Community Health Talk
Advances in cancer:
Research to improve cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment
Cancer Society Nelson Tasman is delighted to host Otago University McKenzie Cancer Group Researchers to deliver this FREE community health talk in Motueka.
Date: Monday 4 November 2024
Time: 7.00pm - 9.00pm
Venue: Motueka Public Library, 32 Wallace St, Motueka
Topics:
- Understanding the Role of genetic changes or mutations to breast and ovarian cancer risk
- Vitamin C in Cancer: New approaches to therapy
- The interface between biology and bioengineering: developing complex models to study breast tumour growth and spread
After the lecture, there will be tea/coffee and the opportunity to mix and mingle with the researchers and ask any questions you may have.
Free event. Seats are limited. Please fill out the online form to register.
Any enquiries please contact Cyndy Smith, cyndy@cancernelson.org.nz or phone 03 539 1137.
Community Health Talk Registration
Speakers
Associate Professor Logan Walker
Understanding the role of genetic changes or mutations to breast and ovarian cancer risk.
Interpreting the results of genetic tests remain a major challenge for healthcare professionals around the world. Genetic testing for the genes BRCA1 and BRCA2 is crucial for assessing an individual’s risk of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer and other related cancers. However, genetic tests have not always been clear and can be interpreted differently by different labs. Prof Walker is among an international team of 43 scientists and clinicians who have developed a new standardised protocol that will help oncologists decide whether genetic changes detected in BRCA1 and BRCA2 are likely to be clinically benign, or pathogenic. The ability to better interpret genetic test results will help doctors give advice on the frequency of early screening as well as the best preventive measures and/or therapeutic treatments for people with breast or ovarian cancer. It will also help clinicians decide whether to test close relatives to prevent the disease earlier in family members.
Professor Gabi Dachs
Vitamin C in Cancer: New approaches to therapy.
My team aims to understand the role of vitamin C in patients with cancer so we can provide better health advice to health professionals, patients and the community. We have studied vitamin C in cancer cells and in tumour samples from patients with cancer. We have also carried out clinical studies in people receiving treatment for brain, breast, colorectal and endometrial cancer, to obtain robust scientific evidence for (and against) using vitamin C as an integral part of cancer treatment.
Dr Elisabeth Phillips
The interface between biology and bioengineering: developing complex 3D models to study breast tumour growth and spread.
In breast cancer, fat cells surrounding breast tumours have been shown to promote breast cancer cell growth, spread and resistance to therapy. We have developed a novel 3D cell culture model to study the impact of non-obese and obese fat cells on breast cancer cell ‘aggressiveness’ at the invasive front of breast tumours. We aim to combine our unique 3D model with state-or-the-art technology to study at single cell level the cellular ‘crosstalk’ that occurs between fat and cancer cells at the invasive front. This study will identify new diagnostic and prognostic indicators to aid clinical management of breast cancer and define new molecular targets for novel or repurposed drugs to treat overweight and obese people with breast cancer.
Nelson Community Health Talk - Tuesday 5 November 7pm-9pm by McKenzie Cancer Group Researchers
Please click here for information regarding the Nelson event
Supported by Nelson Marlborough Health and the Care Foundation.