Peter Mac-led research has discovered a new way some melanomas become resistant to targeted therapies.
The study, published overnight in Nature Communications, found that if a new pathway that controls the melanoma cells' metabolic switch could be deactivated, it will delay the patient's melanoma becoming resistant to these treatments.
A major advantage of targeted therapies – which target a specific gene mutation in a patient's cancer – is that initially they get high response rates, with fewer side effects.
The research was specifically looking at melanomas with a BRAF mutation, which occurs in roughly half of all melanomas.
"Approximately 80 per cent of patients with these BRAF-mutant melanomas will respond to targeted therapies at first, but unfortunately these treatments don't provide a cure," says Dr Lorey Smith, the lead author of the research.
Most patients will ultimately relapse – the majority within a year or two – because the residual cancer in their body develops resistance to treatment.
"In some cases, there are no changes in the genetics of these cancer cells, but changes in how their mRNA is processed and turned into proteins," says Dr Smith.
Essentially, the melanoma gets smarter in response to the treatment and learns how to outwit it, by reprogramming the cancer cell's metabolism.
Developing this adaptive resistance allows some melanoma cells to survive and stay in the body, until there are favourable circumstances for them to start multiplying again.
But by finding a new pathway that controls the cancer cells' metabolic switch, the researchers were able to knock out another of the melanoma's potential fuel sources.
"Essentially, when we switch off this pathway, we're starving the melanoma cells," says Dr Smith.
"We switch off the proteins that the melanoma needs to adapt and develop resistance to the treatment."
This means targeted therapies would be effective for longer.
"While our work is in melanoma, we actually think that these findings are going to be generally applicable to any BRAF-mutant cancer treated with these types of targeted therapies," says Dr Smith.
The researchers are also trying to develop a drug that directly targets this protein they found, that seems to play an important role in these melanomas developing this type of adaptive non-genetic resistance.
This research was undertaken with support from Peter Mac core facilities: the Victorian Centre for Functional Genomics, Molecular Genomics, Flow Cytometry and the Centre for Advanced Microscopy and Histology.
Contacts:
For more information contact the Peter Mac Communications team on 0417 123 048.
About Peter Mac
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre is a world-leading cancer research, education and treatment centre and Australia's only public health service solely dedicated to caring for people affected by cancer.
Image: Metastatic melanoma cells. Credit: Julio C. Valencia, NCI Center for Cancer Research
MindOnLine is a mindfulness program for people with breast, bowel or prostate cancer by Deakin University.
The study team is inviting people who have finished treatment for prostate, breast or bowel cancer to participate in an online mindfulness study.
After having cancer treatment, it is common to feel anxious or scared that the cancer will come back. Mindfulness practice can help people learn to manage their fears and worries.
The team has developed an online mindfulness program (MindOnLine) and would like to test if it can help people with prostate, breast or colorectal cancer.
To be eligible you must be over the age of 18, speak and read English, have finished treatment within the last five years and have access to the Internet.
Men living with local or locally advanced prostate cancer, or those under active surveillance (watch and wait) or receiving hormonal treatment are eligible.
People diagnosed with early breast cancer are eligible (Early breast cancer where the cancer has been contained in the breast or where cancer has spread to one or a small number of lymph nodes).
People diagnosed with bowel cancer stages 1-3 are eligible (stages 1-3 includes early stages and local cancer).
During this project you may be randomized to the intervention group where you will receive access to the 9-week MindOnLine program. Or, you may be randomized to the control group where you will receive your usual care from your healthcare service provider.
Study participants will be asked to complete surveys at the beginning of the study, around 9 weeks later and again 6 months later. People in the control group will be able to access MindOnLine after they complete the last survey.
If you are interested in participating, please contact Dr Natalie Heynsbergh on Tel: (03) 9246 8225, Mobile: 0419 263 117 or at Email: [email protected]
For more information please visit https://mindonline.org.au
This project is being conducted by Deakin University in association with:
Do you provide informal or unpaid care for someone with cancer?
Carers of people with cancer are sought to take part in a study that will evaluate a smart phone app designed to make caring more manageable.
Martina Clark, director and founder of Carers Couch, created the “YourCouch” app after caring for her friend who was terminally ill with advanced lung cancer.
“The YourCouch app aims to reduce the levels of anxiety, stress and burnout that carers may face as a result of their care duties.
“We wanted to help carers find the right information and resources at the right times, and we’re delighted to be working with carers at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre to help make the app as useful and accessible as possible.”
The app has been developed over several years and aims to support carers of cancer patients from the point of diagnosis and throughout their caregiving experience.
This study will evaluate the acceptability, feasibility, and utility of the YourCouch app, and the “CouchPlus” support coordination services, and the impact these have on carers.
Peter Mac Lung Cancer Specialist Nurse, Mary Duffy is coordinating recruitment of 30 carers who will trial the app and provide feedback.
For more information, please call the Wellbeing Centre at Peter Mac on (03) 8559 6260 or contact the study team on [email protected].
A new Peter Mac-led study has posthumously tested samples from ovarian cancer patients, who missed the chance for genetic testing before they died of the disease.
Genetically testing these patients' samples allows for their families to be informed of potential higher cancer risk, which then makes family members eligible for subsidised genetic testing themselves.
"It's now well recognised how inherited genetic mutations can increase a person's risk for developing ovarian, breast, prostate, pancreatic and other cancers," says Dr Kathryn Alsop, a senior author on the study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology last week.
In 2013, thanks to previous Peter Mac-led research, the national genetic testing guidelines for ovarian cancer patients where changed.
Since then, it's been recommended that the majority of women with ovarian cancer receive genetic testing, which is subsidised by the federal government.
Without the subsidy the out-of-pocket costs for this testing would be over $1,000.
This study focussed on identifying ovarian cancer patients who were diagnosed before the guidelines were changed, and hence who may not have had the opportunity to undergo genetic testing while they were alive.
"Of the 787 patients we tested in this study, 11% had an inheritable genetic mutation that increases a person's risk of developing cancer," says Dr Rachel Delahunty, lead author of the study.
"Prior to this testing, their families may not have been aware of their increased genetic risk."
The researchers found this health information is welcomed by family members, as it allows them to manage their own cancer risk and possibly even take preventative measures.
"Importantly, it means that these families do not need to wait for another cancer diagnosis within their family before being able to pursue subsidised testing options," says Dr Alsop.
This research was undertaken with support from the Peter Mac Molecular Genomics Core, Bioinformatics Core, Molecular Pathology, Australian Ovarian Cancer Study, the Ovarian Cancer Prognosis and Lifestyle Study, the Australian Cancer Study and the Parkville Familial Cancer Centre.
Ovarian Cancer Australia was a partner on the study, which was undertaken at sites across Australia including St John of God (WA), King Edward Memorial Hospital (WA), the Royal Hospital for Women/Prince of Wales (NSW) and Monash Medical Centre (Vic). It was funded by the Australian Federal Government's Public Health and Chronic Disease Grant program.
Contacts:
For more information contact the Peter Mac Communications team on 0417 123 048.
About Peter Mac
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre is a world-leading cancer research, education and treatment centre and Australia's only public health service solely dedicated to caring for people affected by cancer.
Image: DNA genotyping and sequencing. Credit: Daniel Sone, National Cancer Institute
Peter Mac is a leader in supporting patients with cancer who develop lymphoedema.
During Lymphoedema Awareness Month this March we highlight how Peter Mac’s lymphoedema therapists and physiotherapists can help patients to reduce risk factors and to manage the condition.
Lymphoedema refers to the chronic swelling of a body part which is caused by the accumulation of fluid and protein in the tissue spaces.
“Lymph nodes act like a drain in your sink – if the drain is clogged, the fluid cannot drain,” explains Physiotherapist and lymphoedema therapist Megan Howard.
“This usually happens in the arms or legs, but can happen in other parts of the body due to a disruption in the lymphatic system.”
Some cancer treatments can cause lymphoedema; this is called secondary lymphoedema and can occur any time following treatment, but is most commonly seen within the first two years after treatment, due to:
For more information about lymphoedema, speak with your treating team at Peter Mac or refer to one of the helpful resources below.