Honours Project Book - Faculty of Health Sciences - University of ...

Reproductive Cancer Research Group
Contact Person
Dr Carmela Ricciardelli
Phone: 8313 8255
carmela.ricciardelli@adelaide.edu.au
Supervisors
Dr Carmela Ricciardelli
Associate Professor Martin Oehler
Dr Darryl Russell
Dr Alison Elder
Location: Medical School
Dr Ricciardelli a Cancer Cell Biologist; joined the Department in April 2005. Dr Ricciardelli was awarded her Ph D in
1996 (Flinders University) and has undertaken postdoctoral studies in the Department of Surgery, Flinders Medical
Centre, South Australia (1996-2001) and Dame Roma Mitchell Cancer Research Laboratories, Hanson Institute, South
Australia (2002-2005). She was awarded a Senior Fellowship with Cancer Council of South Australia (2004-2006). In
2007 she was the recipient of the Hilda Farmer Fellowship in Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Adelaide which
has enabled her to build a Reproductive cancer research group in Discipline of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at
University of Adelaide. Dr Ricciardelli’s current research focuses on further understanding the cross talk between
cancer cells and the extracellular matrix and mechanisms whereby extracellular matrix proteins promote spread of
breast, prostate and ovarian cancers.
PROJECT: (Clinical/basic) Identification of novel
proteins involved in ovarian cancer spread.
.R. O&G.
Supervisors
Dr Carmela Ricciardelli
Associate Professor Martin Oehler
Background
The implantation of cancer cells onto the peritoneal
surfaces is one of the first crucial steps in ovarian
cancer metastasis. However it remains unclear which
factors promote this process. Our recent studies have
examined the ovarian cancer – peritoneal
mesothelial cell interaction by means of latest
proteomics technology. Tumor-mesothelial cell
interaction have been explored in vitro by coculturing
human ovarian cancer and peritoneal
mesothelial cells. This novel strategy may lead to the
identification of novel proteins likely to be
mechanistically involved in implantation and
peritoneal metastasis of ovarian cancer.. Several
protein bands that are either increased or decreased
in co-culture experiments with ovarian and
mesothelial cells have been excised and will be
identified using MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometry.
This study will characterise the expression and
localization of several proteins modulated by ovarian
cancer cell-peritoneal interactions in human ovarian
cancer tissues. Proteins whose expression are
modulated in human ovarian cancer cells compared
to non-cancer tissues will be further characterised in
future studies using functional assays (adhesion,
migration and invasion assays). The identification of
novel proteins which promote adhesion and invasion
of ovarian cancer cells to peritoneal cells may serve
as therapeutic targets to inhibit ovarian cancer
metastasis. This project will utilise a broad range of
techniques including tissue culture, motility, adhesion
and invasion assays.
Aim 1. Characterise the expression of specific
proteins modulated by ovarian and peritoneal coculture
in human ovarian cancer tissues
Aim 2. Identify novel proteins that modulate ovarian
cancer cell adhesion, migration and invasion through
mesothelial cells
PROJECT: (Basic) Versican as a target to inhibit
cancer metastasis.
.R. O&G.
Supervisors
Dr Carmela Ricciardelli
Dr Darryl Russell
Project Background
There is increasing evidence to suggest that
extracellular matrix (ECM) components play an
active role in tumour progression and metastasis.
Proteoglycans are major components of the ECM
and have been shown to regulate cell adhesion, cell
signalling, apoptosis, migration and invasion.
Increased expression of the chondroitin sulfate (CS)
proteoglycan, versican in the peritumoral stromal
matrix is associated with a poor outcome in many
cancers, including breast and ovarian carcinoma.
Although there is the accumulating in vivo evidence
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