
assessment of new therapies
Gastric cancer is the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths world-wide,
(5-year survival ~25%). This study will use a newly identified mouse model of stomach
cancer, to investigate the importance of molecules called inflammatory cytokines in
gastric cancer in order to develop novel therapeutic strategies.
Associate Professor Timothy Price (The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Adelaide) and
funded by Cancer Australia
PETACC-6: Preoperative chemoradiotherapy and postoperative chemotherapy with
capecitabine and oxaliplatin vs. capecitabine alone in locally advanced rectal cancer
The treatment of locally advanced rectal cancer has improved over the years; however,
overall survival rates remain suboptimal, mainly due to the high rates of distant disease
spread. The aim of this trial is to determine if the addition of oxaliplatin to standard
treatment can reduce the spread of disease, while maintaining the already good rate of
local control.
Dr Lisa Mielke (The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research) and cofunded by Cancer Australia and Cure Cancer Australia Foundation
Innate immune cell protection and colon cancer
Colorectal cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Chronic
inflammation is recognised as a predisposing factor for the development of colon cancer,
but the underlying basis for how inflammation can lead to tumourigenesis has remained
elusive. This study will investigate the cellular and molecular circuitry that leads to
tumourigenesis and identify possible interventions to prevent tumour formation.
A full list of successful grant applications can be found on the Cancer Australia web site
– www.canceraustralia.gov.au