Victorian Breast Cancer Research Initiative

Opportunity for Basic Research Applicable to Breast Cancer at The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research

As part of the new 10-Year Breast Cancer Initiative of the Victorian State Government, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research hosts a program devoted to the study of molecular and cellular processes underlying the development of breast cancer. Preference is given to proposals that exhibit strong conceptual links with one or more of the Institute's current programs.

The Hall Institute, one of Australia's premier research institutions, has a high international profile for its discoveries on the regulation of normal and malignant cell growth, particularly of haemopoietic cells. Sited on the Royal Melbourne Hospital campus, in close proximity to the University of Melbourne and the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, it lies at the heart of a major research complex. Its staff of over 300 includes approximately 80 PhD scientists and research clinicians.

Facilities

The Breast Cancer laboratory will be established within a new suite of research laboratories between the Ludwig Institute and the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute. Dedicated laboratory space of approx. 50 sq.m. is immediately available and adjacent core facilities include, for example, three tissue culture laboratories, a microbiological laboratory, PCR laboratory and freezer room. Potential exists for expanded laboratory space.

Core facilities within the Hall Institute available to the Breast Cancer Laboratory will include a central FACS laboratory, computer and bioinformatics department, histology service, pathogen-free mice and a service for generating genetically-modified mice. The Joint Protein Sequence Laboratory, established in collaboration with the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, provides access to state of the art protein purification, sequencing and structural analysis.

There is potential for collaboration within the Royal Melbourne Hospital, Victoria's busiest cancer hospital. The Hospital's clinical services include an extensive breast cancer clinical program with a breast screening program, breast surgical unit, medical oncology unit, family breast clinic, and active clinical trials program. Opportunity also exists for collaboration within the Department of Pathology which provides breast histopathology services and molecular biology services.

Current research relevant to the Breast Cancer Initiative.

Growth Factors and their Receptors

Professor Donald Metcalf and Dr Nicos Nicola and their colleagues are renowned for their studies of the cytokines and receptors controlling haemopoiesis. A collaborative study, directed by Dr C. Glenn Begley, is examining growth factor regulation of breast cancer cells. Normal and malignant breast epithelial cells have been shown to express a family of receptors not hitherto suspected to function in breast tissue. The ligands for these receptors modulate the growth of breast cancer cells and a patent application covering this work has been filed.

Oncogenes and Transgenic Models

Professor Jerry Adams and his group are internationally recognised for work on oncogenes and for developing novel animal models of human disease, using transgenesis, gene ablation and retroviral gene delivery.

Molecular Control of Apoptosis

Teams headed by Professor Suzanne Cory, Dr Andreas Strasser and Dr David Vaux have achieved high international attention for their studies on the regulation of cell death (apoptosis). Opportunity exists for collaboration to examine the relevance of these findings to the control of normal and malignant breast cell growth.

Genetic Predisposition to Breast Cancer

A branch of the Australian Genome Research Facility, headed by Dr Simon Foote and supported by a sophisticated informatics group, is being established at The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute. Highly automated robotic stations and multiple automated sequencers will allow thousands of PCR genotyping and sequencing reactions daily. This facility obviously provides superb oportunities for detailed genetic analysis of cancer predisposing genes.

Developmental Biology

The developmental biology group, led by Dr Richard Harvey, is employing molecular genetic approaches to identify novel genes crucial to normal embryonic development. This experience and technology would be beneficial to a program addressing normal breast development.

Links with Clinical Programs

The clinical program at The Royal Melbourne Hospital offers considerable opportunity for collaboration. The medical oncology department, directed by Professor Richard Fox, includes the most active bone marrow transplant unit in Victoria. The campus has an active clinical trials group, the Centre for Developmental Cancer Therapeutics (CDCT), which was the first to develop G-CSF and thrombopoietin clinically and to recognise and utilise growth factor mobilisation of blood progenitor/stem cells for autologous transplantation. Importantly, Dr Russell Basser, Director of the CDCT, is the principal investigator for the International Breast Cancer Study Group examining intensive adjuvant chemotherapy for poor prognosis breast cancer.