IDENTIFICATION, CHARACTERISATION AND ROLE OF LEADER CELLS IN OVARIAN CANCER PROGRESSION
Dr Maree Bilandzic, Research Group Head
Metastasis Biology & Therapeutics Laboratory
Hudson Institute of Medical Research,
Clayton, Victoria, Australia
RESEARCHER PROFILE
Filmed in Clayton, Victoria, Australia | December 2024
Dr. Maree Bilandzic is a molecular cancer biologist dedicated to advancing the understanding and treatment of ovarian cancer (OC). Her research addresses critical gaps in OC treatment by investigating the mechanisms behind metastasis, chemotherapy resistance, and tumour recurrence. By utilising innovative methodologies and disease-representative models, Dr. Bilandzic has pioneered the identification and characterisation of leader cells (LCs)—a unique, stem-like subpopulation within tumours that plays a crucial role in OC progression.
LCs facilitate “collective invasion,” enabling tumour cells to spread by interacting with their environment and influencing immune responses. Importantly, Dr. Bilandzic’s research demonstrated that these LCs are resistant to standard therapies and become more prevalent following treatment. Despite their significance, there are currently no targeted therapies for LCs, highlighting the urgent need for novel therapeutic strategies.
Her work focuses on meeting the unmet clinical needs of patients with metastatic and therapy-resistant OC. By disrupting LCs, Dr. Bilandzic’s team has shown enhanced chemosensitivity, limited tumor spread, and altered immune responses—demonstrating the therapeutic potential of targeting LCs.
She has over $3.5 million in commercial funding and additional support exceeding $2 million from organisations such as the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation, CASS Foundation, Fielding Foundation, Equity Trustees and Perpetual Impact grants. Dr. Bilandzic is well-positioned to expand her research into other epithelial cancers, aiming to develop effective treatments that can significantly improve patient outcomes across multiple cancer types. Key areas of focus include understanding LC roles in immune modulation, invasion, metastasis, and chemotherapy resistance.
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CASE STUDY Link between levels of extracellular vesicles in the blood and tissue damage caused by diseases
A landmark study led by WEHI and La Trobe University has found a potential new diagnostic marker that could be used to better detect the level of tissue damage in our bodies.
This study revealed, for the first time, a link between levels of EVs in the blood and tissue damage caused by diseases such as leukaemia.
Researchers hope to leverage the critical new insight to develop a blood test to monitor cancer patients with tissue damage, which could, in future, enhance treatment strategies for blood cancers and other diseases.
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Benefits of prehabilitation ahead of surgery
Dr Matthew Wallen PhD, AES, AEP is a Senior Research Fellow in Cancer Survivorship, the Deputy Lead of the Cancer Survivorship Program, and a Senior Lecturer in Exercise Science and Clinical Exercise Physiology within the College of Nursing and Health Sciences at Flinders University, in South Australia. His clinical interest focuses on improving outcomes for people requiring major surgery, specifically (1) lifestyle interventions, including exercise, nutritional, and psychological support to improve the health and wellbeing of people prior to surgery, termed ‘prehabilitation’, (2) novel physical function assessments aimed at identifying people at risk of treatment-related complications, and (3) implementation of new models of care in cancer.
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New treatments for patients with mental illness
Associate Professor Bernadette Fitzgibbon is a neuroscientist with several decades of experience in researching, developing, and translating novel therapies for mental health and chronic pain conditions. This includes the application and optimisation of brain stimulation and psychedelic therapies, overseeing large multi-site intervention trials, both within Australia and abroad. Through her work, she has developed meaningful collaborations with consumers, volunteers, policy makers, and services providers, ensuring that the outcomes of her work contribute towards real-world clinical impact.
