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Grants

To identify a new therapeutic target for the treatment of prostate cancer

Advanced prostate cancer remains the major therapeutic challenge since neither surgery nor systemic therapies are effective at this stage. Recently, a protein called PACE-1 was identified that is essential for prostate cancer cell survival. This study will use a combination of cutting edge biochemical and cell biological approaches to investigate the prognostic and therapeutic potential of PACE-1. First the functional role of PACE-1 in malignant transformation of prostate epithelial cells and in the development of metastatic prostate cancer will be defined. Meanwhile, using sophisticated orthotopic prostate cancer xenograft models, APCRC-Q researchers will test if inactivation of PACE-1 alone or in combination with systemic therapy inhibits prostate tumour growth and disease progression in vivo. Finally, by screening through a recently developed natural compound library, the aim is to identify compounds that target prostate cancer cells through inactivation of PACE-1.

Investigators

Patrick Ling APCRC-Q, IHBI, QUT, TRI
Ron Quinn Eskitis Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University & APCRC-Q
Pamela Russell APCRC-Q, IHBI, QUT, TRI

Associate Investigators

Colleen Nelson APCRC-Q, IHBI, QUT, TRI

Duration

2012 - 2014

Funding