The NSW Government's record funding for cancer research has helped deliver another internationally significant breakthrough discovery, this time in the cause of a common infant cancer as well as breast cancer.
Assistant Health Minister (Cancer) Verity Firth said a team of cancer researchers led by Professor Glenn Marshall at the Children's Cancer Institute Australia have discovered how certain proteins - Myc - lead to the development of neuroblastoma - a cancer of immature nerve cells which mainly affects infants.
"These same proteins, which Professor Marshall and his team found to be elevated in the tumour cells of neuroblastoma, were also found to be higher in the cells of breast cancer tumours," said Ms Firth.
"It's a very significant finding because researchers will now be able to target these proteins with new anti-cancer drugs which inhibit the growth of tumours."
In 2005, NSW Government provided $3.4 million in Professor Marshall's promising research, part of a $48 million investment in cancer research for the period between 2004 and 2007.
"Over the next four years, we build on this investment with a further $97 million for cancer research," said Ms Firth.
"Every dollar we invest in cancer research brings us one step closer to a cure."
Ms Firth said the government's investment in cancer research had put NSW on the map when it comes to internationally significant cancer discoveries.
- A new dye which can quickly determine if cancer treatments are actually destroying cancer cells is undergoing trials after promising early results. This breakthrough was made by NSW researcher Professor Phil Hogg and supported with $3.7 million from the NSW Government. The benefits should be shorter and more effective cancer treatments for patients.
- A tiny chemical ‘tag' on a critical gene passed from parent to child was discovered by Sydney medical oncologist Professor Robyn Ward. Her discovery will have major implications for families where the cause of cancer cannot be explained by current genetic tests. The NSW Government has contributed more than $4 million toward cancer research activities undertaken by Professor Ward.
- A new genetic marker for identifying aggressive prostate cancers has been discovered by researcher Professor Susan Clark and her team at Sydney's Garvan Institute of Medical Research. Professor Clark's research was made possible with $3.7 million of NSW Government funding for cancer research. The discovery should lead to more effective treatment for patients with aggressive prostate cancer.
