Stem Cells and Cancer

Still from WEHI.TV animation Breast Stem Cells

Research Focus

Breast cancer
Stem cells and differentiation
Ovarian cancer
Lung cancer

In January 2010, the ACRF Stem Cells and Cancer Research division was created to study the normal development of epithelial organs and cancers arising within them. Epithelial cancers account for approximately 80 per cent of cancers and are major causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Improved treatment strategies have only resulted in modest improvements in mortality figures. We will extend the paradigm that we have successfully developed for breast cancer to other cancer types including ovarian and lung.

Overview

Breast Cancer

Breast cancer affects over 12,000 Australian women each year. It accounts for the highest disease burden in females, leading to the greatest number of deaths in the 25-64 year age group. Despite a significant improvement in the management of breast cancer over the last few years, more than 2,600 women still die each year, highlighting the pressing need for new strategies to target the disease.

The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute embarked on breast cancer research in 1998, when molecular biologist (then Associate) Professor Jane Visvader and clinician-scientist (then Associate) Professor Geoff Lindeman were recruited back from Harvard to establish a Laboratory within the Molecular Genetics of Cancer Division, funded by the Victorian Breast Cancer Research Consortium.

Stem Cells and Differentiation

The cells of origin and molecular mechanisms that underpin tumour heterogeneity in breast cancer are poorly understood. To clarify these issues, we are examining different mouse models of mammary tumourigenesis for changes in their epithelial cell hierarchy during the preneoplastic and neoplastic stages of tumour progression.

Ovarian Cancer

Each year, more than 1,200 Australian women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer; around 800 will die from the disease. On average three Australian women are diagnosed every day. Ovarian cancer is the sixth major cause of cancer mortality in Australian women. Because it is difficult to diagnose early and despite a small improvement in survival over the last 20 years, only 40% of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer are alive five years later (AIHW and NBOCC 2010).

Despite efforts to develop screening tools, 80% of EOC are diagnosed after they have spread beyond the ovary and 70% are generally incurable. Because ovarian cancer becomes resistant to current therapies so often, it is essential that we discover new treatments.

In 2011, clinician scientist, Associate Professor Clare Scott, Laboratory Head in the Molecular Genetics of Cancer Division, was appointed to head a new ovarian cancer laboratory in the Stem Cells and Cancer Division, funded by the Cory Leadership Fellowship and the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). The laboratory concentrates on developing new mouse models of epithelial ovarian cancer in order to improve molecular testing of ovarian cancer, producing new treatment strategies.