Unlocking a New Path to Treat Gastric Cancer

Led by Associate Professor Lisa Mielke and Dr Pavitha Parathan at the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, this project is investigating an exciting new way to treat gastric (stomach) cancer. Building on recent discoveries linking the nervous system to cancer growth, the research team has identified a signalling pathway involving the neuropeptide CGRP and protein RAMP1 that appears to help tumours grow and survive. High levels of RAMP1 have also been associated with poorer outcomes for patients.

What makes this research particularly promising is that drugs which block CGRP are already approved and widely used to treat migraine. The team is exploring whether these existing medications can be repurposed to slow cancer growth, potentially creating a faster pathway to new treatment options for patients.

With support from Pancare Foundation through Par 5 Business, researchers will analyse more than 200 patient tumour samples and test CGRP-blocking therapies in laboratory models of gastric cancer. The findings will help determine whether this innovative approach could progress to clinical trials and improve outcomes for people diagnosed with gastric and other gastrointestinal cancers.

Associate Professor Lisa Mielke and Dr Pavitha Parathan were among the inaugural recipients of Par 5's Eliza Wilmot Scholarship in 2026, which supports promising research aimed at improving outcomes for people affected by upper GI cancers.