Postgraduate and honours research projects - small angle X-ray scattering
Small angle X-ray scattering as a potential diagnostic tool for cancers
Dr Karen Siu (Monash Centre for Synchrotron Science/School of Physics)
Prof Rob Lewis (Monash Centre for Synchrotron Science)
Traditional diagnostic methods for malignancy rely upon detection of abnormalities by
chemical/histopathological techniques or by the appearance of symptoms/signs that are
recognised by a clinician. The resulting diagnosis is often highly subjective, equivocal
and heavily dependent upon expert training. It follows therefore that more direct methods
of detecting biochemical and structural changes, preferably at the molecular level, would
be an extremely valuable addition to the diagnostic armoury. Small angle X-ray scattering
(SAXS) produces ultrastructural information on length scales from 10-200nm and is
therefore ideal for characterising the proteins that make up the extracellular matrix
(ECM). It is known that the degradation and penetration of the ECM are major processes
in the morbidity and mortality of cancers. Exciting results on the diagnostic potential
of small angle X-ray diffraction patterns have been reported on breast cancer tissue by
two independent groups, focusing on the changes in the ECM of the tissue.
This project currently has several different avenues of enquiry, utilising both synchrotron
and laboratory based sources:
- Diagnostic efficacy of SAXS for breast cancer
- SAXS as a indicator of advanced breast cancer chemotherapy response
- SAXS as a predictor of metastatic potential in an animal model of breast cancer
For further information please contact:
Dr Karen Siu
Research and Training Manager, Monash Centre for Synchrotron Science
Tel: 9905 4922
Email: Karen.Siu@sci.monash.edu.au
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