
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Melissa is no longer active in research, and so is unable to supervise new students.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
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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
2016
Journal Article
MicroRNA-206 is differentially expressed in Brca1-deficient mice and regulates epithelial and stromal cell compartments of the mouse mammary gland
Wronski, A., Sandhu, G. K., Milevskiy, M. J., Brewster, B. L., Bridge, J. A., Shewan, A. M., Edwards, S. L., French, J. D. and Brown, M. A. (2016). MicroRNA-206 is differentially expressed in Brca1-deficient mice and regulates epithelial and stromal cell compartments of the mouse mammary gland. Oncogenesis, 5 (4) e218, e218.1-e218.9. doi: 10.1038/oncsis.2016.27
2016
Journal Article
The voltage gated Ca2+-channel Cav3.2 and therapeutic responses in breast cancer
Pera, Elena, Kaemmerer, Elke, Milevskiy, Michael J. G., Yapa, Kunsala T. D. S., O'Donnell, Jake S., Brown, Melissa A., Simpson, Fiona, Peters, Amelia A., Roberts-Thomson, Sarah J. and Monteith, Gregory R. (2016). The voltage gated Ca2+-channel Cav3.2 and therapeutic responses in breast cancer. Cancer Cell International, 16 (24) 24, 24. doi: 10.1186/s12935-016-0299-0
2016
Conference Publication
Bioinformatic and experimental evaluation of regulatory variants in breast cancer susceptibility genes
Sevcik, Jan, Burke, Leslie, Gambino, Gaetana, Brewster, Brooke L., Tudini, Emma, Whiley, Philip J., Manoukian, Siranoush, Hansen, Thomas van Overeem, Pena, Marta Santamarina, Vega, Ana, Caligo, Maria A., Radice, Paolo, Peterlongo, Paolo, Rouleau, Etienne, Spurdle, Amanda B. and Brown, Melissa A. (2016). Bioinformatic and experimental evaluation of regulatory variants in breast cancer susceptibility genes. AACR 107th Annual Meeting on Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, New Orleans, LA, United States, 16-20 April, 2016. Philadelphia, PA, United States: American Association for Cancer Research. doi: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2016-1859
2016
Book Chapter
Non-coding RNAs in mammary gland development and disease
Sandhu, Gurveen K., Milevskiy, Michael J.G., Wilson, Wesley, Shewan, Annette M. and Brown, Melissa A. (2016). Non-coding RNAs in mammary gland development and disease. Non-coding RNA and the Reproductive System. (pp. 121-153) edited by Wilhelm, D and Bernard, P. New York, United States: Springer . doi: 10.1007/978-94-017-7417-8_7
2015
Journal Article
No association between HPV positive breast cancer and expression of human papilloma viral transcripts
Gannon, Orla M., Antonsson, Annika, Milevskiy, Michael, Brown, Melissa A., Saunders, Nicholas A. and Bennett, Ian C. (2015). No association between HPV positive breast cancer and expression of human papilloma viral transcripts. Scientific Reports, 5 (18081) 18081, 18081. doi: 10.1038/srep18081
2015
Journal Article
Methylome sequencing in triple negative breast cancer reveals distinct methylation clusters with prognostic value
Stirzaker, Clare, Zotenko, Elena, Song, Jenny Z., Qu, Wenja, Nair, Shalima, Locke, Warwick J., Stone, Andrew Stone, Armstrong, Nicola J., Robinson, Mark D., Dobrovic, Alexander, Avery-Kiejda, Kelly A., Peters, Kate M., French, Juliet D., Stein, Sandra, Korbie, Darren J., Trau, Matt, Forbes, John F., Scott, Rodney J., Brown, Melissa A., Francis, Glenn D. and Clark, Susan J. (2015). Methylome sequencing in triple negative breast cancer reveals distinct methylation clusters with prognostic value. Nature Communications, 6 (5899) 5899, 1-11. doi: 10.1038/ncomms6899
2015
Journal Article
Fine-scale mapping of the 5q11.2 breast cancer locus reveals at least three independent risk variants regulating MAP3K1
Glubb, Dylan, Maranian, Mel J., Michailidou, Kyriaki, Pooley, Karen A., Meyer, Kerstin, Kar, Siddhartha, Carlebur, Saskia, O'Reilly, Martin, Betts, Joshua A., Hillman, Kristine M., Kaufmann, Susanne, Beesley, Jonathan, Canisius, Sander, Hopper, John L., Southey, Melissa C., Tsimiklis, Helen, Apicella, Carmel, Schmidt, Marjanka K., Broeks, Annegien, Hogervorst, Frans B., van der Schoot, C. Ellen, Muir, Kenneth, Lophatananon, Artitaya, Stewart-Brown, Sarah, Siriwanarangsan, Pornthep, Fasching, Peter, Ruebner, Matthias, Ekici, Arif B., Beckmann, Matthias W. ... French, Juliet D. (2015). Fine-scale mapping of the 5q11.2 breast cancer locus reveals at least three independent risk variants regulating MAP3K1. American Journal of Human Genetics, 96 (1), 5-20. doi: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2014.11.009
2015
Conference Publication
Transient Receptor Potential Cation Channel V4 (TRPV4) expression in breast cancer subtypes and potential expression regulators in breast cancer cells
Lim, Huai F., Northwood, Korinne, Milevskiy, Michael, Peters, Amelia A., Brown, Melissa, Roberts-Thomson, Sarah J. and Monteith, Gregory R. (2015). Transient Receptor Potential Cation Channel V4 (TRPV4) expression in breast cancer subtypes and potential expression regulators in breast cancer cells. APSA ASCEPT Joint Scientific Meeting 2015, Hobart, TAS, Australia, 29 November - 2 December 2015.
2014
Journal Article
Evidence that breast cancer risk at the 2q35 locus is mediated through IGFBP5 regulation
Ghoussaini, Maya, Edwards, Stacey L., Michailidou, Kyriaki, Nord, Silje, Lari, Richard Cowper-Sal, Desai, Kinjal, Kar, Siddhartha, Hillman, Kristine M., Kaufmann, Susanne, Glubb, Dylan M., Beesley, Jonathan, Dennis, Joe, Bolla, Manjeet K., Wang, Qin, Dicks, Ed, Guo, Qi, Schmidt, Marjanka K., Shah, Mitul, Luben, Robert, Brown, Judith, Czene, Kamila, Darabi, Hatef, Eriksson, Mikael, Klevebring, Daniel, Bojesen, Stig E., Nordestgaard, Borge G., Nielsen, Sune F., Flyger, Henrik, Lambrechts, Diether ... Dunning, Alison M. (2014). Evidence that breast cancer risk at the 2q35 locus is mediated through IGFBP5 regulation. Nature Communications, 5 (1) 4999, 4999.1-4999.12. doi: 10.1038/ncomms5999
2014
Journal Article
Comprehensive annotation of splice junctions supports pervasive alternative splicing at the BRCA1 locus: a report from the ENIGMA consortium
Colombo, Mara, Blok, Marinus J., Whiley, Phillip, Santamarina, Marta, Gutierrez-Enriquez, Sara, Romero, Atocha, Garre, Pilar, Becker, Alexandra, Smith, Lindsay Denise, Vecchi, Giovanna De, Brandao, Rita D., Tserpelis, Demis, Brown, Melissa, Blanco, Ana, Bonache, Sandra, Menendez, Mireia, Houdayer, Claude, Foglia, Claudia, Fackenthal, James D., Baralle, Diana, Wappenschmidt, Barbara, Diaz-Rubio, Eduardo, Caldes, Trinidad, Walker, Logan, Diez, Orland, Vega, Ana, Spurdle, Amanda B., Radice, Paolo and de la Hoya, Miguel (2014). Comprehensive annotation of splice junctions supports pervasive alternative splicing at the BRCA1 locus: a report from the ENIGMA consortium. Human Molecular Genetics, 23 (14) ddu075, 3666-3680. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddu075
2014
Journal Article
Comparison of mRNA splicing assay protocols across multiple laboratories: recommendations for best practice in standardized clinical testing
Whiley, Phillip J., De La Hoya, Miguel, Thomassen, Mads, Becker, Alexandra, Brandão, Rita, Sokilde Pedersen, Inge, Montagna, Marco, Menéndez, Mireia, Quiles, Francisco, Gutiérrez-Enríquez, Sara, De Leeneer, Kim, Tenés, Anna, Montalban, Gemma, Tserpelis, Demis, Yoshimatsu, Toshio, Tirapo, Carole, Raponi, Michela, Caldes, Trinidad, Blanco, Ana, Santamariña, Marta, Guidugli, Lucia, Ruiz de Garibay, Gorka, Wong, Ming, Tancredi, Mariella, Fachal, Laura, Chun Ding, Yuan, Kruse, Torben, Lattimore, Vanessa, Kwong, Ava ... Brown, Melissa A. (2014). Comparison of mRNA splicing assay protocols across multiple laboratories: recommendations for best practice in standardized clinical testing. Clinical Chemistry, 60 (2), 341-352. doi: 10.1373/clinchem.2013.210658
2014
Journal Article
Multifactorial likelihood assessment of BRCA1 and BRCA2 missense variants confirms that BRCA1:c.122A>G(p.His41Arg) is a pathogenic mutation
Whiley, Phillip J., Parsons, Michael T., Leary, Jennifer, Tucker, Kathy, Warwick, Linda, Dopita, Belinda, Thorne, Heather, Lakhani, Sunil R., Goldgar, David E., Brown, Melissa A. and Spurdle, Amanda B. (2014). Multifactorial likelihood assessment of BRCA1 and BRCA2 missense variants confirms that BRCA1:c.122A>G(p.His41Arg) is a pathogenic mutation. PloS One, 9 (1) e86836, 1-10. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0086836
2014
Conference Publication
Investigating the role of ncRNAs in breast cancer associated DNA methylation
Northwood, orinne, Milevskiy, Michael and Brown, Melissa (2014). Investigating the role of ncRNAs in breast cancer associated DNA methylation. International Association for Breast Cancer Research, Sydney , Australia, 14-17 September 2014.
2013
Journal Article
Functional variants at the 11q13 risk locus for breast cancer regulate cyclin D1 expression through long-range enhancers
French, Juliet D., Ghoussaini, Maya, Edwards, Stacey L., Meyer, Kerstin B., Michailidou, Kyriaki, Ahmed, Shahana, Khan, Sofia, Maranian, Mel J., O'Reilly, Martin, Hillman, Kristine M., Betts, Joshua A., Carro, Thomas, Bailey, Peter J., Dicks, Ed, Beesley, Jonathan, Tyrer, Jonathan, Maia, Ana-Teresa, Beck, Andrew, Knoblauch, Nicholas W., Chen, Constance, Kraft, Peter, Barnes, Daniel, Gonzalez-Neira, Anna, Rosario Alonso, M., Herrero, Daniel, Tessier, Daniel C., Vincent, Daniel, Bacot, Francois, Luccarini, Craig ... Dunning, Alison M. (2013). Functional variants at the 11q13 risk locus for breast cancer regulate cyclin D1 expression through long-range enhancers. American Journal of Human Genetics, 92 (4), 489-503. doi: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2013.01.002
2013
Journal Article
Consequences of germline variation disrupting the constitutional translational initiation codon start sites of MLH1 and BRCA2: Use of potential alternative start sites and implications for predicting variant pathogenicity
Parsons, Michael T., Whiley, Phillip J., Beesley, Jonathan, Drost, Mark, de Wind, Neils, Thompson, Bryony A., Marquart, Lousie, Hopper, John L., Jenkins, Mark A., Brown, Melissa A., Tucker, Kathy, Warwick, Linda, Buchanan, Daniel D., Spurdle, Amanda B. and Australasian Colorectal Cancer Family Registry (2013). Consequences of germline variation disrupting the constitutional translational initiation codon start sites of MLH1 and BRCA2: Use of potential alternative start sites and implications for predicting variant pathogenicity. Molecular Carcinogenesis, 54 (7), 513-522. doi: 10.1002/mc.22116
2012
Journal Article
eLCR: electrochemical detection of single DNA base changes via ligase chain reaction
Wee, Eugene J. H., Shiddiky, Muhammad J. A., Brown, Melissa A. and Trau, Matt (2012). eLCR: electrochemical detection of single DNA base changes via ligase chain reaction. Chemical Communications, 48 (98), 1214-1216. doi: 10.1039/C2CC35841G
2012
Journal Article
Long-range transcriptional regulation of breast cancer genes
Betts, Joshua A., French, Juliet D., Brown, Melissa A. and Edwards, Stacey L. (2012). Long-range transcriptional regulation of breast cancer genes. Genes, Chromosomes and Cancer, 52 (2), 113-125. doi: 10.1002/gcc.22020
2012
Journal Article
BRCA1 R1699Q variant displaying ambiguous functional abrogation confers intermediate breast and ovarian cancer risk
Spurdle, Amanda B., Whiley, Phillip J., Thompson, Bryony, Feng, Bingjian, Healey, Sue, Brown, Melissa A., Pettigrew, Christopher, kConFab, Van Asperen, Christi J., Ausems, Margreet G. E. M., Kattentidt-Mouravieva, Anna A., Pigg, Maritta H., Schmutzler, Rita K., Engel, Christoph, Meindl, Alfons, German Consortium of Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer, Caputo, Sandrine, Sinilnikova, Olga M., Lidereau, Rosette, French COVAR group collaborators, Couch, Fergus J., Guidugli, Lucia, van Overeem Hansen, Thomas, Thomassen, Mads, Eccles, Diana M., Tucker, Kathy, Benitez, Javier, Domchek, Susan M., Toland, Amanda E. ... ENIGMA Consortium (2012). BRCA1 R1699Q variant displaying ambiguous functional abrogation confers intermediate breast and ovarian cancer risk. Journal of Medical Genetics, 49 (8), 525-532. doi: 10.1136/jmedgenet-2012-101037
2012
Journal Article
Protein arginine methyltransferase 6-dependent gene expression and splicing: Association with breast cancer outcomes
Dowhan, Dennis H., Harrison, Matthew J., Eriksson, Natalie A., Bailey, Peter, Pearen, Michael A, Fuller, Peter J., Funder, John W., Simpson, Evan R., Leedman, Peter J., Tilley, Wayne D., Brown, Melissa A., Clarke, Christine L. and Muscat, George E. O. (2012). Protein arginine methyltransferase 6-dependent gene expression and splicing: Association with breast cancer outcomes. Endocrine-Related Cancer, 19 (4), 509-526. doi: 10.1530/ERC-12-0100
2012
Journal Article
Morphological and molecular analysis of a breast cancer cluster at the ABC Studio in Toowong
Waddell, N., Stein, S. R., Wagner, S. A., Bennett, I., Djougarian, A., Melana, S., Jaffer, S., Holland, J. F., Pogo, B. G. T., Gonda, T. J., Brown, M. A., Leo, P., Saunders, N. A., McMillan, N. A., Cocciardi, S., Vargas, A. C., Lakhani, S. R., Chenevix-Trench, G., Newman, B. and Francis, G. D. (2012). Morphological and molecular analysis of a breast cancer cluster at the ABC Studio in Toowong. Pathology, 44 (5), 469-472. doi: 10.1097/PAT.0b013e3283559e67
Funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Melissa Brown is:
- Not available for supervision
Supervision history
Completed supervision
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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
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2007
Doctor Philosophy
INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR ORIGINS OF BRCA1- BREAST CANCER
Principal Advisor
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2007
Doctor Philosophy
Relation and Consequences of Alternative Splicing of the Breast Cancer Susceptibility Genes
Principal Advisor
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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
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2015
Master Philosophy
Identifying long-range control elements of the BRCA1 promoter
Joint Principal Advisor
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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
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2017
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding the role of miRNAs in mammary epithelial polarity, EMT and cellular transformation.
Associate Advisor
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
The long range regulation of breast cancer associated genes
Associate Advisor
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2013
Doctor Philosophy
A Search For Novel Cancer Susceptibility Genes
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Sunil Lakhani, Associate Professor Peter Simpson
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2011
Doctor Philosophy
An Investigation into the Function of MYB in Human Breast Cancer
Associate Advisor
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2009
Doctor Philosophy
Characterization of a reciprocal-like translocation involving 6q in a melanoma cell line
Associate Advisor
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2007
Master Philosophy
Searching for breast cancer susceptibility genes: a candidate gene approach
Associate Advisor
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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
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