Research Projects

This project will use molecular and cell-based techniques to investigate the role of key factors involved in regulating brain tumour growth, drug resistance and cancer stem cell biology. We recently reported a novel role of the cAMP pathway in triggering death in some brain cancer cell lines (1). The sensitivity or resistance of these cells to cAMP-induced death correlates with the MAPK pathway and CD44 expression. We have since developed a hypothesis that the transcription factors, Ets1 and Myb form a signalling-transcription network, cooperating with the cAMP, MAPK and PI3K pathways to enhance brain tumour cell malignancy and drug resistance. Human and animal cell lines, patient-derived brain tumour cells and patient specimens will be used for experiments. PCR, IHC and other molecular techniques will be used to investigate how three signalling pathways act both individually and cooperate with to regulate malignant brain cancer tumour cell function, with a focus on tumour cell invasion. 

This project will be based at the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre. 

Contact project supervisor for further
information and application enquiries