Cancer Research Laboratory

SOUTH WESTERN SYDNEY AREA HEALTH SERVICE
LIVERPOOL HOSPITAL
CANCER THERAPY CENTRE

Cancer Research Laboratory

The Cancer Research Laboratories at Liverpool Hospital (University of New South Wales) were established in July 1999. The field of research being explored is translational cancer medicine, which means studying molecular and cellular aspects of cancer that are of direct relevance to the diagnosis and treatment of patients with or at risk of malignant disease.

The Laboratories were established with support from:

The Division of Medicine, Liverpool Hospital: laboratory space, equipment, consumables.
The South Western Sydney (SWS) Clnical School: Senior Lecturer position with protected time for research.
The SWS Bowel Cancer Foundation/Colorectal Tumour Group: Two year salary for a senior scientist.
The Department of Medical Oncology, Liverpool Hospital: Six month salary for a Research Assistant.
The Departments of Medical Oncology and Radiation Oncology: Two year salary for a technical officer.

Where we are

The laboratories are located in the Professorial Unit, Level 4 (+61 2 9828 2962), Health Services Building, Liverpool Hospital.

Projects

The initial project has been "The Establishment of a Human Colorectal Tumour Bank", to collect, categorise and store human colorectal cancer tissue specimens. Ethics approval was gained from the SWSAHS Ethics Committee. Staff (Dr Nassif, Mr Lobo) were then recruited. A database to record clinical features linked to specimen location was written. Protocols for specimen collection were established in conjunction with the Department of Anatomical Pathology (Assoc. Professor Jim Yong, Dr Christopher Henderson) and the surgeons in SWS who perform colorectal surgery.

Liaison with staff in the operating theatres has sequentially involved Liverpool, fairfield, Bankstown and finally Campbelltown Hospitals. To date, 97 specimens have been collected from 24 patients, from all four hospitals listed above. It is anticipated that samples from over 100 patients will be collected in the first year.

Characterisation of the molecular features of the collected tumours and adjacent normal bowel tissue, as well as germline (inherited) DNA has begun. The laboratory has a well defined project plan which aims to 1) study candidate genes in colorectal cancer and 2) identify novel genes involved in sporadic (non-familial) colorectal cancer.

Grants Achieved

SWS Bowel Cancer Foundation/Colorectal Tumour Group 2000-2002: Two year salary for senior scientist, Colorectal Research Group, Cancer Research Laboratories.

Special grant, Faculty of Medicine, UNSW, 1999: $13,000, used for equipment purchase.
SWS Clinical School Postgraduate scholarship - Mr G Lobo - for PhD studies.

Enquiries

Ms Shalini Saverimuttu, Laboratory Administrative Assistant, 98284862
Dr Eva Segelov, 98284961
email Eva.Segelov@swsahs.nsw.gov.au