Sox 18 gene being expressed in a sample (Photograph: courtesy IMB Photo Library and Dr Peter Koopman)

Research team:

Drs Peter Koopman and George Muscat

Funding:

1999–2000 National Heart Foundation ($45,000) 1999–2000 Queensland Cancer Fund ($50,000) Previously funded NHMRC

Email/Web link:

p.koopman@imb.uq.edu.au g.muscat@imb.uq.edu.au

Faculty of Biological & Chemical Sciences

A gene identified by University of Queensland researchers should be a major weapon in the battle against lethal cancers.

Scientists at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience have identified a new gene which should lead to breakthrough treatment for many of the cancers which kill 34,000 Australians each year.

The discovery, which has been published in the premiere US-based science journal, Nature Genetics, has the potential to slow, and possibly stop altogether, the growth of tumours in such major killers as cancer of the colon (4600 deaths in Australia each year), prostate (2500 deaths), pancreas (1600 deaths), bowel and brain tumours.

The gene may also be able to speed up blood vessel development to help heal wounds faster and treat circulation problems which can lead to limb amputation in diabetics.

Drs Peter Koopman and George Muscat have been working for the past six years on the research which has identified the gene, Sox 18.

"The gene regulates blood vessel development and could allow the effective 'starving' of tumours reducing their ability to grow," Dr Koopman said.

"Tumours cannot grow above a certain size unless they attract the growth of blood vessels, so by being able to control blood vessel development we may be able to slow or stop the cancer.

"While actual treatments could still be several years away this is an exciting discovery which has tremendous potential for making significant strides forward in the battle against some of the most destructive and lethal cancers."

Recent research in the US has also targeted blood vessel control to treat cancer tumours but through drug rather than gene technology.

The breakthrough at The University of Queensland will be seen within the scientific and medical communities as an international event.

"The next step will be to establish which genes interact with Sox 18 to control blood vessel development and also what processes are required within cells to produce the final effects," Dr Koopman said.

He previously created international interest when his team isolated a group of embryonic control genes related to sex determination.

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