Understanding the malignant cell environment – to improve anti-cancer treatment outcomes

Principal Advisor: Dr Ingrid Winkler

Email: i.winkler@uq.edu.au

Phone: 3443 7572

Organisational unit: Mater Research Institute-UQ

Normal stem cells reside in specific micro-environments (niches) in the body which provide support and cell survival . Malignant stem cells must manipulate their local environments in order to take advantage of these survival (therapy-resistance) and growth signals to persist. The goal of this project is to identify pro-tumour survival factors in the malignant cell niche involved in promoting cancer cell survival and therapy resistance. The first part of this project will involve cell culture studies. In the second part, the importance of these factors in determining outcome of cancer progression and therapy response will be investigated using preclinical models involving cancer and cancer therapy . Anticipated outcomes of this research project may include new strategies to improve cancer therapy outcomes.