Icon for Lung Cancer

Lung cancer research

Seeking better outcomes for lung-cancer patients

Dr Mark Adams

Mark is a scientist in biochemistry and cell biology, oncology and carcinogenesis at Queensland University of Technology.

At age 23, he was diagnosed with pheochromocytoma – an adrenal gland tumour – and had surgery to remove it. ‘While I’ve been lucky, my extended family has been affected, with my grandmother passing away from gastric cancer and aunt diagnosed with breast cancer,’ says Mark.

Mark’s current area of research is lung cancer, which is responsible for the most cancer-related deaths worldwide and still has a poor survival rate despite recent advances in therapy.

Dr Mark Adam's research

The most common form of lung cancer is non-small cell lung cancer, for which patients may need surgery followed by chemotherapy, or a combination of chemo and radiotherapy.

‘Chemotherapy functions by attacking the genome of tumours, but the main issue with this approach is that only twenty to thirty per cent of patients respond,’ Mark says. ‘We need new tests to identify which patients are most likely to benefit from certain therapies, and new agents to enhance the effectiveness of current drugs.’

His Cure Cancer-supported research is focused on this quest, in particular on studying molecules that will serve as ‘predictive biomarkers’ to identify patients who will best respond to therapy, and molecules that can form the basis of potential future drugs that will make chemotherapy more effective.

Mark has already identified promising proteins that can be used as a clinical tool to identify patients best suited for chemotherapy, and is investigating whether combining chemotherapy with new drugs that target proteins involved in tumour cell division is a useful strategy to improve responses. The end result, he believes, will be better outcomes for patients.

The importance of funding

‘In both a personal and professional sense, it’s a great honour to have my work funded by Cure Cancer,’ says Mark. ‘I’m extremely grateful to have the chance to test my findings. It is becoming more and more difficult to obtain grants, which makes funding from Cure Cancer immensely valuable and beneficial.’

To donors and fundraisers for Cure Cancer, Mark extends profound thanks.

Mark is based at the Queensland University of Technology.

“We need new tests and new agents to enhance the effectiveness of current drugs”

We need your help

Donate to fund future researchers like Mark and let’s make this the last generation to die from cancer.

Related Blog Posts

In the media

Image of Cure Cancer's Researcher of the Year 2024 Dr Yuchen Feng

Yuchen Feng named Researcher of the Year 2024

Image of AProf Arutha Kulasinghe for The Australian

'Google Maps' of cancer offers better treatment

Image of Dr Lincon Stamp and Dr Marlene Hao

Cure Cancer profiles the work and lab of young guns Dr Hao and Dr Stamp

Image of Cure Cancer-funded researchers

Lunch & Learn series

Find out about the latest developments in cancer research first hand from our researchers and the impact of your support.

We take on every cancer

Cure Cancer funds ground breaking research across every cancer, no matter the size or rarity.

We aim to maximise our impact, save millions of lives, and leaves no one behind.

Blood Cancer
Bone Cancer
Brain Cancer
Breast Cancer
Childhood Cancer
Gastro-Intestinal Cancer
Gynaecological Cancer
Prostate Cancer
Image of Dr Lincon Stamp and Dr Marlene Hao

Our research grant program

We are dedicated to funding new innovative cancer research projects, giving talented emerging cancer researchers the opportunity to pursue their innovative ideas across diverse areas of cancer research.

Through our Research Grants Program, we commit to back new ideas from the most brilliant minds in cancer research.

Let's stay in touch

To receive updates on our work, campaigns and our impact in cancer research, subscribe to our newsletter.