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Garvan Institute

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Tumour Progression

 

The large majority of breast cancers arise through sporadic genetic and epigenetic alterations during a woman's life. By identifying these alterations, we will greatly improve our ability to predict the behaviour of breast cancer and treat patients.

By integrating cutting edge in vitro and in vivo models with studies of clinical specimens, the Tumour Progression Group is taking two approaches to identifying cancer-causing alterations.

1) The most lethal breast cancers metastasise to the lymph nodes, lung and bone, causing the majority of suffering and mortality associated with breast cancer. We have convincing evidence that the ID family of transcription factors play an important role in breast cancer metastasis. We are currently investigating their mechanism of action.

2) microRNAs are recently identified non-protein-coding RNA molecules that play a key role in regulation of gene expression in normal development. New evidence from our lab and others points to a role for microRNAs in cancer. We are studying the regulation of tumour suppressors and proto-oncogenes by microRNAs.

Staff

radhika nairResearch Officer
Dr Radhika Nair

Akira NguyenResearch Officer
Akira Nguyen

emie_roy90.jpgResearch Assistant
Emie Roy

Andrea McFarland Research Assistant
Andrea McFarland

Jaynish ShahResearch Assistant
Jaynish Shah
Simon JunankarPostgraduate Student
Simon Junankar
Yuwei PhuaPostgraduate Student
Yuwei Phua
Alex ShawPostgraduate Student
Alex Shaw
Honours Student
Wee Siang Teo
 

News

 

Garvan and St Vincent’s to Build $100 million Australian Cancer Centre

MEDIA RELEASE: 22 Oct 2008
The Garvan Institute of Medical Research and St Vincents & Mater Health Sydney will today announce plans to jointly establish a new $100 million Cancer Centre within the St Vincent’s Research Precinct. The Garvan St Vincent’s Campus Cancer Centre (GSVCCC) will integrate internationally acclaimed cancer research with best practice cancer services, enabling research findings to move quickly into patient care.
 
 

Targeting aggressive breast cancers by putting them to sleep

MEDIA RELEASE: 25 Mar 2008
Dr Alex Swarbrick, head of Garvan's Tumour Progression Research Group, has published findings that Id1, a gene produced by the most aggressive forms of breast cancer, can control breast cancer growth. He has shown that by 'switching off' the Id1 gene, it is possible to induce a state of 'senescence', or permanent sleep, within a tumour, preventing it from growing or spreading.
 
 

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