Skin cancer research

Dr Aparna Rao

Unlocking the secrets of melanoma’s energy use to improve treatment and outcomes

Dr Aparna Rao’s research is generously funded by Bobbin Head Cruising Club

She is based at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and the University of Melbourne. You can learn more about Bobbin Head Cruising Club's incredible fundraising efforts here.

Dr Aparna Rao is a medical oncologist leading a groundbreaking approach to identify key markers and new treatment targets for melanoma patients by investigating how tumours use fuels.

Aparna first joined the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in 2012 as a medical oncology fellow. Driven by her passion to blend clinical practice with research, she pursued a PhD in the Grant McArthur Lab, which focuses on developing new treatment strategies for melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer.

After spending three years in the USA to further her studies, Aparna has returned to Peter Mac, bringing her expertise and cutting-edge knowledge to improve outcomes for melanoma patients.

Treating melanoma

Despite new treatments like targeted therapies and immunotherapy having significantly improved the outlook for people with melanoma, the disease remains a major health concern. In Australia alone, melanoma causes the death of one person every six hours due to metastatic disease.

While treatments have improved in recent years, many patients still face poor outcomes, especially when the cancer spreads. New treatments are urgently needed to improve survival rates and offer better treatment options, particularly for patients with advanced melanoma. 

Dr Aparna Rao’s research

A promising area of melanoma research is cancer metabolism, which explores how melanoma cells use fuel to derive energy.

Dr Aparna Rao is studying how melanoma uses glucose (a form of sugar) as a source of energy. Early data suggests that the way melanoma uses glucose may be linked to poorer treatment outcomes. If this is confirmed in more patients, it could reveal, for the first time, how important this energy process is in melanoma growth and how it affects patient response to therapy.

As part of her research, Aparna’s patients are given a special type of glucose a few hours before an operation, and blood and tumour samples are then taken during the surgery. By analysing how the melanoma absorbs and uses glucose, Aparna and her team hope to understand how this process helps the cancer grow.

The results of this study could lead to a world-first understanding of glucose use in melanoma patients.

Hope for melanoma patients

Aparna’s groundbreaking research has the potential to identify key markers that can predict which patients are most at risk of relapse, pinpoint those who would benefit most from additional treatment, and explore new drugs that specifically target the metabolism of melanoma cells.

By understanding how melanoma cells use energy, this research could pave the way for more personalised and effective treatments, ultimately improving outcomes for individuals affected by melanoma.

Driven by a need for change

Aparna's clinical work and interactions with patients have been the driving force behind her decision to pursue research. While she feels deeply privileged to witness the dramatic improvements in outcomes that have resulted from groundbreaking therapies like immunotherapy, she has also faced many difficult conversations with patients and families, where there are still too many unanswered questions.

These moments of uncertainty are what have most inspired Aparna to dedicate herself to scientific training and a career in research, with the hope of finding answers that can make a real difference in the lives of those affected by melanoma. 

Navigating challenges in early-career research

Aparna admits that a career in research is not without its challenges. “In a practical sense, funding and job security are some of the greatest hurdles for early-career researchers. There are of course many broader hurdles in terms of scientific research questions for patients with cancer”.

She encourages aspiring researchers to pursue the questions and projects that truly interest them, even when the path ahead, especially in terms of funding, seems uncertain, and credits much of her own success to the support of those within her field. “I have benefitted greatly from mentors. Their encouragement has been invaluable, so I would encourage others to ensure that they have a good network of peers and mentors to learn from.”

Additionally, for researchers who may not be working directly with patients in a clinical setting, Aparna stresses the importance of meeting with patients or consumer groups. “Taking the time to meet with patients or consumers can really help provide inspiration and encouragement,” she says.

Why funding matters for research advancements

For Aparna, the Cure Cancer grant, funded by the Bobbin Head Cruising Club, has arrived at a crucial time in her career. She has begun developing a novel approach to evaluating cancer metabolism, but is at a stage where additional funding is needed to continue this important work. 

This funding will allow her to expand her efforts and build new collaborations, which will strengthen the research and help address critical questions for melanoma patients. By the end of the year, Aparna hopes to have preliminary data that can be used to secure further funding, with the ultimate goal of running an independent translational cancer metabolism research program within five years.

"For me personally, the Cure Cancer grant has come at a really important time. I am at the stage where additional funding is required to sustain this effort and in particular to start addressing some critical questions for patients with melanoma."

Together, we can cure cancer.

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