Two Children's Medical Research Institute scientists, who want to improve the effectiveness and safety of chemotherapy, have been awarded a $440,000 grant from Cancer Council NSW.

Dr Scott Cohen and Professor Tracy Bryan from CMRI's Cell Biology Unit received the funding for their joint research project to develop a new compound, known as a telomerase inhibitor, which could work in combination with chemotherapy to improve cancer treatment.

Chemotherapy works by damaging the DNA of cancer cells. An area within cells that is particularly sensitive to DNA damage is at the ends of chromosomes, called telomeres. Around 90% of all cancers have activated a special enzyme, called telomerase, which lengthens telomeres and allows cancer cells to divide continuously without limit.

Dr Cohen, a chemist, identified a small-molecule compound that effectively blocks telomerase action - having spent the past 10 years developing the compound. This project will test and improve the compound’s efficacy and safety.

“We think this compound will create a vulnerability in cancer cells that can be exploited for treatment’’ Dr Cohen said. “By combining our telomerase inhibitor with chemotherapy, it may become possible to use lower and hence safer doses of chemotherapy.

“Telomerase is active in almost all human cancers” continued Dr Cohen. “We’re very grateful to Cancer Council NSW for funding this exciting work, which has the potential to impact treatment across the cancer spectrum.’’