associate professor David Whiteman
Fulbright Senior Scholar Award
Media Profile
“Cancer of the oesophagus is rising more quickly than any other cancer, yet the causes remain largely unknown. Working with world-renowned groups at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, I will analyse complex data to identify the factors underlying this emerging epidemic of cancer.”
Associate Professor David Whiteman has received one of only three Fulbright Senior Scholar Awards in 2006, and will conduct three months of research at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (FHCRC), a world-leading institute for cancer research. Professor Whiteman is a Senior Research Fellow, in the Division of Population Studies and Human Genetics, at the Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Post Office Royal Brisbane Hospital and has PhD in Epidemiology, a MB,BS (Hons) in Medicine and Surgery and a B Med Sc, Immunology from the University of Queensland . At FHCRC, David will research the risk factors for cancers and pre-cancers of the oesophagus.
In recent decades, the U.S. and Australian populations have experienced striking increases in cancers of the oesophagus, and melanoma the most deadly form of skin cancer. Postulated causes for the epidemic of oesophageal cancer include widespread changes in the prevalence of factors such as obesity, acid reflux and common medications. At FHCRC, David will test these hypotheses to prepare manuscripts for publication and develop collaborative research proposals involving American and Australian participants.
Clinical research indicates that oesophageal tissue which has been inflamed and damaged by acid reflux may be particularly susceptible to an activating effect of circulating “obesity-related proteins”. Such an interaction between reflux and obesity may well explain the epidemic of oesophageal cancer.
“Given that more than 60% of Australians are overweight or obese (second only to the US population), this is an extremely important research question,” David stated. It is my aim to investigate whether acid reflux is a more potent carcinogen in obese people than people of normal body weight.”
“I will be working with international experts at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center to better understand the causes of cancers of the oesophagus. While there, I will also convey our recent experiences of melanoma, a field in which Australian doctors and researchers lead the world” David said.
In addition, David will look at how adverse health effects of acid reflux and obesity differ between males and females. He will look at two possible explanations; firstly that female hormones may protect the lining of the oesophagus from the inflammatory effects of gastric acid, or that females and males may have different sets of causal factors for oesophageal neoplasia.
David explains, “I will conduct pooled analyses that will separately analyse males and female patients to determine how they differ with respect to oesophageal cancer risk factors. Such an analysis may well lead to new insights and provide a basis for exploring novel approaches to prevention and therapy.”
“Through my research I hope to enhance my understanding of the epidemiology and biology of cancer and the public health aspects of cancer control and produce new knowledge about the causes of oesophageal cancer, along with building strong collaborative links with the world-leading researchers at FHCRC and the international oesophageal cancer consortium.