Methylation markers for lung cancer

Characterisation of novel methylated genes in lung cancer.



Funding year: 2006



Amount funded: $53,900



Lead researcher:
Assoc Prof Kwun Fong MBBS(Lon), FRACP, PhD



Research team:
Dr Rayleen Bowman MBBS, FRACP, Grad Cert Med Ed
Dr Ian Yang MBBS, FRACP, PhD, Grad Dip Med Epi
Dr Belinda Clarke MBBS, FRCPA, PhD, Grad Cert Med Ed
Ms Jill Larsen BSc(Hons)



Location of research:
The Prince Charles Hospital, 627 Rode Road, Chermside, Queensland



Project description:
Lung cancer is a major public health problem. In Australia, lung cancer is the third leading cause of mortality and the fifth leading cause of burden of disease.

Tobacco smoking, particularly cigarette smoke, is the major cause of lung cancer. Despite intensive efforts in primary prevention, screening and therapy, long-term survival rates have not improved substantially since the 1960s. Therefore, understanding the biology of lung cancer is crucial to the development of effective new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

In this project, we will study changes in the structure of certain genes potentially related to cancer. We will aim to emasure these in body fluid from patients with lung cancer, to see if they can be detected and therefore used as markers of the cancer.