Overview
Background
Melissa is no longer active in research, and so is unable to supervise new students.
BIOGRAPHY
Melissa Brown completed her PhD at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute in Melbourne in 1993, on the structure and regulation of genes encoding colony-stimulating factor receptors in human leukaemia.
She then undertook postdoctoral training at the Imperial Cancer Research Fund (now Cancer Research UK) in London, funded firstly by an EMBO and then by an ICRF postdoctoral fellowship, working on the isolation and characterization of the first breast cancer susceptibility gene, BRCA1.
She joined The University of Queensland in 2000 as a Lecturer and is now a Professor and Executive Dean. In 2005 she undertook a six-month sabbatical at the Sir William Dunn School of Pathology at The University of Oxford.
The focus of Melissa’s research is cancer genetics, in particular understanding the transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of breast cancer genes and the impact of genetic variants on cancer risk and progression.
Availability
- Professor Melissa Brown is:
- Not available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science, University of Melbourne
- Bachelor (Honours) of Science (Advanced), University of Melbourne
- Doctor of Philosophy, University of Melbourne
Research interests
-
Regulation and function of cancer susceptibility genes
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women and results from abnormal expression or function of multiple tumour suppressor genes and oncogenes. Our laboratory is interested in the regulation and function of a number of breast cancer- associated genes including those encoding BRCA1, BRCA2, and a range of miRNAs. We use a wide variety of molecular and cellular techniques to study how the expression of these genes is regulated and to examine the molecular and cellular consequences of disrupting their function in breast epithelial cell-lines and the mammary gland of mouse models. Project 1: Regulation of the breast cancer susceptibility gene BRCA1 This project will involve identifying novel regulatory elements controlling the expression of the BRCA1 gene. We are especially interested in the 3�UTR of BRCA1 and miRNAs that target this region. This project will involve elucidating the structure, function and clinical relevance of functional elements in the BRCA1 3�UTR. These elements have the potential to form the basis of improved pre-symptomatic diagnostics for breast cancer. Project 2: Regulation of microRNA genes in advanced breast cancer The aim of this project is to identify and functionally characterize miRNA promoters and their downstream target genes. Particular interest will be given to miRNAs that may be susceptible to aberrant epigenetic regulation. These miRNA have the potential to be novel biomarkers for the identification and management of patients that are susceptible to advanced breast cancer. Project 3: Molecular & cellular consequences of disrupting breast cancer genes The aim of this project is to understand how changes in the regulation or function of breast cancer genes results in the development of breast cancer. This project will involve examining the effect of increasing and decreasing the expression of normal, variant and mutant forms of breast cancer genes on the expression of genes, including miRNAs, in breast epithelial cells. These molecules have the potential to be targets of novel therapeutic agents to treat breast cancer. Techniques: Bioinformatics, gene cloning and mutagenesis, mammalian cell culture and gene transfer, reporter gene assays, real-time PCR, Northern blotting, chromatin conformation assays, methylation specific DNA analysis, cell culture assays including cell proliferation and differentiation.
Works
Search Professor Melissa Brown’s works on UQ eSpace
Featured
2023
Journal Article
HLA-B27, axial spondyloarthritis and survival
Li, Zhixiu, Khan, Mohammad Kazim, van der Linden, Sjef M., Winkens, Bjorn, Villiger, Peter M., Baumberger, Heinz, van Zandwijk, Hermine, Khan, Muhammad Asim and Brown, Matthew A. (2023). HLA-B27, axial spondyloarthritis and survival. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, 82 (12), 1558-1567. doi: 10.1136/ard-2023-224434
Featured
2023
Journal Article
Why do some patients have severe sacroiliac disease but no syndesmophytes in ankylosing spondylitis? Data from a nested case-control study
Ridley, Lauren K., Hwang, Mark C., Reveille, John D., Gensler, Lianne S., Ishimori, Mariko L., Brown, Matthew A., Rahbar, Mohammad H., Tahanan, Amirali, Ward, Michael M., Weisman, Michael H. and Learch, Thomas J. (2023). Why do some patients have severe sacroiliac disease but no syndesmophytes in ankylosing spondylitis? Data from a nested case-control study. Journal of Rheumatology, 50 (3), 335-341. doi: 10.3899/jrheum.211230
2023
Journal Article
Genetically encoded Runx3 and CD4+ intestinal epithelial lymphocyte deficiencies link SKG mouse and human predisposition to spondyloarthropathy
Bhuyan, Zaied Ahmed, Rahman, M. Arifur, Maradana, Muralidhara Rao, Mehdi, Ahmed M., Bergot, Anne-Sophie, Simone, Davide, El-Kurdi, Marya, Garrido-Mesa, Jose, Cai, Cheng Bang Benjamin, Cameron, Amy J., Hanson, Aimee L., Nel, Hendrik J., Kenna, Tony, Leo, Paul, Rehaume, Linda, Brown, Matthew A., Ciccia, Francesco and Thomas, Ranjeny (2023). Genetically encoded Runx3 and CD4+ intestinal epithelial lymphocyte deficiencies link SKG mouse and human predisposition to spondyloarthropathy. Clinical Immunology, 247 109220, 1-14. doi: 10.1016/j.clim.2022.109220
Featured
2022
Journal Article
Substitution mutational signatures in whole-genome-sequenced cancers in the UK population
Degasperi, Andrea, Zou, Xueqing, Amarante, Tauanne Dias, Martinez-Martinez, Andrea, Koh, Gene Ching Chiek, Dias, Joao M. L., Heskin, Laura, Chmelova, Lucia, Rinaldi, Giuseppe, Wang, Valerie Ya Wen, Nanda, Arjun S., Bernstein, Aaron, Momen, Sophie E., Young, Jamie, Perez-Gil, Daniel, Memari, Yasin, Badja, Cherif, Shooter, Scott, Czarnecki, Jan, Brown, Matthew A., Davies, Helen R. and Nik-Zainal, Serena (2022). Substitution mutational signatures in whole-genome-sequenced cancers in the UK population. Science, 376 (6591) eabl9283, 1-17. doi: 10.1126/science.abl9283
Featured
2021
Journal Article
Intra-aortic balloon pump as a bridge to durable left ventricular assist device
Brown, Matthew A., Sheikh, Farooq H., Ahmed, Sara, Najjar, Samer S. and Molina, Ezequiel J. (2021). Intra-aortic balloon pump as a bridge to durable left ventricular assist device. Journal of the American Heart Association, 10 (15) e019376, 1-8. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.120.019376
Featured
1976
Journal Article
Autoxidation in milk rich in linoleic acid II. Modification of the initiation system and control of oxidation
Sidhu, G. S., Brown, M. A. and Johnson, A. R. (1976). Autoxidation in milk rich in linoleic acid II. Modification of the initiation system and control of oxidation. Journal of Dairy Research, 43 (2), 239-250. doi: 10.1017/S002202990001579X
2023
Journal Article
A likelihood ratio approach for utilizing case-control data in the clinical classification of rare sequence variants: Application to BRCA1 and BRCA2
Zanti, Maria, O'Mahony, Denise G., Parsons, Michael T., Li, Hongyan, Dennis, Joe, Aittomäkkiki, Kristiina, Andrulis, Irene L., Anton-Culver, Hoda, Aronson, Kristan J., Augustinsson, Annelie, Becher, Heiko, Bojesen, Stig E., Bolla, Manjeet K., Brenner, Hermann, Brown, Melissa A., Buys, Saundra S., Canzian, Federico, Caputo, Sandrine M., Castelao, Jose E., Chang-Claude, Jenny, Czene, Kamila, Daly, Mary B., De Nicolo, Arcangela, Devilee, Peter, Dörk, Thilo, Dunning, Alison M., Dwek, Miriam, Eccles, Diana M., Engel, Christoph ... Michailidou, Kyriaki (2023). A likelihood ratio approach for utilizing case-control data in the clinical classification of rare sequence variants: Application to BRCA1 and BRCA2. Human Mutation, 2023 9961341, 1-17. doi: 10.1155/2023/9961341
2021
Journal Article
CYP3A7*1C allele: linking premenopausal oestrone and progesterone levels with risk of hormone receptor-positive breast cancers
Johnson, Nichola, Maguire, Sarah, Morra, Anna, Kapoor, Pooja Middha, Tomczyk, Katarzyna, Jones, Michael E., Schoemaker, Minouk J., Gilham, Clare, Bolla, Manjeet K., Wang, Qin, Dennis, Joe, Ahearn, Thomas U., Andrulis, Irene L., Anton-Culver, Hoda, Antonenkova, Natalia N., Arndt, Volker, Aronson, Kristan J., Augustinsson, Annelie, Baynes, Caroline, Freeman, Laura E. Beane, Beckmann, Matthias W., Benitez, Javier, Bermisheva, Marina, Blomqvist, Carl, Boeckx, Bram, Bogdanova, Natalia V., Bojesen, Stig E., Brauch, Hiltrud, Brenner, Hermann ... Fletcher, Olivia (2021). CYP3A7*1C allele: linking premenopausal oestrone and progesterone levels with risk of hormone receptor-positive breast cancers. British Journal of Cancer, 124 (4), 842-854. doi: 10.1038/s41416-020-01185-w
2020
Journal Article
Fine-mapping of 150 breast cancer risk regions identifies 191 likely target genes
Fachal, Laura, Aschard, Hugues, Beesley, Jonathan, Barnes, Daniel R., Allen, Jamie, Kar, Siddhartha, Pooley, Karen A., Dennis, Joe, Michailidou, Kyriaki, Turman, Constance, Soucy, Penny, Lemaçon, Audrey, Lush, Michael, Tyrer, Jonathan P., Ghoussaini, Maya, Marjaneh, Mahdi Moradi, Jiang, Xia, Agata, Simona, Aittomäki, Kristiina, Alonso, M. Rosario, Andrulis, Irene L., Anton-Culver, Hoda, Antonenkova, Natalia N., Arason, Adalgeir, Arndt, Volker, Aronson, Kristan J., Arun, Banu K., Auber, Bernd, Auer, Paul L. ... Dunning, Alison M. (2020). Fine-mapping of 150 breast cancer risk regions identifies 191 likely target genes. Nature Genetics, 52 (1), 56-73. doi: 10.1038/s41588-019-0537-1
2019
Journal Article
Caution: plasmid DNA topology affects luciferase assay reproducibility and outcomes
Tudini, Emma, Burke, Lez J., Whiley, Phillip J., Sevcik, Jan, Spurdle, Amanda B. and Brown, Melissa A. (2019). Caution: plasmid DNA topology affects luciferase assay reproducibility and outcomes. BioTechniques, 67 (3), 94-96. doi: 10.2144/btn-2019-0060
2019
Journal Article
Towards controlled terminology for reporting germline cancer susceptibility variants: An ENIGMA report
Spurdle, Amanda B., Greville-Heygate, Stephanie, Antoniou, Antonis C., Brown, Melissa, Burke, Leslie, De La Hoya, Miguel, Domchek, Susan, Dörk, Thilo, Firth, Helen V., Monteiro, Alvaro N., Mensenkamp, Arjen, Parsons, Michael T., Radice, Paolo, Robson, Mark, Tischkowitz, Marc, Tudini, Emma, Turnbull, Clare, Vreeswijk, Maaike P.G., Walker, Logan C., Tavtigian, Sean and Eccles, Diana M. (2019). Towards controlled terminology for reporting germline cancer susceptibility variants: An ENIGMA report. Journal of Medical Genetics, 56 (6), 347-357. doi: 10.1136/jmedgenet-2018-105872
2019
Journal Article
MicroRNA-196a is regulated by ER and is a prognostic biomarker in ER+ breast cancer
Milevskiy, Michael J. G., Gujral, Udai, Del Lama Marques, Carolina, Stone, Andrew, Northwood, Korinne, Burke, Lez J., Gee, Julia M. W., Nephew, Kenneth, Clark, Susan and Brown, Melissa A. (2019). MicroRNA-196a is regulated by ER and is a prognostic biomarker in ER+ breast cancer. British Journal of Cancer, 120 (6), 621-632. doi: 10.1038/s41416-019-0395-8
2018
Journal Article
Heritable DNA methylation marks associated with susceptibility to breast cancer
Joo, Jihoon E., Dowty, James G., Milne, Roger L., Wong, Ee Ming, Dugué, Pierre-Antoine, English, Dallas, Hopper, John L., Goldgar, David E., Giles, Graham G., Southey, Melissa C., kConFab, Sexton, Adrienne, Christian, Alice, Trainer, Alison, Spigelman, Allan, Fellows, Andrew, Shelling, Andrew, De Fazio, Anna, Blackburn, Anneke, Crook, Ashley, Meiser, Bettina, Patterson, Briony, Clarke, Christine, Saunders, Christobel, Hunt, Clare, Scott, Clare, Amor, David, Marsh, Deborah, Edkins, Edward ... Antill, Yoland (2018). Heritable DNA methylation marks associated with susceptibility to breast cancer. Nature Communications, 9 (1) 867. doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-03058-6
2018
Journal Article
Non-coding variants in BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes: potential impact on breast and ovarian cancer predisposition
dos Santos, Elizabeth Santana, Lallemand, François, Burke, Leslie, Stoppa-Lyonnet, Dominique, Brown, Melissa, Caputo, Sandrine M. and Rouleau, Etienne (2018). Non-coding variants in BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes: potential impact on breast and ovarian cancer predisposition. Cancers, 10 (11) 453, 453. doi: 10.3390/cancers10110453
2018
Journal Article
MiR-29b-1-5p is altered in BRCA1 mutant tumours and is a biomarker in basal-like breast cancer
Milevskiy, Michael J. G., Sandhu, Gurveen K., Wronski, Anna, Korbie, Darren, Brewster, Brooke L., Shewan, Annette, Edwards, Stacey L., French, Juliet D. and Brown, Melissa A. (2018). MiR-29b-1-5p is altered in BRCA1 mutant tumours and is a biomarker in basal-like breast cancer. Oncotarget, 9 (71), 33577-33588. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.26094
2018
Journal Article
BRCA1 and BRCA2 5′ noncoding region variants identified in breast cancer patients alter promoter activity and protein binding
Burke, Leslie J., Sevcik, Jan, Gambino, Gaetana, Tudini, Emma, Mucaki, Eliseos J., Shirley, Ben C., Whiley, Phillip, Parsons, Michael T., De Leeneer, Kim, Gutiérrez-Enríquez, Sara, Santamariña, Marta, Caputo, Sandrine M., Santana dos Santos, Elizabeth, Soukupova, Jana, Janatova, Marketa, Zemankova, Petra, Lhotova, Klara, Stolarova, Lenka, Borecka, Mariana, Moles-Fernández, Alejandro, Manoukian, Siranoush, Bonanni, Bernardo, Edwards, Stacey L., Blok, Marinus J., van Overeem Hansen, Thomas, Rossing, Maria, Diez, Orland, Vega, Ana, Claes, Kathleen B.M. ... ENIGMA Consortium (2018). BRCA1 and BRCA2 5′ noncoding region variants identified in breast cancer patients alter promoter activity and protein binding. Human Mutation, 39 (12), 2025-2039. doi: 10.1002/humu.23652
2017
Journal Article
Long noncoding RNAs CUPID1 and CUPID2 mediate breast cancer risk at 11q13 by modulating the response to DNA damage
Betts, Joshua A., Moradi Marjaneh, Mahdi, Al-Ejeh, Fares, Lim, Yi Chieh, Shi, Wei, Sivakumaran, Haran, Tropee, Romain, Patch, Ann.-Marie, Clark, Michael B., Bartonicek, Nenad, Wiegmans, Adrian P., Hillman, Kristine M., Kaufmann, Susanne, Bain, Amanda L., Gloss, Brian S., Crawford, Joanna, Kazakoff, Stephen, Wani, Shivangi, Wen Shu W., Day, Bryan, Moller, Andreas, Cloonan, Nicole, Pearson,John, Brown, Melissa A., Mercer, Timothy R., Waddell, Nicola, Khanna, Kum Kum, Dray, Eloise, Dinger, Marcel E. ... French, Juliet D. (2017). Long noncoding RNAs CUPID1 and CUPID2 mediate breast cancer risk at 11q13 by modulating the response to DNA damage. American Journal of Human Genetics, 101 (2), 255-266. doi: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2017.07.007
2017
Conference Publication
RNA immunoprecipitation reveals lncRNA-protein interactions in basal-like breast cancer
Northwood, K., Saunus, J., Milevskiy, M., Lakhani, S. and Brown, M. (2017). RNA immunoprecipitation reveals lncRNA-protein interactions in basal-like breast cancer. San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, San Antonio TX, United States, 6-10 December 2016. Philadelphia, PA United States: American Association for Cancer Research. doi: 10.1158/1538-7445.SABCS16-P1-04-05
2016
Journal Article
Long-range regulators of the lncRNA HOTAIR enhance its prognostic potential in breast cancer
Milevskiy, Michael J. G., Al-Ejeh, Fares, Saunus, Jodi M., Northwood, Korinne S., Bailey, Peter J., Betts, Joshua A., McCart Reed, Amy E., Nephew, Kenneth P., Stone, Andrew, Gee, Julia M. W., Dowhan, Dennis H., Dray, Eloise, Shewan, Annette M., French, Juliet D., Edwards, Stacey L., Clark, Susan J., Lakhani, Sunil R. and Brown, Melissa A. (2016). Long-range regulators of the lncRNA HOTAIR enhance its prognostic potential in breast cancer. Human Molecular Genetics, 25 (15), 3269-3283. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddw177
2016
Journal Article
The calcium pump plasma membrane Ca(2+)-ATPase 2 (PMCA2) regulates breast cancer cell proliferation and sensitivity to doxorubicin
Peters, Amelia A., Milevskiy, Michael J. G., Lee, WeiC., Curry, Merril C., Smart, Chanel E., Saunus, Jodi M., Reid, Lynne, da Silva, Leonard, Marcial, Daneth L., Dray, Eloise, Brown, Melissa A., Lakhani, Sunil R., Roberts-Thomson, Sarah J. and Monteith, Gregory R. (2016). The calcium pump plasma membrane Ca(2+)-ATPase 2 (PMCA2) regulates breast cancer cell proliferation and sensitivity to doxorubicin. Scientific Reports, 6 (1) 25505, 25505. doi: 10.1038/srep25505
Funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Melissa Brown is:
- Not available for supervision
Supervision history
Completed supervision
-
2016
Doctor Philosophy
Transcriptional Regulation and Function of HOXC ncRNAs in Breast Cancer
Principal Advisor
-
-
2013
Doctor Philosophy
The Molecular Consequences of Brca1 Disruption in the Mouse Mammary Gland
Principal Advisor
-
2012
Doctor Philosophy
Detection and quantification of miRNA promoter DNA methylation as prognostic biomarkers for breast cancer
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Matt Trau
-
2007
Doctor Philosophy
INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR ORIGINS OF BRCA1- BREAST CANCER
Principal Advisor
-
2007
Doctor Philosophy
Relation and Consequences of Alternative Splicing of the Breast Cancer Susceptibility Genes
Principal Advisor
-
2006
Doctor Philosophy
POST-TRANSCRIPTIONAL REGULATION OF BRCA1: INVESTIGATION OF THE ROLES RNA-BINDING PROTEINS AND CIS-ACTING ELEMENTS IN THE 3' UNTRANSLATED REGION
Principal Advisor
-
2015
Master Philosophy
Identifying long-range control elements of the BRCA1 promoter
Joint Principal Advisor
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
Investigation of epigenetic influences on DNA methylation in Triple Negative Breast Cancer
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Sunil Lakhani, Dr Jodi Saunus
-
2017
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding the role of miRNAs in mammary epithelial polarity, EMT and cellular transformation.
Associate Advisor
-
2016
Doctor Philosophy
The long range regulation of breast cancer associated genes
Associate Advisor
-
2013
Doctor Philosophy
A Search For Novel Cancer Susceptibility Genes
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Sunil Lakhani, Associate Professor Peter Simpson
-
2011
Doctor Philosophy
An Investigation into the Function of MYB in Human Breast Cancer
Associate Advisor
-
2009
Doctor Philosophy
Characterization of a reciprocal-like translocation involving 6q in a melanoma cell line
Associate Advisor
-
2007
Master Philosophy
Searching for breast cancer susceptibility genes: a candidate gene approach
Associate Advisor
-
2006
Doctor Philosophy
EXPRESSION OF hnRNPs A/B IN CANCER CELLS AND THEIR ROLES IN CARCINOGENESIS
Associate Advisor
Media
Enquiries
Contact Professor Melissa Brown directly for media enquiries about:
- Animal models of human diseases
- Biology - cells
- Biology - molecular
- Breast cancer
- Cancer - breast
- Cancer - genetics
- Cancer susceptibility genes
- Cellular biology
- Diseases - animal models of human diseases
- Gene regulation
- Genetics
- Human diseases - animal models of
- Molecular biology
Need help?
For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team: