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Pioneering paediatric oncologist receives top cancer research award

Associate Professor Rishi Kotecha, Co-Head of Leukaemia Translational Research at The Kids Research Institute Australia Cancer Centre and Consultant Paediatric Oncologist at Perth Children's Hospital, has been named Cancer Council WA’s 2024 Cancer Researcher of the Year.

New treatments on horizon for rarest child brain cancers

The WA Kids Cancer Centre has a suite of world-leading research projects to unlock new treatments for childhood cancers.

A Systematic Review on the Role of Postoperative Radiotherapy in Pelvic Ewing Sarcoma

Ewing Sarcoma of the pelvis has poorer outcomes than other anatomical sites, with complex anatomy often precluding resection with wide margins. The role of postoperative radiotherapy (RT) in improving outcomes remains undefined. A systematic review using Medline, Embase and Cochrane databases (1972-April 2024) evaluated postoperative RT's impact on local recurrence, event-free survival and overall survival. Twenty-nine retrospective studies (21 to 296 patients) met inclusion criteria, with 28 rated good quality.

A New Era for PPARγ: Covalent Ligands and Therapeutic Applications

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) is a prominent ligand-inducible transcription factor involved in adipocyte differentiation, glucose homeostasis, insulin sensitivity, inflammation, and cell proliferation, making it a therapeutic target for diabetes, metabolic syndrome, autoimmune diseases, and cancer. 

Leukaemia

Leukaemia, also spelled leukemia, is a cancer that develops in the bone marrow and results in abnormal white blood cells. It is the most common cancer in children, accounting for almost a third of all childhood & teen cancers.

Beyond bone: the emerging role of osteoclasts in immune regulation, leukemia development and following myeloablative therapy

Osteoclasts are important regulators of bone remodeling, with an established role in maintaining skeletal homeostasis. The emergence of osteoimmunology has identified osteoclasts as key players in the immune system. In particular, osteoclasts can initiate bi-directional crosstalk mechanisms with hematopoietic stem cells and various immune cells, such as T cells, B cells and NK cells, to influence hematopoiesis and inflammatory response.

Comparative analysis of malignant pleural effusion and peripheral blood reveals unique T cell signatures associated with survival in mesothelioma patients

The success of cancer immunotherapies has highlighted the importance of monitoring the anti-tumour T cell response. Patients with mesothelioma frequently present with a malignant pleural effusion (MPE) that is commonly drained regularly to alleviate symptoms. As MPE contains tumour cells, T cells and cytokines, it provides a unique opportunity to sample immune events at the tumour site.

Histone methyltransferase PRDM9 promotes survival of drug-tolerant persister cells in glioblastoma

Chemotherapy often kills a large fraction of cancer cells but leaves behind a small population of drug-tolerant persister cells. These persister cells survive drug treatments through reversible, non-genetic mechanisms and cause tumour recurrence upon cessation of therapy. Here, we report a drug tolerance mechanism regulated by the germ-cell-specific H3K4 methyltransferase PRDM9. 

Current gaps in knowledge and future research directions for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children with cancer

Paediatric cancer is the leading cause of disease-related death in Australian children. Limited research focuses on cancer in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. Although there appears to be a lower incidence of cancer overall in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children compared with non-Indigenous children, a high proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia.

Long-Term Outcome of Young Infants With Suspected Neuroblastoma following Observation as Primary Therapy: A Report From the Children's Oncology Group

Several studies have established that patients with localized perinatal neuroblastoma can be safely observed; however, long-term outcomes have not been previously reported. We evaluated long-term outcomes of infants with suspected perinatal neuroblastoma enrolled on the Children's Oncology Group ANBL00P2, which included an expectant observation approach.