Marie Ranson

Research Interests

The urokinase plasminogen activation system in tumour invasion and metastasis. This includes studies relating to structure-function relationships of the urokinase inhibitor PAI-2 and small molecule inhibitors, their biological role/s in cancer, and their use in anti-uPA targeted therapies. The Ranson lab also conducts preclinical testing of new anti-cancer drugs and formulations. Marie has also contributed to research regarding the plasminogen activation system in streptococcal infection.

Representative Publications

Ranson M. and Andronicos NM (2003) Plasminogen receptors in cancer. Frontiers in Bioscience. 8:s294-304.

Walker, MJ, McArthur J, McKay F, and Ranson M. (2005) Is plasminogen deployed as a Streptococcus pyogenes virulence factor? Trends in Microbiology. 13:308-311

Croucher DR, Saunders DN, and Ranson M. (2006) The urokinase/PAI-2 complex: A new high affinity ligand for the endocytosis receptor LRP. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 281:10206-13.

Vine KL, Locke JM, Ranson M, Benkendorff K, Pyne SG, Bremner JB. (2007) An Investigation into the Cytotoxicity and Mode of Action of Some Novel N-alkyl Substituted Isatins. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. 50: 5109-5117.

Stutchbury TK, Al-ejeh F, Stillfried GE, Croucher DR, Andrews JA, Irving D, Links M and Ranson M. (2007) Preclinical evaluation of PAI-2-DTTA-213Bi (alpha-PAI-2) in an orthotopic murine xenogenic model of human breast carcinoma. Molecular Cancer Therapeutics. 6: 203-212.

Current Students

Post-doctoral Fellows

Dr Sergei Lobov

Structure-function analyses of plasminogen activator inhibitor type 2 (PAI-2)

Dr Julie Locke

Chemical synthesis of novel indole compounds as anti-cancer agents; Development of novel 5-fluorouracil formulations.

Dr Kara Perrow

Development of isatin based drugs as anti-cancer agents and optimisation for use in targeted cancer therapy/ Pre-clinical testing of novel 5-fluorouracil formulations

PhD students

Blake Cochran

Molecular engineering of PAI-2 in order to characterise the differences in the biological roles of PAI-1 and PAI-2 in cancer

Jodi Ann Lee

Understanding the role of the plasminogen activation system & their inhibitors in leukocytes

Lidia Matesic (co-supervised with Dr D Skropeta, Chemistry)

Design and development of novel isatin-based anti-cancer agents

Hayden Matthews (co-supervised with Dr M Kelso, Chemistry)

Synthesis of inhibitors and antagonists of Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator (uPA) for cancer.

Honours

Colin Cortie

Optimisation and in vitro testing of novel isatin-based targeted cancer drugs

Melissa Desouza

The role of the urokinase plasminogen activation system in leukemic T and B cells – in vitro testing of urokinase inhibitors and antagonists

Suggested Topics for Future Students

§ The role of secreted PAI-2 on tumour cell invasion in vitro and in novel animal models

§ Testing of novel anti-uPA targeted drugs against angiogenesis

§ Novel uPA diagnostic imaging techniques

§ Development of combination chemotherapies incorporating 5-FU

Abbreviated CV

Academic Qualifications: BSc(Hons, Biochemistry) UNSW,1984; PhD, University of Sydney, 1990.

Academic and Research Appointments

2006- Associate Professor, School of Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong

2005- Cancer Institute NSW Fellow (based at University of Wollongong)

2005 Standing Acting Head, School of Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong

2004 Gessellschaft fur Biotechnologische Forschung (GBF) Fellow, Braunschweig, Germany

1998-2005 Lecturer/Senior Lecturer, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong

1993-1997 Research Fellow, Department Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong

1990-1992 Fogarty Visiting Post-Doctoral Fellow, NCI, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda USA

Competitive Grant Funding (>$100K p/a) (2002–present)

Last reviewed: 4 June, 2008