$1 million capital works grant

STOP PRESS:  Thurs March 8. The Hon. John Brumby MP, Minister for Innovation, Victoria officially opens Ludwig Institute of Cancer Research ACRF Cancer Proteomics Program. 

Media Release here

Feature Outcome: To allow the translation of laboratory research expertise in proteomics to a cancer biomarker capability, which enables the detection of serum proteins/peptides associated with cancer. The equipment to be purchased will allow the direct identification of low abundance proteins from serum samples, and the newly established bioinformatics and tissue banking capabilities will allow the linkage and correlation of this protein data with clinical data from patients at many hospitals. A Cancer Biomarker capability will allow the development of better cancer detection methods, improve prognostic information and assist with treatment choices.

Research Institution: The Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, VIC.  www.ludwig.edu.au

Director of Research: Professor Tony Burgess     

Associate Investigator and Medical Oncologist:  Dr Peter Gibbs

Background / Project Overview: The Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research (LICR) in conjunction with the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute (WEHI), has operated a world-class protein identification (proteomics) research laboratory for many years. This laboratory is equipped with research grade mass spectrometers, chromatography and electrophoresis equipment suited to discovery projects. Their expertise allows the LICR to identify proteins with accuracy and sensitivity, but many of these processes require weeks and even months. The acquisition of a mass spectrometer configured for direct identification of proteins in complex mixtures will form the technical basis for LICR to establish a dedicated clinical, cancer biomarker capability.

Further Details / Outcomes: The Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research aims to reduce the impact of cancer on society. Support from ACRF to improve its capability for identifying serum/plasma biomarkers will assist with early detection, prognosis and treatment of colon cancer. Although the initial applications are directed towards colon cancer, once established the Cancer Biomarker capability can be applied to other cancers for monitoring the progress of cancer treatment.

Colon cancer is a major cause of illness and death in the Western world and the treatment of advanced colon cancer is still both traumatic and less than curative. If the cancer is detected early and it becomes possible to treat the molecular lesions associated with the disease, more than 90% of colon cancer patients will survive the disease. There are a number of colon cancer screening programs underway, but these are not generally helpful in a prognostic or patient management sense. More informative, more sensitive biomarkers are required if we are to improve outcomes for people with colon cancer.

Expected benefits of the Cancer Proteomics Program to cancer research outcomes:

Our discussions with colleagues at Vanderbilt University (Nashville) and the LICR in Brazil indicate that our processes and techniques will be transferred to their hospitals to implement and validate the results of our biomarker project at the international level. The annotated tissue bank, the biomarker sets and the bio-informatics algorithms will be accessible to clinicians world-wide. We believe this project will improve outcomes for colon cancer patients.

Types of Cancer: Colon & Bowel