1984 – $1 million research grant

Cancer type: colon cancer & prostate cancer, Kaposi’s sarcoma and lymphoma

Research Institution: Centre for Immunology, St Vincent’s Hospital, Darlinghurst, New South Wales

Director of Research: Dr Samuel Breit

Feature Outcome:

Development of a test capable of detecting MIC-1 (a human protein produced in large amounts by many tumours). Association between HIV status and unprotected anal sex with casual partners and HHV8 risk.

Research Focus:

Immune mechanisms in cancer including biomechanical regulation of growth factor utilising leukaemia, bladder and colon cancer cells.

Further Details / Outcomes:

The Centre for Immunology is engaged in an increasing number of cancer research related projects and below is a brief of two, which have reached a fairly advanced stage:

  • MIC-1 is a human protein, first cloned by Prof Breit’s group at the Centre for Immunology, and has been the subject of intensive study for a number of years. This group has developed a sensitive test capable of detecting this substance in the blood of all individuals. MIC-1 is produced in large amounts by many tumours, but not their non-malignant counterparts. This tumour produced material is secreted into blood where it can be detected in increased amounts. This group has been able to demonstrate its usefulness in identifying and monitoring colon and prostate cancer and are in the process of studying other cancers. There has been interest expressed in this protein by pharmaceutical companies who wish to develop this as a commercial test.
  • Human Herpes Virus 8 (HHV-8) is linked to a number of malignancies including Kaposi’s sarcoma and lymphoma. There are clear and consistent data that HHV8 is sexually transmitted among homosexual men. Studies at the Centre for Immunology in well defined populations at risk of infection found a strong association between HIV status and unprotected anal sex with casual partners and HHV8 risk. Other sexual behaviours, including those associated with salivary contact had non-significant positive associations with HHV-8 risk. The fact that no sexual behaviours with regular partners were associated with risk strengthens the evidence that sexual transmission of HHV8 was occurring in this cohort.

Awarded $1,000,000 in 1987/88

Dr Samuel Breit – Update for 2002

The Centre for Immunology is engaged in an increasing number of cancer research related projects and below is a brief of two, which have reached a fairly advanced stage.

MIC-1 is a human protein, first cloned by Prof Breit’s group at the Centre for Immunology, and has been the subject of intensive study for a number of years. This group has developed a sensitive test capable of detecting this substance in the blood of all individuals. MIC-1 is produced in large amounts by many tumours, but not their non-malignant counterparts. This tumour produced material is secreted into blood where it can be detected in increased amounts. This group has been able to demonstrate its usefulness in identifying and monitoring colon and prostate cancer and are in the process of studying other cancers. There has been interest expressed in this protein by pharmaceutical companies who wish to develop this as a commercial test.

Human Herpes Virus 8 ( HHV-8) is linked to a number of malignancies including Kaposi’s sarcoma and lymphoma. There are clear and consistent data that HHV8 is sexually transmitted among homosexual men. Studies at the Centre for Immunology in well defined populations at risk of infection found a strong association between HIV status and unprotected anal sex with casual partners and HHV8 risk. Other sexual behaviours, including those associated with salivary contact had non-significant positive associations with HHV-8 risk. The fact that no sexual behaviours with regular partners were associated with risk strengthens the evidence that sexual transmission of HHV8 was occurring in this cohort.

Posted by admin