SLIRP Gene Unveiled

[L to R]: Professor Peter Klinken, Malcolm Sears, Mary Thornton & Professor Peter Leedman

WAIMR researchers have discovered a new gene that could lead to breakthroughs in breast and prostate cancer, as well as diabetes. The gene, called SLIRP, was discovered by a team in the Laboratory for Cancer Medicine, led by Professor Peter Leedman, in collaboration with Professor Bert O'Malley's team at Baylor College of Medicine in Texas.

SLIRP has the potential to shut down oestrogen in breast cancer cells and testosterone in prostate cancer cells. As most of those cancers depend on the hormones to stay alive, SLIRP may be used to block the hormones which could open the door to targeted new treatments. The benefit of these so-called 'smart' drugs is that they can reduce side effects for patients. The discovery could also help researchers create blood tests to diagnose breast and prostate cancer. SLIRP has also been shown to turn down genes involved in energy metabolism, so it could aid progress in tackling diabetes and weight problems.

The findings have been published in the prestigious international journal Molecular Cell and Professor Leedman and his team have applied for a patent on the gene. Several funding bodies have contributed to this work, including the National Health and Medical Research Council, the National Breast Cancer Foundation, the Cancer Council of WA and the Royal Perth Hospital Medical Research Foundation.

About 2500 women and men die each year from breast or prostate cancer.

Tumour Suppressor Gene Uncovered

[L to R]: Amy Samuels, Jenny Beaumont, Dr Jean-Philippe Lalonde & Professor Peter Klinken

The discovery by WAIMR scientists of a tumour suppressor gene is providing fresh hope of tackling a number of cancers.

The gene, known as HLS5, may be able to be used to slow the rate of some cancers. In effect, HLS5 acts in much the same way as a brake cable in a car - if the cable is cut, then the gene can't do its job and cell growth can't be controlled, leading to cancer.

The research could lead to the development of a drug that mimics HLS5 to slow and even stop the growth of cancer cells. The team is also working to produce a test for the gene which could indicate a person's risk of developing breast, prostate, liver, ovarian and colon cancer.

This research has been possible thanks to the support of the WA-based biotechnology company, BioPharmica.

WAIMR Team's Lymphoma Finding

New forms of treatment for the rare group of cancers known as cutaneous T-cell lymphomas are predicted to follow a world-first discovery by WAIMR and University of Western Australia researchers. The Laboratory for Cancer Medicine team, led by Associate Professor Lawrie Abraham, pinpointed a gene that may be linked to the cancers, which attack the body's lymphatic system. They've discovered a particular gene that shouldn't be expressed in T-cells and is expressed in "ridiculously high levels" in these cancers.

The group is now investigating the role of the protein made by this gene to see how it might be involved in cutaneous T-cell lymphomas, including whether or not it is responsible for cell proliferation.

The discovery opens up the possibility of new diagnostic tools and therapies to treat these previously incurable cancers.

WAIMR's Leukaemia Breakthrough

Each year, around 650 Australians are diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia and the genetic causes of these leukaemias are gradually being identified. The aggressive cancer, which affects the development of mature blood cells in bone marrow usually occurs in adults, but can also be diagnosed in children and teenagers.

Scientists from Professor Peter Klinken's team at WAIMR have found that a gene, called MLF1, is involved in acute myeloid leukaemia. They have discovered the gene is responsible for changes that occur in some leukaemic cells - changes that make them more resistant to chemotherapy and therefore harder to destroy.

The finding could open the door to better treatments, with researchers now investigating how they might be able to control the MLF1 gene. The WAIMR team believes if that can be done, the success rate in treating acute myeloid leukaemia could increase significantly. The team is also working in collaboration with US scientist Dr Steve Morris and his team at St. Judes Children's Hospital in Memphis.

Reversing Blood Vessel Growth to Beat Tumours

Associate Professor Ruth Ganss

WAIMR Associate Professor Ruth Ganss is pioneering a new approach to tackling tumours. An international leader in her field, the research could lead to improved treatments to battle a range of cancers. Her work focuses on reversing and re-arranging the growth of new blood vessels that give life to tumours, in a bid to pave the way for the body's immune cells to enter the tumour and destroy it.

The growth of blood vessels inside tumours stops disease fighting cells in their tracks. Associate Professor Ganss said it was possible to "normalise" the blood vessels, thus opening up the tumour to the immune system.

The benefits of this type of approach to beating tumours are many. The technique could be used to create highly specific and effective therapies that would only focus on cancer cells. As healthy tissues would not be attacked, the treatment would likely be superior to chemotherapy and lead to fewer side effects for patients.

In 2006, Associate Professor Ganss' work won her the George Koehler Prize for immunology from the German Society for Immunology - an annual prize given to one young investigator for their outstanding contribution to the understanding of our immune system.