The Children's Cancer Institute (CCIA) is heavily involved in designing new therapies to target Myc variants. (see below)
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Targeting the N-myc oncogene in neuroblastoma
Since demonstrating that inhibition of the cancer associated gene MYCN (also known as N-myc) can inhibit tumour formation in an experimental model of neuroblastoma, the commonest solid tumour of young children, we have been focusing on developing more effective ways of blocking the action of this rogue gene.
Through a highly productive collaboration with the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, USA and its associated biotechnology company, Cleveland BioLabs, we have developed an internationally competitive approach to identifying chemical small molecule compounds that specifically inhibit MYCN. The approach, which involves high-throughput screening of ‘libraries’ of many thousands of synthetic chemical small-molecules, has already resulted in the identification of a number of highly promising compounds that appear capable of specifically blocking the growth of human neuroblastoma cells. We have also begun testing the most promising of these compounds in our model system of neuroblastoma, which closely reflects the growth of neuroblastoma tumours in children.
This project is a source of considerable excitement and research activity because of its potential for developing clinically relevant pharmaceuticals with the capacity to improve treatment outcomes for children with aggressive neuroblastoma. In addition, because the screening approach we have used has identified compounds that inhibit the action of the closely related gene, MYC, which plays a key role in a number of adult tumours including prostate cancer, colon cancer, lymphoma and breast cancer, the research has broad implications for improving the treatment of a range of common tumours. Small molecules with demonstrated activity at inhibiting MYC have already been isolated, and we are investigating these intensively.
The Cancer Institute NSW has recently awarded a large grant to Prof Glenn Marshall's team at the CCIA to research novel cancer therapies in Myc-driven childhood cancer (see below).
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Professor Glenn Marshall, University of New South Wales ($3.75 million) Experimental therapeutics for Myc-driven childhood cancer
The drugs used to treat children with cancer cause serious acute side-effects on normal growing tissues. In the long term, one third of the 15,000 child cancer survivors in Australia today will have a significant health problem in adulthood as a consequence of their successful therapy. This research program will develop novel anti-cancer therapies targeting specific genes associated with cancer cells. The project will also develop and test a decision aid for parents of children with cancer to reduce the complexity and stress associated with consenting to experiment.
So I'm wondering whether Phylogica are talking to CCIA about assisting them with more efficient delivery of CCIA's novel therapeutic agents. Great that all this exciting activity is going on in our very own backyard.
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