Healthcare (Commonwealth Union) – A biologist at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) is forming a global “signature” for a type of cancer that remains largely under-studied in many regions.
Scientia Associate Professor Natalia Castaño Rodríguez first encountered the impact of this disease as a medical intern at Clínica San Rafael University Hospital in her native Colombia. There, she met a young mother, barely older than herself, who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer—and passed away within weeks.
“That experience left a lasting impression on me. I thought, ‘something must be done—I want to contribute to cancer research,’” recalls A/Prof Castaño Rodríguez, now a researcher at UNSW’s School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences.
Building on her expertise in immunology and genetics, Associate Professor Castaño Rodríguez focused on understanding how cancers of the digestive system develop and how they could potentially be prevented. This path led her to specialize in stomach cancer, which ranks as the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide and is the top cause of cancer fatalities in Colombia.
She stated that unfortunately, in her home country, individuals present with the disease at quite a young age.
“This is normally a type of cancer that presents in people over 50 years old, but in Colombia you see people in their early 30s already with advanced cancer.”
In Australia, stomach cancer is relatively uncommon, but survival rates drop significantly when it is diagnosed at a late stage. Factors such as dietary habits, effective sanitation, access to early screening, and a low rate of Helicobacter pylori infection help keep the incidence of stomach cancer lower than in global hotspots like South America and East Asia. Nevertheless, within Australia, the disease occurs more frequently in disadvantaged communities with limited access to quality healthcare.
Associate Professor Natalia Castaño Rodríguez recently secured an NHMRC Investigator Grant to study the interplay between microbes, genetics, and the immune system in stomach cancer.
She is part of an international research collaboration involving more than 1,900 participants from East Asia, the Middle East, Europe, South America, and Australia. The study will collect samples and data from these varied populations, allowing researchers to investigate genetic mutations and microbiome patterns linked to stomach cancer risk.
Associate Professor Castaño Rodríguez indicated that her aim is to capture the characteristics of low-, medium-, and high-risk populations worldwide, and to develop a stomach cancer signature that is consistent across different regions.
“Our research lays the groundwork for more precise ways to prevent and treat disease.”
Since the early 1980s, it has been established that the bacterium Helicobacter pylori is responsible for gastritis and peptic ulcers, a discovery credited to the pioneering work of Australian researchers Barry Marshall and Robin Warren, both Nobel laureates, along with contributions from UNSW scientists working to develop treatments for stomach conditions. Prior to this, stomach ulcers were thought to result from stress or excess stomach acid.
Shortly afterward, researchers identified a connection between long-term H. pylori infections and stomach cancer. Although it is estimated that at least half of the global population carries the H. pylori bacterium, only a small fraction of those infected develop stomach cancer.
Associate Professor Castaño Rodríguez indicated that it was clearly, that there are other factors at play. She went on to point out that combination of factor may be at play such as infection with H. pylori, genetic mutations in an individual’s stomach lining and immune cells, as well as alterations in the stomach microbiome.
Associate Professor Castaño Rodríguez stated that the next move is to validate immunogenetic-microbial signatures in prospective human research and to move forward with in-vitro and animal models.
