Download Cancer Diagnostics Case Study

Detecting Cancer through Non-invasive Methods
A team of Australian and Indian scientists are developing novel tools for detecting cancer non-invasively
and with a high level of precision and specificity.
The Australian Team Leader,
Professor Wei Duan, explains that funding
through
the
Research
Fund
establish
Australia-India
(AISRF)
substantive
is
and
Strategic
helping
to
long-term
collaboration with leading Indian research
scientists.
“This program brings together Australian
and Indian scientists who have overlapping
research
interest
but
complementary
expertise and thus creates a synergy to
boost the productivity of the research of
both parties.”
Above: Professor Wei Duan working on isolating cancertargeting RNA aptamers
Professor Duan describes the outcomes
of the project which looks into nanotherapeutics and molecular diagnostics for human cancers which could
ultimately lead to improved identification and treatment of human cancers.
“The Australian team at Deakin University has developed an RNA aptamer against a cell surface marker for
cancer stem cells – the first RNA aptamer of its kind.” RNA aptamers are made up of oligonucleotides which
bind to specific target molecules; in this case the target molecule is a cell surface marker for cancer stem
cells known as EpCAM.
“The RNA aptamer was joined to nanoparticles, developed by the Indian team at the Institute of Life
Sciences, to create an aptamer-guided nanocarrier system which was shown to bind to human cancer cells
specifically. It was also able to enter the cancer cells to release chemotherapy drugs inside these deadly
cells.”
“This research will help to overcome the dose-limiting side effects (effects of the drug which prevent higher
doses being provided) of current chemotherapy drugs and could provide the basis of an imaging tool for
detecting very small tumours.”
The ability to identify cancer at an earlier stage allows for treatment to commence at early stage of cancer,
and thus lead to better treatment outcomes and improved survival rates and quality of life.
Professor Duan’s team is aiming to apply the research findings from this project into oncology clinics in the
near future.
For more information, please contact Professor Wei Duan at [email protected].
Funded by the Australian Government Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and
Research and the Indian Government Department of Science and Technology through
the Australia-India Strategic Research Fund.