Scientists at The University of Queensland's 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.
This gene has the potential to effect significantly the growth of cancer tumours. Sox 18 regulates blood vessel development and could allow the effective "starving" of tumours reducing their ability to grow.
"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," Dr Koopman said.
"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 USA 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.
Both scientists are part of The University of Queensland's Institute for Molecular Bioscience which will occupy a new $105 million building at the St Lucia campus in 2002.
The 35,000sqm UQ/CSIRO Joint Building Project which will house the Institute was approved by Federal Parliament in February. Demolition work will begin shortly and construction will commence later this year.
The Institute will house 700 scientists and staff providing state-of-the-art laboratory, advanced computer and administrative facilities.
Dr Koopman has previously created international interest when his team isolated a group of embryonic control genes related to sex determination.
For more information contact Peter McCutcheon, UQ Communications Office on 3365 1088 or 0413 380 012 or Jan King, 3365 1120 or 0413 601 248.
