RESEARCH REPORT - Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

Figure 1: The role of polarity proteins in controlling cell fate.
Images of a T cell dividing (grey arrows) while still attached to an antigen-presenting cell (white arrows). Polarisation of the attached T cell
means that the two daughter cells inherit different molecules and so go on to adopt different fates.
[Source: Dr Sarah Russell, Immune Signalling Laboratory, pp. 18–19. Reference: Chang et al., (2007) Science 315: 1687–91; publication
number 28.]
highlights of 2007
The work highlighted below outlines areas of strength
and achievement throughout 2007. Some of this work
was conducted solely by Peter Mac researchers, but
much of it involved external collaboration, where
Peter Mac researchers either contributed to work led
by others or where they took the lead role themselves.
About half of our publications involve authors
external to Peter Mac, reflecting our belief in the
importance of collaboration to address major
questions, quickly and effectively.
The Cancer Immunology program seeks to understand
how immune cells recognise and kill cancer cells.
Important insights were gained during 2007 in
immune surveillance in the control of cancer (Nature,
2007, 450 903–7), the role of polarity proteins in
controlling cell fate (Science 315(5819): 1687–91;
see Fig. 1) and structural properties of the cytotoxic
granule protein, perforin (Science 317(5844): 1548–
51). The Cancer Immunology program has a major
focus on enhancing immune responses to cancer
cells by increasing their ability to recognise and kill
these cells (Nature Biotechnology 25(2): 192–193;
Cancer Research 67(15): 7495–7504; Cancer
Research 67(23): 11428–11437). The Cancer
Genomics and Genetics, Cell Biology, and Growth
Control programs seek to understand the genetic and
biochemical control of normal and cancerous cells.
These programs defined the role of critical genes in
colon cell growth (PNAS, 104(10): 3829–3834),
described the development of novel techniques to
manipulate epithelial cells (Nature Protocols 2(1):
178–186, see Fig. 2) and identified how cellular
microenvironment can influence the outgrowth of
tumour cells (Cell 129(6): 1097–1110; American
Journal of Pathology 170(6): 2135–2148 see Fig.
4). Understanding inherited and somatic change in
cancer is critical to defining key driver mutations.
Peter Mac researchers contributed to a worldwide
effort to map new genes associated with breast
cancer risk, leading to some of the most significant
findings in this area in the last decade (Cancer Res
67(7): 3027–35; Nature 447(7148): 1087–93; Nat
Genet 39(3): 352–8). Key insights and technology
development also occurred in defining changes in
DNA copy number for key genes involved in breast
and ovarian cancer (Cancer Res 67(6): 2544 –51;
Clinical Cancer Research 13(16): 4731– 4739).
Figure 2. Tissue regeneration of early differentiating keratinocytes.
This image demonstrates tissue reconstitution six weeks
after transplantation.
[Source: Dr Pritinder Kaur, Epithelial Stem Cell Biology Laboratory,
pp. 58–9. Reference: Gangatirkar et al., (2007) Nature Protocols
2(1): 178 –86; publication number 93.]
The concept of personalised medicine continues to
be rapidly developed as our understanding grows of
the molecular changes occurring in human cancers.
We have an active program in defining the action
of novel anticancer agents (Proc Natl Acad Sci
U S A 104(19): 8071–6) and made an important
contribution to international trials of targeted
therapy in colon cancer (N Engl J Med 357(20):
2040–48), multiple myeloma (New England Journal
of Medicine 357(21): 2123–2132), melanoma (Clin
Cancer Res 13(12): 3630–36; Journal of Clinical
Oncology 25(28): 4493–4494) and chronic myeloid
leukaemia (Clinical Cancer Research 13(23): 7080–
7085), and in defining the role of PET imaging head
and neck cancer (Head and Neck 29(11): 986–995;
see Fig. 3). We have a vibrant program in allied
health and supportive care research, which seeks
to develop evidence-based approaches to patient
support and survival (European Journal of Cancer
Care (Engl) 16(5): 417– 423; Journal of Clinical
Oncology 25(9): e13–14).
Figure 3. Defining the role of PET imaging head and neck cancer.
This research investigated the clinical impact and prognostic
stratification of F-18 FDG PET/CT in head and neck mucosal
squamous cell carcinoma. PET/CT indentified uptake at the
previously ‘not suspicious’ neck node (arrow), leading to improved
identification of disease state.
[Source: Connell CA, et al., (2007) Head and Neck, 29 (11),
986–95. Copyright 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. See pages 102–3,
and publication number 40.]
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