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The Northern Rivers Times
November 30, 2023
HEALTH & SENIORS NEWS 45
New technology, ‘Invasion-Block’, targets melanoma spread Research conducted at the Centenary Institute has given rise to a ground-breaking tool called ‘Invasion-Block’ that can identify drugs capable of halting the spread of cancer cells. The pioneering development could lead to better treatments for melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer. An automated highcontent screening platform, ‘InvasionBlock’ is designed to measure the invasive capacity of cancer cells. A revolutionary tool, it enables scientists to assess how well various drugs and compounds can prevent the spread of cancer. In the recently published study, ‘Invasion-Block’ was employed to investigate the invasive behaviour of melanoma cells, particularly their ability to infiltrate other parts of the body. It was used in conjunction with a custom-designed image analysis program called ‘S-MARVEL’, to screen thousands of compounds,
including drugs that are already approved for use in people. Dr Shweta Tikoo, senior study researcher affiliated with both the Centenary Institute and the Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Vienna said that melanoma is an extremely challenging disease. “Melanoma is a tough opponent, often spreading rapidly and making it difficult to treat. The key to finding better treatments lies in drug discovery and this is where the ‘InvasionBlock’ tool plays a pivotal role,” said Dr Tikoo. Excitingly for the researchers, ‘Invasion Block’ revealed that drugs that blocked a class of enzymes –
known as Abl/Src, PKC, PI3K, and ATM kinases – made melanoma cells much less able to invade other tissues. “This suggests these enzymes may hold the key to finding treatments that can help curb the spread of melanoma,” said Dr Dajiang Guo, the first author of the study, currently a postdoctoral researcher at the Weill Cornell Medicine. Intriguingly, the researchers further used CRISPR technology to ‘turn-off’ the gene responsible for expressing ATM kinase in melanoma cells. In doing so they observed that the melanoma cells became less invasive in laboratory tests and didn’t spread as much to the lymph nodes when tested in mice.
Dr Shweta Tikoo and Dr Dajiang Guo
“We believe that ATM may serve as a potent therapeutic target for treating the spread of melanoma in patients,” said Dr Tikoo. The researchers say the study is a significant step in the fight against melanoma, offering fresh hope to patients while laying the groundwork for further studies and the development of new and better treatments. “The combination of ‘Invasion-Block’ and ‘S-MARVEL’ is opening new avenues in the search for drugs that can arrest the spread of cancer,” said Dr Tikoo. The study was coheaded by Dr Rohit Jain, Professor Wolfgang Weninger and Dr Shweta Tikoo with all three senior authors being co-affiliated with the Centenary Institute and the Medical University of Vienna. The research was published in The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), a peer reviewed journal of the National Academy of Sciences
Learn First Aid and Save a Life This Summer Australian Red Cross Aussie summers can be harsh, and we know nothing derails summer holiday plans more than an unexpected trip to Emergency. Recognising the potential risks associated with the summer season, Australian Red Cross is urging more Australians to complete First Aid training in preparation for the summer months, when holidaymakers spend more time on the road, in the ocean and exploring outdoors. From November to February each year, Australians face heightened exposure to summer hazards – including drowning, heat stroke, snake bites, jellyfish stings and motor vehicle accidents. Alarming statistics from previous
summers, recorded by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, revealed 20x more hospitalisations for weather-related injuries and 7x more hospitalisations for drownings or submersion injuries, compared to the number recorded in winter of the same year. Unfortunately, fewer than 5 per cent of people in Australia are trained in first aid, one of the lowest rates in the world. Head of First Aid and Mental Health Training, Wendy Greenhalf, says the holiday period is a relaxing time of year for Australians but also a time when we need to be ready. “Summer holidays can present multiple hazards as holiday makers are typically in the water a lot more, spending more time outside, in hot
temperatures, on the road travelling, entertaining or adventuring in remote areas.” Ms Greenhalf said. “Because of this, accidents and emergencies are more likely to happen during the summer months, however Australian Red Cross can help Australians learn how to respond effectively through first aid training, enabling them to feel empowered and confident in any situation.” Andrew Clark completed Australian Red Cross’ First Aid training course in 2022 and recently put his skills into practice in a real-life situation. “I was out at dinner and a family member started choking. I quickly remembered what I had learnt in the training
and started giving him back blows in an upward motion, and after 5-10 seconds the food was dislodged. I can still remember the look of relief on his face.” Get ready for summer by booking a First Aid course by Australian Red Cross, offered via virtual, blended or inperson course delivery. Available now: • General First Aid courses (blended, refresher or virtual course) • CPR Training (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) • First Aid kits (motorist, backpackfriendly or modular kits) Australian Red Cross also offers courses in First Aid for Babies and Children, Mental Health First Aid and Pet First Aid.
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