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National Skin Cancer Action Week

18 November 2009

Did you know that two thirds of Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer by age 70? Or that melanoma, the most dangerous skin cancer, is also the most common cancer in people between the ages of 15 - 44? *

November 15 - 21 is National Skin Cancer Action Week, and on Wednesday November 18 The Dermatology Research Foundation (DRF) at the University of Sydney is celebrating its 21st Anniversary.

The Dermatology Research Foundation is committed to improving knowledge of the skin and supporting research into skin diseases, particularly skin cancer.

Over the past 21 years the DRF has achieved several significant breakthroughs including:

  • Proof that UVA (as well as UVB) causes skin cancer. This has led to the requirement for sunscreens to provide broad spectrum protection against both UVA and UVB;
  • Identification of new molecular mechanisms, enabling greater understanding of the development and growth of skin cancers;
  • Discovery of a new mechanism in the generation of T lymphocyte responses, contributing to a greater understanding of immune response regulation - a key defence against skin cancer and other diseases;
  • Discovery of the role of a new gene (Brm) in skin cancer development;
  • Development of a measurement of ultraviolet-induced immunosuppression, and the identification of chemicals to reduce this immunosuppression (immunosuppression - such as that experienced by organ transplant patients - heightens the risk of developing skin cancer);
  • Contribution to the development of imiquimod, a skin cancer drug now in therapeutic use in Australia;

The anniversary celebrations offer a moment to reflect on the achievements of the previous two decades as well as the opportunity to learn more about current DRF-supported research activities and future directions.

Speakers on the night will include:

  • Professor Bruce Armstrong (University of Sydney School of Public Health) will discuss the impact and continuing relevance of skin cancer;
  • Professor Gary Halliday (Sydney Medical School & the Bosch Institute) will address research highlights from the past two decades;
  • Raymond E Purves Chair of Dermatology Professor Wolfgang Weninger (Sydney Medical School & the Centenary Institute) outlining potential directions for new research, particularly in understanding skin cancer at the molecular level and the consequent potential for developing targeted therapies for individual patients;

Working with scientists and research dermatologists from world class organisations including Sydney Medical School, the Bosch Institute, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and the Centenary Institute, the Dermatology Research Foundation facilitates advancements in prevention, early detection and patient care, in order to improve skin health for the entire community.

The Dermatology Research Foundation welcomes support from individuals and organisations, and all donations are fully tax deductible.

For further information contact Jacquie Stratford on 9036 5119.

Overdiagnosis of breast cancer

12 November 2009

Overdiagnosis of invasive breast cancer could be as high as 42 per cent, a paper published by researchers at the University of Sydney's School of Public Health suggests.

The study shows the reduced mortality rate resulting from increased mammography screening comes with a flipside: there is 30 to 42 per cent excess of women diagnosed with invasive breast cancer, over that expected, who undergo unnecessary treatment. This translates to about 23 to 29 per cent of all breast cancers diagnosed in NSW as being overdiagnosed and over treated.

Other studies have looked into overdiagnosis of breast cancer before but our findings are unique," says Associate Professor Alex Barratt, one of the paper's authors. "They take into account risk factors such as hormone replacement therapy and obesity, both of which have increased the prevalence of breast cancer since about the same time as publicly-funded mammography screening programmes were introduced.

"Even when these risks are accounted for, we still find breast cancer overdiagnosis is very high. Overdiagnosis means many women are needlessly having surgery or other treatment at great personal cost."

Associate Professor Barratt says the paper - "Estimates of overdiagnosis of invasive breast cancer associated with screening mammography" - indicates the pressing need to develop tests to predict which screening-detected cancers are likely to progress.

"The problem is right now we just don't know which way a cancer detected through mammography is going to go," she says. "We know there is overdiagnosis across the population but we can't pinpoint which women are overdiagnosed. There is also a need for better information for women and doctors, quantifying the benefits and the harms of mammography screening. "We have that information now and it would be good to provide it to people in an easy to use form, such as a patient decision aid."

Estimates of overdiagnosis of invasive breast cancer associated with screening mammography was published in the latest issue of the Cancer Causes Control journal. Its calculations were based on the incidence of invasive breast cancer in New South Wales but Associate Professor Barratt says the findings apply across Australia and similar countries.
The study did not investigate overdiagnosis of pre-invasive ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), which accounts for about 18 per cent of breast cancers diagnosed by NSW's publicly funded screening programme.

Media inquiries: Jocelyn Prasad (02) 91141382 or 0450 202078 or jocelyn.prasad@usyd.edu.au

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NHMRC grant success for University of Sydney cancer researchers

11 November 2009

University of Sydney medical research projects have received $61,922,193 in the National Health and Medical Research (NHMRC) Project Grants for 2010, more than any other Australian university.

A total of 104 NHMRC Project Grants have been awarded to the University of Sydney out of a total of 675 worth $380 million nationally. The University of Sydney was also successful in securing more than half of the total allocated to New South Wales projects ($107.3 million).

University of Sydney cancer researchers were awarded more than $8 million worth of grants in this funding round. The successful researchers are based at the various campuses, teaching hospitals and affiliated research institutes of the University of Sydney.

Here are examples of the research support received:

  • Pharmacological Targeting via AKT, PTEN, and TGF-beta Pathway Integration using Novel Therapeutics
    Professor Des Richardson from the Department of Pathology received a grant of $611,875
  • Development and valuation of cancer specific multi-attribute health states for use in economic evaluation
    Professor Madeleine King, Cancer Australia Chair in Cancer Quality of Life, received a grant of $679,750
  • Gene therapy, stress haematopoiesis and the risk of malignancy
    Dr Ian Alexander I, Clinical Senior Lecturer, The Children's Hospital at Westmead Clinical School, received a grant of $595,500
  • Improving the use of chemotherapy by targeting the inflammatory response
    Professor Stephen Clarke, Head, Department of Medicine, Concord Clinical School, received a grant of $550,500
  • Improving psychosocial outcomes for cancer carers: a randomised control trial
    Associate Professor Jane Young from the Surgical Outcomes Research Centre received a grant of $515,600
  • Induction of senescence in cells that use the Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres (ALT) mechanism
    Professor Roger Reddel, Lorimer Dods Professor and Director of the Children's Medical Research Institute, received a grant of $457,125
  • Protein discovery for breast cancer diagnosis
    Professor Rob Baxter Baxter, Director, Kolling Institute of Medical Research, received a grant of $397,125

A summary of the grants awarded to cancer researchers at, and affiliated with, the University of Sydney is available on the Cancer Research Network website. For a full list of grants recipients, please visit the NHMRC website.

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BMRI scientists awarded for imaging technology

7 October 2009

Researchers from the University of Sydney's Brain and Mind Research Institute (BMRI) have been awarded the Siemens High Performance Preclinical Image of the Year for cutting edge work in the development of small animal imaging technology.

Awarded at the 2009 World Molecular Imaging Congress in Montreal, the Siemens 'New Point of View' Image of the Year awards recognise the tremendous advancements occurring in the preclinical research arena.

The winning entry in the category of "High Performance demonstrated for the first time brain images of glucose metabolism in a fully conscious rat, a breakthrough made possible by a technique developed by researchers at the BMRI that combines optical motion tracking with event-by-event motion correction of microPET imaging data.
While it is well known that anaesthesia can alter neurological function, it is universally used in microPET rodent imaging to avoid the effects of motion on image quality.

"The techniques used in this imaging project have the potential to overcome the undesirable effects of anaesthesia in microPET brain imaging, and to enable entirely new types of behavioural and physiological experiments that require the animal to be in a conscious state," said Associate Professor Roger Fulton, Chief Investigator on the study.

The entry was the outcome of collaborative research undertaken by BMRI scientists from the School of Physics and the Faculty of Health Sciences under an Australian Research Council Discovery Grant. The award winning team members are Roger Fulton, Steven Meikle, Andre Kyme, Victor Zhou, Kata Popovic, Mahmood Akhtar, Wencke Lehnert, Michael Kassiou and Ingalill Karlsson.

Contact: Michelle Cario
Phone: 9036 7486, 0402 389 889
Email:

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Testing not a major factor in prostate cancer mortality

29 September 2009

Death from prostate cancer does not vary greatly between men who undergo annual prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening and those who do not, according to an investigation of PSA outcomes.

"A Model of Prostate-Specific Antigen Screening Outcomes for Low- to High-Risk Men" was published in the Archives on Internal Medicine today. Dr Kirsten Howard from the University of Sydney's School of Public Health was the paper's lead author.

PSA screening involves testing the levels of a prostate specific antigen with a blood test. Elevated levels of that protein can sometimes indicate the presence of prostate cancer. An elevated PSA level usually leads to more invasive investigation and treatment including biopsies, radiation and prostatectomies.

The paper compares diagnosis and mortality outcomes of men who undergo annual PSA tests with those who did not take the tests.

"Unsurprisingly, we found men who test for prostate cancer had a higher rate of diagnosis," says Dr Howard. "But mortality rates from prostate cancer don't decrease significantly for this group.

"Older men, and those whose close family members had the disease, experience a slightly lower mortality rate from prostate cancer if they take regular tests. But the difference among those aged between 40 and 50 or who are at low risk is statistically insignificant."

Dr Howard says the high rate of diagnosis, when measured against the relatively low mortality rates, indicates men with PSA-detected cancer may often undergo therapies for clinically insignificant cancers.

"This is no small thing when you consider some of the side effects of further testing and treatment. Biopsies can cause haemorrhaging and infections while treatment carries with it the risk of impotence and/or incontinence.

"Furthermore, about a fifth of low-risk men will experience a false positive test in 10 years of screening. So some men will experience undesirable lifestyle changes when they don't even have prostate cancer."

Dr Howard says the paper does not suggest that men should not bother with PSA testing. "This research was done to make people better informed about the pros and cons of the test. We want people to weigh up the risks and benefits and discuss them with their doctor before deciding about testing and treatment. In the end, much of the choice comes down to one's individual values."

The paper does not make public policy recommendations but Dr Howard says its findings may cause some to question whether a widespread PSA testing programme was the best use of public health funds.

Associate Professor Alex Barratt from the School of Public Health, and Dr Manish Patel and Dr Graham Mann from the Sydney Medical School co-wrote the paper.

For further enquiries contact: Jocelyn Prasad, 02 9114 1382 or 0450 202 078,

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Postdoctoral Scientist Awarded Prestigious Fellowship

28 September 2009

Dr Fiona Warner of the Centenary Institute was recently honoured with the AstraZeneca Career Development Fellowship. The award, given annually by the Gastroenterological Society of Australia, will fund Dr Warner’s vital research into liver inflammation and cancer for the next three years.

Liver cancer is the fastest growing cancer in Australia, and is currently the seventh most prevalent cause of death in the world. If left untreated, less than 15% of those with the disease survive.

At Centenary, Dr Warner’s research focuses on how drugs that are normally used to treat blood pressure abnormalities may help organ injuries, primarily injuries to the liver which often lead to cancer.

Dr Warner explains, “Liver cancer very rarely occurs without the appearance of liver injury or cirrhosis. If we can understand how the liver becomes injured and possibly reverse this, then we can prevent liver cancer from occurring in the first place.”

The AstraZeneca Fellowship is recognition that Dr Warner’s work is both top in the field, as well as relevant to the global health of the community. This prestigious award is a rarity, as there are currently few fellowships that are offered to mid-career postdoctoral scientists.

Dr Warner says, “I’m not only honoured to receive this award, but I am also pleased to know that more money will now be allocated to doing the research that will end this disease.”

Professor Mathew Vadas, Executive Director of the Institute says, “I am extremely proud of Dr Warner’s accomplishment. This fellowship is a true testament to her brilliant work at Centenary as well as her commitment to life-saving research.”

New tumour theory could change cancer treatment

13 August 2009

University of Sydney researcher Dr Guy Lyons has come up with a new theory of cancer tumours that could change the way we treat cancer and conduct research into its causes.

While most approaches to malignant tumours treat them as homogeneous, Dr Lyons's research, which has just won a prestigious award at an international cancer congress, suggests tumours might be composed of two or more interacting populations of cells.

Dr Lyons said: "Cancer is caused by mutations in genes that control cell growth. In our theory, distinct mutations occur in different cells within the cancer cell population. These cells then cooperate to form a malignant tumour."

Currently, malignant tumours are treated as homogeneous. "When a laboratory looks for a set of mutations in a tumour for diagnostic or research purposes, the first thing that is done is to homogenise a sample of that tumour, and then the homogenate is analysed for mutations.

"If the tumours are mixtures of cells with distinct mutations, then the picture obtained from the homogenate will be an 'average' one, but not accurate for any one cell within the tumour.

"By assuming that every cancer cell in a tumour has all of the mutations that caused the tumour, errors could be made in treating patients. Therapies designed to kill cancer cells that have two particular mutations will not work if the mutations are present in separate cells within the tumour. This will become important as personalised cancer care based on genetic analyses of tumours becomes more common."

Dr Lyons' research creates opportunities to design novel treatments for cancer. Therapies that interfere with the molecules used by cancer cells to cooperate might be developed.
Researchers at the University's Dermatology Research Laboratories and the Sydney Head and Neck Cancer Institute are conducting experiments to determine how often tumours of the skin and head and neck regions use cancer cell cooperation to become malignant, and which sorts of mutations are involved in the cooperative behaviour.

"By simulating cancers using a computer program, we will be able to identify the optimal targets for developing new therapies," says Dr Lyons.

Dr Lyons' work was awarded Best Science Paper at the 2009 International Academy of Oral Oncology World Congress in Toronto, recognising the work he has done with Dr Mary Myerscough, Senior Lecturer at the University of Sydney's School of Mathematics, and their PhD student, Mr Erwin Lobo.

Dr Guy Lyons is Clinical Senior Lecturer, Dermatology, at the University of Sydney. He is also a member of the University of Sydney Cancer Research Network.

Media Enquiries
Dr Guy Lyons
Ph: 02 9036 6314
Mob: 0437 660 395

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Sunbeds confirmed as cancer risk

30 July 2009

Sunbeds have been put in the highest cancer risk category by the international body charged with evaluating potential cancer hazards.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer is tasked by the World Health Organisation with listing and reviewing causes of cancer. Its just-released review of ionising and solar radiation puts sunbeds in the highest cancer risk category: Group 1 - "carcinogenic to humans".

"We can now say unequivocally that artificial sources of solar radiation - including ultraviolet (UV)-emitting tanning devices - can cause both skin and eye melanomas," says University of Sydney Professor of Public Health Bruce Armstrong, who sat on the IARC working group reviewing ionising and solar radiation.
"Solar and ultraviolet radiation were last reviewed in 1992. At that time the IARC found solar radiation caused cancer but evidence wasn't sufficient to conclude that artificial sources of UV rays were carcinogenic.

"Evidence considered in the latest review - much of which wasn't available in 1992 - found using UV-emitting tanning devices increases a person's risk of developing skin melanomas by about 15 per cent overall, and by about 75 per cent for those who used them when they were younger than 30.

"The IARC has confirmed what many Australians have long suspected: tanning devices emitting ultraviolet rays are dangerous and can cause cancer."

In other findings, the working group found substantial evidence that arc welding caused ocular melanoma.

"Because welders are exposed to other harmful agents such as fumes we couldn't conclusively say UV radiation from arc welding causes melanomas of the eye," Professor Armstrong says. "The working group has urged a full review of the carcinogenic hazards of welding."

All sources of ionising radiation have also been put into the IARC's Group 1 category. These include radon gas (the second leading cause of lung cancer after tobacco smoke), plutonium, radium, phosphorous-32 and radioiodines.

The findings are revealed in a Special Report in the August edition of The Lancet Oncology, produced by Dr Fatiha El Ghissassi and her colleagues, IARC, Lyon, France, on behalf of the WHO International Agency for Research on Cancer Monograph Working Group.

Contact: Kath Kenny - 02 93512261 or 0434 606 100

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Cancer Institute NSW grant success for University of Sydney researchers

17 July 2009

University of Sydney cancer researchers were awarded more than $10 million worth of grants in the recent Cancer Institute NSW funding round.

The successful researchers are based at the various campuses, teaching hospitals and affiliated research institutes of the University of Sydney.

Here are examples of the research support received:

  • Development and operational support for AGITG and ANZGOG through the NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre: A NSW-led initiative
    Professor John Simes, Director, NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre, received a Cooperative Clinical Trials Infrastructure Grant of $1,745,788
  • Biostatistics, quality assurance and data systems for Cancer Trial Groups activities based at the NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre
    Associate Professor Val Gebski, also from the NHMRC Clinical Trials centre, received a Cooperative Clinical Trials Infrastructure Grant of $1,757,469
  • A superior mass spectrometry system for ultra-sensitive cancer phosphoproteomics PALM Microbeam Laser Microdissection (LM)
    Professor Phillip Robinson from the Children’s Medical Research Institute received a Research Equipment Grant of $979,371
  • PALM Microbeam Laser Microdissection (LM) Microscope for the Multi-User Sydney Cancer Gene Expression Facility
    Professor Des Richardson from the Department of Pathology received a Research Equipment Grant of $632,578
  • CellBank Australia
    Professor Roger Reddel, Lorimer Dods Professor and Director of the Children's Medical Research Institute, received a Research Infrastructure Grant of $660,000
  • Breast Cancer Tissue Bank - data collection and management infrastructure
    Associate Professor Christine Clarke from the Westmead Institute of Cancer Research received a Research Infrastructure Grant of $450,000
  • Estimating Survival Duration and Communication of Prognostic Uncertainty in Patients with Incurable Cancer
    Dr Belinda Kiely from the School of Public Health received a Research Scholars Award of $57,000

A summary of the grants awarded to cancer researchers at, and affiliated with, the University of Sydney is available on the Cancer Research Network website. For a full list of grants recipients, please visit the Cancer Institute NSW website.

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New cancer research technology for the Kolling Institute of Medical Research

The Kolling Institute of Medical Research at Royal North Shore Hospital has invested in groundbreaking new technology that holds the promise of more accurate diagnoses and monitoring of both breast and pancreatic cancer.

The protein chip mass spectrometer will assist in identifying whether or not individual patients are responding positively to chemotherapy. It is used to analyse complex protein mixtures in human tissue samples and is the first of its kind in Australia.

Professor Robert Baxter, Director of the Kolling Institute and Head of the Cellular and Diagnostic Proteomics Laboratory, said the new mass spectrometer allows Kolling researchers to analyse complex protein mixtures in human tissue samples by profiling hundreds of proteins simultaneously.

The protein mixtures create characteristic ‘patterns’ unique to particular cellular states or disease conditions, Prof Baxter said.

“By using these proteins to define conditions present in breast and pancreatic cancer we are able to very accurately distinguish cancer tissue from healthy tissue.”

The new mass spectrometer cost around $300,000 and was funded from research grants, Prof Baxter said. The purchase would further enhance the Kolling Institute’s commitment to carrying out medical research of the very highest quality, he added.

The Kolling Institute is home to more than 250 staff and student medical researchers and one of Australia’s largest medical research centres. Its researchers, scientists and clinicians are among the country's leaders in their fields.

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Skin cancer researchers throw new light on tumour growth

Dr Scott Byrne

15 July 2009

Three researchers from the Dermatology Research Foundation at the University of Sydney have identified a compound produced by certain fatal skin cancer tumours, providing new hope for developing treatments.

A recent paper outlining the research, led by Dr Scott Byrne, has just been named the 2008 Publication of the Year by the journal Immunology and Cell Biology, published by the prestigious Nature Publishing Group (NPG).

Two out of every three Australians will develop skin cancer at some stage during their lifetime, according to Dr Byrne.

"The economic and social costs of treating skin cancer are enormous," he says. "Some skin cancers will spontaneously regress while others will continue to grow and possibly metastasise (which may be fatal)."

Scientists don't yet understand why some tumours undergo regression and others continue to grow, but Dr Byrne's team has discovered that the immune system is critically involved in the recognition of tumours and their destruction. "This is why transplant patients on immune suppressive therapy are more prone to getting skin cancers," he notes.

"More specifically, we have shown in this award winning research that skin tumours escaping the immune system do so by secreting a compound called transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta.

"Identifying the tumour-derived compounds responsible for subverting the anti-tumour immune response will enable us to target them therapeutically. This will hopefully lead to novel immune-based therapies designed to make every skin tumour regress, and therefore reduce the ever increasing incidence of skin cancer."

Dr Byrne and his colleagues, Gary Halliday, a Professor in the Sydney Medical School, and Matthew C Knox, who recently undertook his B Med Sci, said they were honoured and thrilled to be awarded the Immunology and Cell Biology journal's publication of the year.

"It highlights the important research that we are doing here in the Dermatology Research Foundation," says Dr Byrne. "It is only through investigating the fundamental mechanisms of anti-tumour immunity that will we be able to design the next generation of cancer therapeutics."

The award consists of an AUD$1,000 scholarship provided by the Nature Publishing Group (NPG), the publishers of ICB.

The paper, by Scott N. Byrne, Matthew C. Knox, and Gary M. Halliday, is titled TGFbeta is responsible for skin tumour infiltration by macrophages enabling the tumours to escape immune destruction. It is published in Immunology & Cell Biology (2008) Volume 86, Number 1, pages 92-97.

Contact: Kath Kenny
Phone: 02 9351 2261 or 0421 617 861
Email:

Plugging into the Cancer Research Network

25 May 2009
Associate Professor Graham Mann, Associate Dean (Research Strategy)

University of Sydney is home to some of the largest concentrations of cancer research strength in this state(1). Since each research institute and precinct makes a substantial contribution, there are opportunities for Sydney Medical School students to get involved in cancer research close to where they study.

Cancer is a multifaceted health problem. Cancer cells arise by processes of genetic mutation and evolution, and relentlessly disorganise their signalling and regulatory pathways to prioritise cell survival and growth at the expense of normal functions. Development of new treatments now focuses on subverting these pathways, with increasing success.

However, the probability of cells forming a tumour in the first place is a very human problem. It is influenced by a person’s genetic makeup and their ecology: ambient exposures, behaviour and social circumstances all playing a part. Genetic studies have made massive strides in complementing classic epidemiology to untangle the knot of individual cancer risk, and are an increasing influence on thinking about cancer prevention, early detection and care.

Back in the cancer cell, studies of all the major cancers show that, not only do they consist of many genetic subtypes, but that hidden genetic variation between tumours underlies the distressing unpredictability of cancer behaviour: prognoses that vary from months to years, treatments that fail against the best hopes.

Finally, good care of the person with cancer throughout their journey to either survivorship or severe illness is a huge challenge to all levels of the health system. No health care service or discipline is untouched and much research now targets psychological adaptation and clinical system issues around cancer care.

The multidisciplinary team is not only an accepted standard for providing care to cancer patients, but is a great environment for encouraging continuous learning, patient-orientated research, and translation of research findings into practice.

I chose to divert from a career in medical oncology into cancer research 25 years ago largely because I sensed that a great mobilisation was afoot in basic science that would crack the cancer problem in my lifetime. I think that potential is on its way to being fulfilled. Along that path, I have had great experiences learning from colleagues across the spectrum of health and biomedical science … and have stopped worrying that I can no longer name what kind of researcher I am!

Whether or not you feel inclined to spend all or part of your time as an active cancer researcher, I can only encourage you to take the trip.

University of Sydney Cancer Research Network (CRN)
The CRN was established several years ago to maximise the potential of its many excellent researchers to interact and to work jointly on the problem of cancer. For students it provides a golden opportunity to identify suitable cancer research supervisors in all the various disciplines and precincts of the University.

Browse the CRN website at www.cancerresearch.med.usyd.edu.au and contact Dr Angela Beaton or Merilyn Heuschkel at cancerresearch@med.usyd.edu.au or 02 9036 6307.

Enquiries about research opportunities are also welcome through the Faculty Office of Research and Research Training (mvan_der_hoeven@usyd.edu.au, 02 9114 0802) or the Office of Medical Education.

Graham Mann helps head a multidisciplinary research program on melanoma at the Westmead Millennium Institute and the Melanoma Institute Australia. He is also an Associate Dean (Research Strategy) of Sydney Medical School, and a Director of the Cancer Council NSW.

1. Welberry, H. et al. Cancer Research in NSW 2001-2006 (2008)

First academic chair in cancer nursing for NSW

8 May 2009

Kate White, Associate Dean (Research), Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery has been appointed Professor of Cancer Nursing, which is NSW's first Academic Chair in Cancer Nursing, established by the Cancer Institute NSW.

According to the Acting Chief Cancer Officer Professor Rob Sanson-Fisher: "As the number of cases of cancer continues to grow it is vital that cancer services meet the needs of people in NSW. This new position recognises the central role of specialist cancer nurses in the delivery of quality cancer services in this State."

Professor White will provide leadership in areas of cancer nursing research, education, models of service provision and have state-wide influence on how to optimise cancer nursing services.

"This is an exciting opportunity to expand the contribution of cancer nurses to quality cancer services in this State, including the extended role of nurses in both clinical and community sectors," said Professor White.

"Nurses are the largest professional group involved in cancer care. In NSW there are approximately 2,000 cancer and palliative care nurses with high level expertise in coordinating and managing patient diagnosis, treatment and recovery in both acute care and community settings. Their specialised knowledge enables them to provide better care which ultimately improves patient outcomes.

"The cancer nursing workforce must be appropriately supported and educated to have the skills and confidence to support their patients and be involved in decision making about future trends in treatment, patient care and disease prevention."

Professor Kate White is pleased to meet the challenges of this new position. "There are terrific opportunities to improve outcomes for patients and support all nurses to expand their knowledge of cancer care. Further, we have a great opportunity to foster cancer nursing as a career of choice for new nursing graduates."

Partly funded by the Cancer Institute NSW, the new Cancer Nursing Academic Unit is a consortium of the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Sydney and the Sydney Cancer Centre, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (RPAH). This brings together the Faculty of Nursing and and palliative care research and the Sydney Cancer Centre's reputation as a centre of excellence in clinical cancer care.

Contact: Judith Kingston
Phone: 02 9351 0657
Email:

Award for lung cancer imaging expert

29 April 2009

University of Sydney researcher, Associate Professor Dale Bailey from the Faculty of Health Sciences, was awarded the ANSTO Nuclear Medicine Award for the Best Scientific Paper at the ANZ Society of Nuclear Medicine Annual Scientific Meeting.

He and five colleagues were honoured for their significant innovation in research or clinical practice in the field of Nuclear Medicine.

The award, which was presented on 26 April 2009, recognises Associate Professor Bailey’s work in developing methodology to estimate the amount of lung function a patient is likely to lose by having part of their lung removed for lung cancer. They used a combined SPECT/CT camera which they constructed themselves to measure the amount of gas and blood going to the lobe of the lung that the surgeon intends to remove. If the estimated loss is thought to still leave the patient with enough lung capacity for routine activities, the surgery can proceed.''

Associate Professor Bailey said, “The ability to predict loss of lung function prior to pneumonectomy or lobectomy, most frequently performed for treating lung cancer with curative intent, is desirable for the thoracic surgeons and respiratory physicians managing the patient.

“Through this study, my colleagues and I have developed the tools that permit us to evaluate regional lung function prior to surgery in a manner which appears to be promising.”

“With further research, we hope that one day these tools will help improve lung cancer management and post-operative outcomes for patients by better selecting who is suitable or not suitable for surgery,” he said.

Associate Professor Dale Bailey is Principal Physicist, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Royal North Shore Hospital; Associate Professor, Discipline of Medical Radiation Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences; Clinical Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Sydney. He is also a member of the University of Sydney Cancer Research Network.

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Phyllis Butow receives the International Psycho-Oncology Society Bernard Fox Memorial Award

11 March 2009

Professor Phyllis Butow from the University of Sydney has received the International Psycho-Oncology Society (IPOS) Bernard Fox Memorial Award.

The award was established to honour an IPOS or community member who has made an outstanding contribution in education, research or leadership to the field of psycho-oncology.

Professor Butow has developed an international reputation in the area of psycho-oncology research and health communication.

She has conducted perhaps more research than anyone else in the world on doctor-patient communication in oncology, and has developed expertise in longitudinal epidemiological studies exploring the impact of psychosocial factors in disease incidence and outcome.

“I am greatly honoured to have received the IPOS Bernard Fox Memorial Award. I hope this prize helps highlight the importance of social, emotional and spiritual issues throughout the cancer experience,” said Professor Butow.

“Psychosocial care is a fundamental part of cancer care,” she said.

IPOS will present the award during its 11th World Congress of Psycho-Oncology, which will be held in Vienna, Austria, 21 – 25 June 2009.

Professor Butow is co-director of the Centre for Medical Psychology and Evidence-based Decision-making (CeMPED) and Chair of the Psycho-oncology Co-operative Research Group (PoCoG) of Australia. She is also a member of the University of Sydney Cancer Research Network.

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Cancer specialist chosen as new Chief Medical Officer

20 February 2009

Sydney University cancer specialist Professor Jim Bishop is set to become Australia's new Chief Medical Officer.

Professor Bishop is Chief Cancer Officer and Chief Executive of the Cancer Institute NSW. He is a professor of cancer medicine at the University of Sydney, a fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians and a fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia in haematology.

Professor Bishop's particular research interests are in clinical trials, anti-cancer drug development, new cancer therapies, leukaemia, breast cancer and lung cancer.

Last year, he was made an Officer of the Order of Australia for service to medicine. Department of Health and Ageing Secretary Jane Halton said the health system would benefit from Professor Bishop's expertise.

"Professor Bishop will play a key, strategic role in developing and administering major health reforms designed to transform Australia's health system to meet the many challenges of the 21st century," she said.

Professor Bishop will take up his position as chief medical officer after Easter.

Contact: Jake O'Shaughnessy
Phone: +61 2 9351 4312 or 0421 617 861

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University of Sydney cancer researchers receive NHMRC program grant worth $8.02m

9 February 2009

Last Friday, Minister for Health and Ageing, Nicola Roxon announced that fifteen of Australia’s leading health and medical research teams have won a share of more than $108 million in National Health and Medical Research Council's program grants scheme.

Researchers to benefit from this year’s grants include a Nobel Laureate, two former Australians of the Year and Professor Mathew Vadas and his colleagues, Professor Jenny Gamble, Professor Geoff McCaughan, Associate Professor Pu Xia and Dr Patrick Bertolino from the Centenary Institute and the University of Sydney. They will receive a total of $8.02m for their work on Inflammation, Angiogenesis and Cancer.

The project, which will be conducted at the Centenary Institute, brings together researchers with expertise in basic science and the clinic, with the aim of exploring inflammation and cancer at the cellular and molecular level. The synergistic and combinatorial use of basic and clinical skills gives a high likelihood of discoveries leading to new therapies.

“This research is very important because inflammation and cancer are at the heart of many human diseases. This particularly applies to the major global problem of liver fibrosis and liver cancer affecting almost half a billion of the world’s population,” Professor Vadas said.

Professor Vadas is Executive Director of the Centenary Institute and a member of the University of Sydney Cancer Research Network.

A complete list of 2010 NHMRC Program Grant recipients is available on the NHMRC website.

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Grant success for University of Sydney cancer researchers

9 February 2009

University of Sydney cancer researchers were awarded 30 grants worth more than $7,500,000 in Cancer Institute NSW funding rounds in 2008.

The successful researchers are based at the various campuses, teaching hospitals and affiliated research institutes of the University of Sydney.

Here are examples of the research support received:

Molecular grade as prognostic indicator in invasive breast cancer
Dr Rosemary Balleine from the Western Clinical School received a Clinical Research Fellowship of $577,151 over 3 years.

Drawing on their recent research, the project team proposes to develop a novel approach that will improve the accuracy of breast cancer prognostication by identifying breast cancers at low-risk of recurrence. This new approach has been designed for practical application in routine clinical settings and is expected to improve patients’ management.

Novel insights into the role of melanoma tumour antigen p97 (melanotransferrin) in melanoma progression and pathogenesis
Dr Yohan Suryo Rahmanto from the School of Medical Sciences received an Early Career Development Fellowship valued at $593,197 over 3 years.

The project aims to examine the role of MTf in melanoma genesis, proliferation and metastasis. This research is important because melanoma incidence is increasing worldwide and metastatic melanoma is almost completely resistant to every known therapy. Hence, this study may be vital for the development of treatments and prognostic markers for the aggressive malignant melanoma tumour.

Development of novel anti-cancer drugs with marked and selective activity that overcome resistance to established chemotherapy
Dr Danuta Kalinowski from the School of Medical Sciences has been granted an Early Career Development Fellowship valued at $588,598 over 3 years.

The researchers will explore the structural features of chelators that are critical for marked anti-tumour effects. They will examine the biological properties of novel chelators in vitro and in vivo with the aim of identifying potential drug candidates that can be evaluated clinically for their effects as chemotherapeutic agents.

Defining the role of telomere dysfunction in cellular proliferation barriers
Miss Zeenia Kaul from the Children’s Medical Research Institute received a Research Scholars Award valued at $50,000 over 2 years.

The study will analyse the relationship between telomere shortening and dysfunction, types of dysfunction, changes during escape from proliferation limits, and whether some anticancer drugs induce telomere dysfunction. This research aims to increase knowledge of cancer development, and may lay the basis for improved anticancer drug design.

A summary of the grants awarded to cancer researchers at, and affiliated with, the University of Sydney is available on the Cancer Research Network website. For a full list of grants recipients, please visit the Cancer Institute NSW website.

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Cancer rejection: scientists discover crucial molecule

4 February 2009

Researchers at the Centenary Institute in Sydney (an affiliate of the University of Sydney) have discovered a molecule on the surface of immune cells which plays a critical role in cancer rejection.

Using advanced multi-photon microscopy, the scientists have tracked the migration of immune cells called T cells within tumours in experimental models, and found that the surface molecule (CD44) directly impacts whether a tumour progresses or is rejected by T cells.

Professor Wolfgang Weninger, Head of the Immune Imaging program at Centenary, says this discovery advances our knowledge of the immune processes at play in cancer.

"The immune system and cancer were first linked in the 1900s but it wasn't until the 1980s that interactions between the immune system and cancer cells became a focus for medical researchers," says Professor Weninger.

"We know that migration of T cells within tumours is very important for rejection but we didn't know about how it worked. We found that this particular molecule regulates the navigation of T cells in tumours. In its absence, T cells are inhibited in migration and show a defect in their ability to reject a tumour."

Understanding how tumours avoid the natural processes of the immune system is one of the biggest questions in cancer. Finding the answer could significantly improve cancer treatment.

Professor Weninger explains: "By understanding how the immune system fights tumours, we may be able to optimise cancer therapies in the future. It may provide the opportunity to design treatments that mimic certain aspects of immune responses and cellular processes, making cancer treatments less hit and miss and reducing the toll on patients."

Centenary Institute Executive Director, Professor Mathew Vadas, points out this discovery has been made possible by recent advances in research technology - in particular multi-photon microscopy.

"Previously, cancer researchers could only build assumptions by linking series' of still images of the immune system at work," Professor Vadas says. "Multi-photon microscopy allows us to make real time movies showing exactly how the immune cells interact and is opening up new frontiers for medical research."

Professor Weninger, a world leader in this form of imaging, is driving this research revolution using one of Australia's first multi-photon microscopes at the Centenary Institute in Sydney.

This discovery firmly places Professor Weninger and his team's focus on the next piece of the puzzle - how does the actual process of tumour rejection work?

"This next stage of our research is very exciting. What are the physical interactions of T cells and tumours and how do the T cells actually defeat a tumour?" says Professor Weninger. "If we can get to the bottom of these immune system interplays, the benefits for cancer patients around the world could be truly enormous."

Media contact
For more information or to arrange an interview with Professor Wolfgang Weninger, contact Erin Sharp, Communications Coordinator, the Centenary Institute
p: 02 9565 6118 m: 0431 029 215 e:

Reference
Mrass P, Kinjyo I, Ng LG, Reiner SL, Puré E, Weninger W. CD44 mediates successful interstitial navigation by killer T cells and enables efficient antitumor immunity. Immunity. 2008 Dec;29(6):971-85.

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Kevin Rudd opens asbestos research centre

21 January 2009

The Prime Minister and NSW Premier today jointly welcomed the opening of the world's first stand-alone research facility dedicated to the prevention and treatment of asbestos-related diseases.

The $12 million Asbestos Disease Research Institute (ADRI) is housed in the Bernie Banton Centre which was named in honour of the late asbestos campaigner in 2007. The institute will provide early diagnosis and treatment for the victims of asbestos-related diseases.

Each year around 350 new cases of asbestos-related diseases are diagnosed in NSW alone.

In 2007 the University of Sydney and the Asbestos Research Foundation recruited the institute's inaugural director, the internationally renowned thoracic oncology expert Professor Nico van Zandwijk, from the Netherlands Cancer Institute. Bernie Banton was a member of the selection panel and was delighted with Professor van Zandwijk's appointment.

The University of Sydney provided a $5 million contribution for the building and research facilities at the new institute.

Further contributions to the institute's total $12 million cost came from the Workers' Compensation Dust Diseases Board of NSW, ANZAC Research Institute, James Hardie Industries, NSW Health and Concord Hospital/Sydney South West Area Health Service.

Sydney University's Professor van Zandwijk has already started collecting tissue samples from patients and is currently recruiting staff for the institute.

"Ultimately the aim will be to find new ways to treat a disease that is largely resistant to most forms of traditional therapy," said Professor van Zandwijk. "One avenue is the development of drugs that would stop the growth of cancers caused by exposure to asbestos."

Contact: Jake O'Shaughnessy
Phone: +61 2 9351 4312 or 0421 617 861
Email: j.oshaughnessy@usyd.edu.au

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A potential therapeutic target for Prostate Cancer

14 January 2009

University of Sydney research recently published in the journal Clinical Cancer Research has identified a potential therapeutic target for prostate cancer.

The report, entitled Cytosolic Phospholipase A2-: A Potential Therapeutic Target for Prostate Cancer, describes the possible role of an enzyme called cPLA2- in prostate cancer and its potential to be a treatment target for prostate cancers that no longer respond to hormone-related therapy. Hormone-related therapy is the first line of treatment for more advanced prostate cancers as prostate cancer cells usually rely on male hormones to grow. Some prostate cancers become insensitive to hormone-related therapy after initially responding to it.

Over the past 50 years, the dietary intake of omega-6 fatty acids has increased substantially, relative to that of omega-3 fatty acids, in Western countries. We are what we eat – dietary omega-6 fatty acids end up in our cells where they are released by the enzyme cPLA2- and converted into inflammatory chemicals. Inflammatory chemicals can contribute to the development and progression of prostate cancer due to their roles in promoting cell and blood vessel growth.

Dr Qihan Dong and his research group hypothesised that, since a reduction of omega-6 or an increase in omega-3 fatty acid intake might decrease prostate cancer development and progression, blocking cPLA2- activity could have a therapeutic effect in treating advanced prostate cancer.

"cPLA2- is found in all prostate cancer cells. Not only is cPLA2- increased in hormone-insensitive cells; inhibition of cPLA2- results in a significant reduction in prostate cancer cell numbers, due to reduced proliferation (cell growth) and increased apoptosis (cell death)," said co-author Dr Qihan Dong from the University of Sydney.

Drugs that inhibit cPLA2- could be effective in treating hormone refractory prostate cancer.

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