Gastrointestinal Cancer Program

Research at the Centre on the biochemistry of mucins (compounds that line the stomach and intestines) of the gastrointestinal tract has led to the development of two families of monoclonal antibodies that distinguish between normal cells and gastrointestinal cancer cells. The antibodies were raised against the antigens denoted as SIMA (small intestinal mucinous antigens) and LIMA (large intestinal mucinous antigens). The SIMAs naturally occur in the small intestine but are inappropriately found in the stomach and large bowel when cancerous changes occur. LIMAs are found in the normal large bowel but they are also found in some types of stomach cancers and appear to undergo changes in large bowel as cancers develop. A range of monoclonal SIMA and LIMA antibodies produced by Centre scientists are providing insight into the differences in cells when cancerous change occurs. These antibodies potentially can improve gastrointestinal cancer detection and be developed into therapeutic compounds for the treatment of stomach and colorectal cancers.

A total of 28 monoclonal antibody cell lines have been produced, of which seven have been studied with regard to their cancer tissue staining characteristics and their potential use for the detection of cancers by blood analysis. Based on the Centre's early work, one of the SIMA monoclonal antibody-producing cell lines denoted SIMA 4D3 was selected for development into a serum diagnostic to assist in the detection and monitoring of the progression of stomach and large bowel cancers. This discovery has been progressed to the commercialisation stage in collaboration with the startup diagnostic company, Mabtech Ltd., of which the Centre is a major shareholder.

Mr Graham Thurston, General Manager of QNA International Pty. Ltd. has been facilitating the commercialisation of the diagnostic internationally.

Project Goals:

Characterisation of Centre isolated SIMA and LIMA antibodies as markers of gastrointestinal cancers in tissues and serum. To study the utility of these antibodies as diagnostics in the detection and the monitoring of the progression of gastrointestinal cancers.

Identify the genetic changes that occur in gastrointestinal tissues as they become cancerous. This work will initially target changes in mucin expression and will utilise DNA Microarray Genomics and Proteomics technologies.

The Centre for Molecular Biology and Medicine has been working in close collaboration with Mabtech Ltd scientists  in developing tests based on tumor markers for the detection of cancer. The work has led to the development of the SIMA-4D3 immunodiagnostic test kit.