NEWS BRIEFING: Move over DNA, sugars are a new frontier to attack cancer

Embargoed until: Publicly released:

*** BRIEFING RECORDING NOW AVAILABLE *** The first patient samples have been collected to kick off a new approach to fighting Australia’s most common cancers by targeting sugar molecules on the outside of cancer cells. This new approach relies not on DNA, but instead looks at small sugar-based structures sticking out of the surface of cancer cells, called glycans. Glycans allow cells to talk to each other and to the environment around them and they are essential for cells to survive. Join this briefing to launch the new Australian Centre for Cancer Glycomics and to hear about this new approach to cancer treatment.

Organisation/s: Griffith University, Queensland University of Technology (QUT)

Media Briefing/Press Conference

The first patient samples have been collected to kick off a new approach to fighting Australia’s most common cancers by targeting sugar molecules on the outside of cancer cells.

This new approach relies not on DNA, but instead looks at small sugar-based structures sticking out of the surface of cancer cells, called glycans. Glycans allow cells to talk to each other and to the environment around them and they are essential for cells to survive.

The Australian-developed flu drug 'Relenza' already takes advantage of glycans to stop the flu virus in its tracks and now researchers want to use a similar approach to see if glycans could be used to treat cancer.

Up to 90,000 patient samples at a time are being collected and sent to the Institute for Glycomics at Griffith University in Queensland.

Join this briefing to launch the new Australian Centre for Cancer Glycomics and to hear about this new approach to cancer treatment.

Speakers:

  • Professor Mark von Itzstein, Director for the Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University
  • Associate Professor Daniel Kolarich, Principal Research Leader, Australian Centre for Cancer Glycomics
  • Distinguished Professor Judith Clements, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology at the Translational Research Institute
  • Dr Matthew Campbell, Research Fellow, Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University

---

Date: Thu 25 May 2017
Start Time: 10:00am AEST
Duration: Approx 45 min
Venue: Online

Attachments:

Note: Not all attachments are visible to the general public

  • Australian Science Media Centre
    Web page
    Briefing recording

News for:

Australia
QLD

Media contact details for this story are only visible to registered journalists.