Distrupting malignant cell niches to improve anti-cancer treatment outcomes

Principal Advisor: Dr Ingrid Winkler

Phone: 3443 7572

Organisational unit: Mater Research Institute-UQ

Stem cells in the body reside in specific microenvironments (niches) that nurture and support stem cell potency and survival. Cancer stem cells also seek and manipulate these niches to instead promote cancer cell growth, survival and chemo resistance, to the detriment of normal healthy stem cells. Our team have identified several niche factors involved in maintaining normal bone marrow stem cell function. Some of these also play roles in leukaemia cell therapy resistance. These discoveries are now being translated in patient clinical trials with goal of improving anti-leukaemia treatment outcomes, and of improved harvesting of normal haematopoietc stem cells for transplant. The goal of this new research project is to determine whether solid tumours may hijack similar niches to also promote their growth, survival and to resist therapy. The research involves in vitro studies supported by studies using established preclinical models of disease. Anticipated outcomes of this research may include new knowledge in fields of inflammation, environmental regulation of normal and malignant cells, as well as potential new strategies for improved cancer therapy outcomes.