Centre for Cancer Research Student Projects

Oncogenic Signalling Research Projects

Receptor tyrosine kinase mutations involved in glioblastoma multiforme
Project leaders: Assoc Prof Terry Johns , Dr Steve Greenall
Phone: 9594 7247

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a highly invasive and aggressive cancer of the brain, which has an extremely poor prognosis.  Cancerous cells within the GBM often contain genetic mutations and/or deletions in surface receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK), which can lead to abnormal cell signaling.  This irregular signaling is critical to the development and progression of GBM.  Recent studies have also shown that different RTK’s, such as c-Met and de2-7 EGFR, can activate each other (“cross-talk”) leading to increased abnormal signaling. 

This project will use a wide range of techniques including tissue culture, FACS, Western Blotting and protein array technology to study cross-talk between RTK’s in GBM.  The ultimate aim of these studies is to identify key RTK’s that could serve as targets for the development of novel therapeutics.


Characterization of erbb4 isoform expression in glioblastoma multiforme
Project leaders:  Assoc Prof Terry Johns , Dr Jacqui Donoghue
Phone:  9594 7247

Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) is the most common type of brain tumor and is nearly universally lethal.  GBM has been shown to express several members of the EGFR tyrosine receptor family including ErbB4.  This receptor has four isoforms as a result of alternative splicing, some of which can be cleaved to form an active intracellular fragment. 

Recently we have developed antibodies to these isoforms. This project will investigate the expression of the ErbB4 isoforms in patient derived GBM cell lines using techniques such as immunoprecipitation, western blotting, immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry.   These studies will determine the exact role of ErbB4 in GBM and should identify novel therapeutic strategies.