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Tasmanian Treatment Tasmanian treatment Professor Greg Woods discusses his work to save the Tasmanian devil from extinction by a devastatingly contagious cancer, and elaborates on the research that has guided him in his pursuit of this disease University of Tasmania to continue my research Could you outline the most prominent on leukaemia. I obtained a lectureship and challenges you face in your studies? began teaching immunology. My research then switched focus to how cancers escape Developing a consistent method to activate recognition by the immune system. In early the devil’s immune response that will protect 2000 it became apparent that Tasmanian devils against the cancer. In other words, developing were dying from a disfiguring facial cancer; by a vaccine. If a vaccine is possible, it is difficult PROFESSOR GREG WOODS PROFESSOR 2006, it was clear that this was a transmissible to predict how far away it is, at least five years cancer, passing from one devil to another. – but who knows what’s around the corner? This was a perfect example of a cancer that Our work is the major project driving the escaped recognition by the immune system, development of a vaccine, so our results will and it was occurring in Tasmania, the only place be essential. where Tasmanian devils could be found – it seemed that destiny had determined that my How does collaboration advance the global research would focus on the immune escape fight against cancer? Has a multidisciplinary mechanisms of DFTD. approach proven important to the success of your own work? What are the aetiology and symptoms of DFTD and how does it affect the immune Collaboration is an important aspect of our To begin, could you provide an insight into system of the Tasmanian devil? research. We collaborate with groups within your background and explain what led you to Australia and throughout the world. Each research devil facial tumour disease (DFTD)? It is unknown (and will probably never be group has their own specific expertise, which known) what originally caused this cancer – but contributes to the overall success of research I have always been interested in cancer and had what we do know is that around 1996, one cell progress. This is particularly relevant for the lofty ambitions of working on a project that in one female Tasmanian devil in north eastern global fight against cancer. The greater the cured the disease. My PhD was completed at Tasmania became a cancer cell. This cell divided number of approaches to a problem, the greater the University of Tasmania, Australia, where many times and formed a cancer. This is nothing the chance of success. This is the essence of a I worked in a laboratory that undertook unusual, it happens all the time. But then some multidisciplinary approach. research on leukaemia. After postdoctoral cells from this cancer were transmitted to training in Toronto, Canada, I returned to the another devil, which then developed the cancer. Working in a niche field of cancer research, This devil then transferred cancer cells to more does funding ever present limitations? What devils and the process has since continued with are the most important sources of financial no signs of stopping. support for your work? Lack of funding always provides substantial limitations, and not just for specialised fields 20 INTERNATIONAL INNOVATION PROFESSOR GREG WOODS Poor devils The Tasmanian devil has come under significant threat in recent years due to the emergence of a deadly and highly contagious disease. Now, researchers at Menzies Research of cancer research. The unique aspect of Institute Tasmania might have found the key to solving the problem DFTD, and the hope that a vaccine could protect this species, does provide a bit of THERE ARE FEW countries in the world that can naturally occurring transmissible cancers, an advantage. We have received support compare with Australia in terms of its distinctive the other being canine transmissible venereal from a range of sources, all of which are national wildlife; due to quirks in evolutionary tumour, and it is spread through biting. Death peer reviewed and extremely competitive. and geological history, marsupials have been typically occurs within months of the tumour Currently we receive support from the allowed to thrive in undisturbed isolation. The becoming visible as it can obstruct feeding Australian Research Council (ARC), which koala, wombat, platypus and of course kangaroo and inhibit the devil’s bodily functions when it is the governmental source of funding for are species found nowhere else on the planet, metastases to key organs. scientific research in Australia; our other and are therefore emblematic of Australia. But major supporter is the Save the Tasmanian just as these marsupials have been preserved A group of researchers at Menzies Research Devil Appeal, which is the official from overwhelming competition on other Institute Tasmania is doing its utmost to save fundraising arm of the Save the Tasmanian continents, so one species unique to Tasmania this much loved creature from extinction. Devil Program, Australia’s focused response has avoided competitors on mainland Australia, Professor Greg Woods and his team are working to DFTD. and become equally distinctive in the process: to develop a comprehensive understanding of the Tasmanian devil. the devil’s immune system and the mechanisms Small research grants are made available of DFTD, with the ultimate goal of producing a via the Dr Eric Guiler Tasmanian devil Following the apparent extinction of the vaccine. During the course of this endeavour, a research grants, through competitive peer Tasmanian tiger in 1936, the Tasmanian devil number of puzzling developments have arisen review. This is a critical source of financial became the largest marsupial carnivore. Not – but the Tasmanian group has nonetheless support for a range of research and long after was the first appearance of the Looney achieved great progress, and made some management projects working toward one Tunes character of the same name, bringing the interesting discoveries along the way. primary aim of keeping Tasmanian devils species to widespread attention. Standing up to sustainable in the wild; and the funds are 30 cm in height, 60 cm in length and weighing CONTAGIOUS CANCER publicly raised. The general public and a around 8-12 kg, an adult Tasmanian devil has one number of companies are very generous of the strongest bites per kilogram of body mass One of the most intriguing questions about with their support, and as such are part of of any land animal; it is nocturnal and although DFTD, initially, was why the immune system of the research effort to prevent the demise it usually moves slowly with an unusual gait it the Tasmanian devil did not immediately respond of the Tasmanian devil. Such assistance is able to climb trees, swim and move quickly. to and destroy the cancer cell introduced by is invaluable – a perfect example of how The Tasmanian devil is a successful predator – the bite of another devil. At first, researchers the community and scientists can work although not quite as voracious and fiendish as its assumed that the devil’s immune system together. Backing from the prestigious ARC name or popular culture representations suggest. must be very weak, or perhaps homogenous provides scientific credibility. Ultimately Having died out on mainland Australia between between individuals. This hypothesis is not so there will be the requirement for major 400 and 3,000 years ago, the Tasmanian devil has unreasonable; species that have passed through funding support from a philanthropic group come to the brink of extinction in Tasmania twice evolutionary ‘bottlenecks’ of small population to further test or even implement the in the last century. Therefore, it is no wonder size often have low genetic variance – in the case findings from the research. that the animal is now a national treasure and of cheetahs, for example, variance is so low that protected by law. Do you have any plans for other projects over the next five to 10 years, DEVIL FACIAL TUMOUR DISEASE or do you intend to focus on further investigations in the same area? Most people are aware of Tasmanian devils as a species, but few know that these animals have The situation with the Tasmanian devil come under great threat in recent years. Since is drastic. Not only are they at risk of its appearance in north east Tasmania around extinction, devils with DFTD are suffering 1996, devil facial tumour disease (DFTD) has with these horrific cancers. Our sole been responsible for wiping out more than 80 priority over the next five to 10 years is per cent of the wild Tasmanian devil population, to use our research to find a solution. and has pushed the species’ conservation There are many leads to follow and new status from ‘least concern’ to ‘endangered’ in Characteristic appearance of advanced devil facial questions to answer. just 13 years. DFTD is one of only two known tumour disease (DFTD). WWW.RESEARCHMEDIA.EU 21 INTELLIGENCE DEVELOPMENT OF AN IMMUNE ENHANCING VACCINE TO PROTECT TASMANIAN DEVILS AGAINST A CONTAGIOUS CANCER OBJECTIVES To study the mechanisms behind how cancer cells are able to evade an immune response and subsequently develop new approaches to treat cancer. A key focus is devil facial tumour disease (DFTD), a communicable cancer affecting Tasmanian devils that can survive in the presence of a fully functioning immune system. KEY COLLABORATORS Dr Bruce Lyons; Dr Silvana Bettiol; Dr Menna Jones; Dr Rodrigo Hamede, University
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