Research grant awarded to study resistant melanoma

The grant will support Laura’s study into melanoma, the deadliest type of skin cancer, responsible for about 1,500 Australian deaths each year. Her project aims to understand and combat a particularly resilient type of melanoma that often evades current treatments, known as ‘undifferentiated melanoma.’

According to Dr Tiffen, undifferentiated melanoma occurs when melanoma cells revert to a less developed state after treatment, becoming resistant to further therapy. This state of undifferentiation makes the cells more challenging to target with existing treatments and can contribute to cancer relapse in patients years later.

In her study, Laura will focus on a key protein called MECOM, which is found in high levels in undifferentiated melanoma cells. She will investigate how varying levels of MECOM influence the growth and survival of these melanoma cells. Additionally, she will explore how these levels affect the cells’ response to immunotherapy, a treatment designed to help the immune system attack cancer more effectively.

Dr Tiffen said the research could provide crucial insights into how to better target and treat undifferentiated melanoma.

“By understanding the role of MECOM in these resilient cancer cells, we aim to develop new therapeutic strategies that specifically target these hard-to-treat cells,” said Dr Tiffen.

“This could lead to more effective treatments that prevent cancer relapse, ultimately improving long-term survival rates for patients.”