| Project title | Developing Targeted EphA2 Based Imaging Technology for Glioblastoma |
|---|---|
Grant Amount | $199,738 |
Institution | University of Queensland |
Investigator Team | Principal investigator Dr. Simon Puttick |
Grant Type | 2014 Innovation Grant |
Years | 2014 – 2017 |
Despite advances in resection techniques and delivery of adjuvant therapies, the prognosis of glioma remains poor. A contributing factor is the wide use of MRI technology, which fails to accurately identify tumour margins for therapy planning or provide measures of early treatment response. New innovative imaging solutions are urgently required. The aim of this project is to develop targeted molecular imaging approaches for glioma, building on our exciting technology platform based on EphA2 receptor imaging. An innovative aspect will be the development of PET imaging tracers comprising single chain variable fragments (scFvs) specific to the EphA2 receptor, which are over-expressed in glioma.
“This project has the potential to drive a paradigm shift in the management of glioma. The team aim to deliver a novel diagnostic strategy for glioma that, in addition to providing a unique solution to treatment planning, will inform the rational design of targeted therapies”
Dr. Simon Puttick
Progress
The ultimate aim of this project is to develop a smart and patient specific treatment for brain cancers. Over the past two years we have made significant progress towards achieving this goal. One of the most exciting outcomes of this project has been the development of a framework for the translation of new therapies through a comparative oncology paradigm. Ultimately, this development will allow new therapies to be translated to patients faster and in a more cost effective manner.
There is huge potential for engineered biologics, such as antibodies and fusion proteins, to act as personalized therapies for brain cancer. However, the translation of new biologics into the clinic is a lengthy and highly expensive process. In this project, we have developed medical imaging technology alongside a new comparative oncology translational paradigm that will significantly de-risk the transition from bench-to-bedside for novel biologics. Comparative oncology trials can be conducted at a fraction of the cost of a Phase 1 clinical trial whilst delivering a more reliable measure of treatment efficacy than traditional in vivo experiments in mouse models. In this way, we anticipate that the impact of these developments on brain cancer research will be significant as it will allow unsuccessful treatments to be identified much earlier in the translation process saving significant research costs and ultimately resulting in the faster development of successful treatments.