Project overview
Biliary tract cancer is a particularly challenging disease to study due to its relatively low incidence, inherent heterogeneity, and because most patients present with inoperable disease, limiting access to patient samples. A further limitation is the lack of robust genetically-defined animal models of this disease which are amenable to the testing of novel drugs and drug combinations, to assess their efficacy and safety to inform clinical trials.
Dr. Ian Luk
Early Career Researcher in the Gastrointestinal Cancers Program at the Olivia Newton John Cancer Research Institute.
Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute and LaTrobe University
Biliary Cancer
Pancare funded
$100,000 (between 2022-2024)
Research aims
The aim of Dr Luk’s project was to establish and validate a series of genetically-defined mouse models of biliary cancer mimicking human disease. The project developed a much-needed animal model of biliary tract cancer which was used to test new drugs and drug combinations to combat this disease.
Results
They were able to successfully grow biliary tract organoids from the hyperplastic tissue from the genetically modified biliary cancer model mice.
Impact
This is an essential step toward discovering effective drugs for people with biliary cancer in a more realistic setting.
What's next?