Multidisciplinary Management Of Vertebral Metastases Identification Of Standardized Surgical Guidelines
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$358,604.00
Summary
The spine is the commonest site of cancer spread to the skeleton and often leads to severe pain and paralysis. Recent advances in surgical techniques enable removal and reconstruction of all tumours of the spine. However, surgery remains controversial because of the need to weigh up the patient’s estimated length of survival with the risks of surgery. Our aims are to develop clear guidelines on which patients to perform surgery on, and what type of surgery to perform.
Reevaluation Of The Anatomy Of The Human Lymphatic Vessel Network
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$539,750.00
Summary
The mode of spread of cancer cells from a primary tumour to other parts of the body is still not completely understood, although the lymphatic system is known to be important in this process. Lymph vessels are tiny transparent channels that form a network over the entire body. They transport tissue fluid to regional lymph glands in the neck, armpits, groin, chest and abdomen where the immune response maybe initiated to combat foreign agents such as bacteria and cancer cells. Current knowledge of ....The mode of spread of cancer cells from a primary tumour to other parts of the body is still not completely understood, although the lymphatic system is known to be important in this process. Lymph vessels are tiny transparent channels that form a network over the entire body. They transport tissue fluid to regional lymph glands in the neck, armpits, groin, chest and abdomen where the immune response maybe initiated to combat foreign agents such as bacteria and cancer cells. Current knowledge of the anatomy of these tiny vessels is based on work done by Sappey more than a century ago. There is an urgent need to update this work as many of his conclusions have been found to be inaccurate. We will use our pioneering methods of microsurgical tissue transfer- now being used worldwide - and our extensive experience in delineating fine channels, to address some of the basic questions about the anatomical pathways of spread of cancer. We hope to discover for example: why cancer on one side of the back can spread to glands in the opposite groin or armpit, thought by Sappey to be impossible; why cancer on one side of the tongue can spread to lymph glands on the opposite side of the neck; and why there is sometimes swelling of the limbs following lymph gland ablation by surgery or radiotherapy of glands in the groin or armpit. Currently it is thought that the only major connections with the venous system are at the base of the neck. Our initial work has shown unexpected connections with blood vessels in the periphery and unreported lymphatic vessel pathways between the skin and deep tissues. The results of this research will give information that will aid in localizing and treating the spread of malignancies and will underlie future treatment of obstructed lymph vessels that are the cause of painful, disabling swelling (lymphoedema) of the limbs.Read moreRead less
POSNOC (Positive Sentinel Node – A Randomised Trial Of Adjuvant Therapy Alone Versus Adjuvant Therapy Plus Clearance Or Axillary Radiotherapy)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,223,428.00
Summary
POSNOC (POsitive Sentinel NOde – adjuvant therapy alone versus adjuvant therapy plus Clearance or axillary radiotherapy) will address the key unresolved challenge in breast cancer surgery. A controversial US trial, ACOSOG Z0011, indicates that many breast cancer patients with limited disease in the sentinel node can safely avoid further nodal surgery. This would be a major advance, but there is widespread doubt that the results are broadly applicable. POSNOC will clarify this key issue.
Selective Therapies Targeting Tumour Vasculature Of Colorectal Liver Metastases
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$519,279.00
Summary
Cancer of the bowel is the second highest cause of cancer related deaths in Australia. Over 70% of these deaths are due to bowel cancer spread to the liver or liver metastases. Treatment options for the majority of patients with liver spread are limited. Although chemotherapies are a standard treatment option, they cause significant side-effects as they are small in size and thereby distributed to both cancer and normal tissue. Given the limitations of chemotherapy, our objective is to investiga ....Cancer of the bowel is the second highest cause of cancer related deaths in Australia. Over 70% of these deaths are due to bowel cancer spread to the liver or liver metastases. Treatment options for the majority of patients with liver spread are limited. Although chemotherapies are a standard treatment option, they cause significant side-effects as they are small in size and thereby distributed to both cancer and normal tissue. Given the limitations of chemotherapy, our objective is to investigate two new strategies which selectively destruct tumours with minimal effect to normal tissues. Cancer growth is dependent on an efficient blood supply. One strategy uses drug delivery systems (DDS) to selectively target cancers by exploiting the unique properties of tumour blood vessels. The second strategy uses vascular targeting agents (VTA's) which act on tumour vessels to reduce blood flow and starve the tumour of oxygen, leading to its destruction. We will be testing two agents: SMA-Pirarubicin, a DDS and an innovative VTA, Oxi4503, in an animal model of colorectal cancer liver metastases. Although these drugs are successful in destroying the majority of tumour cells, they have a patchy effect and do not completely destroy the cancerous growth. The varied effects of these agents may be due to variations in tissue hypoxia, tumour vessel structure or factors which trigger blood vessel formation and breakdown. These features will be investigated using techniques established within our laboratory. We will also investigate the combined effect of other novel agents and hyperbaric oxygen administration to improve the effectiveness of these drugs. A successful outcome will result in the development of an improved treatment method which targets tumours, producing maximum destruction with minimum side-effects. This has the potential to replace standard chemotherapies as the preferred treatment for patients with bowel cancer spread, with overall significant patient benefits.Read moreRead less
AUSTRALASIAN MULTICENTRED PROSPECTIVE RANDOMISED STUDY OF LAPAROSCOPIC VS CONVENTIONAL SURGICAL TREATMENT OF COLON CA
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$495,000.00
Summary
Colon cancer is one of the most common solid tumours in western society. The usual initial treatment is excision of the cancer by an operation done through a cut down the midline of the abdominal wall. Over the past 10 years, minimally invasive technology has changed the approach to many surgical operations. A good example of this is an operation to remove the gall bladder. This is now routinely done using a laparoscope (telescope) which is introduced at the umbilicus. An image on a video screen ....Colon cancer is one of the most common solid tumours in western society. The usual initial treatment is excision of the cancer by an operation done through a cut down the midline of the abdominal wall. Over the past 10 years, minimally invasive technology has changed the approach to many surgical operations. A good example of this is an operation to remove the gall bladder. This is now routinely done using a laparoscope (telescope) which is introduced at the umbilicus. An image on a video screen of the gall bladder is then used to guide instruments to remove the gall bladder without making a large incision in the abdominal wall. This is called a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The safety of a laparoscopic assisted approach in the removal of colon cancer is yet to be determined. This study will compare the long term and short term outcomes of people who have colon cancers removed either by a laparotomy (a cut in the midline of the abdominal wall) or by a laparoscopic assisted approach (telescope).Read moreRead less
Australasian Randomised Clinical Trial Comparing Laparoscopic And Open Surgical Treatment Of Colon Cancer: Follow-up.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$233,000.00
Summary
Colon cancer is one of the most common solid tumours in western society. The usual initial treatment is excision of the cancer by an operation done through a cut down the midline of the abdominal wall. Over the past 15 years, minimally invasive technology has changed the approach to many surgical operations. A good example of this is an operation to remove the gall bladder. This is now routinely done using a laparoscope (telescope) which is introduced at the umbilicus. An image on a video screen ....Colon cancer is one of the most common solid tumours in western society. The usual initial treatment is excision of the cancer by an operation done through a cut down the midline of the abdominal wall. Over the past 15 years, minimally invasive technology has changed the approach to many surgical operations. A good example of this is an operation to remove the gall bladder. This is now routinely done using a laparoscope (telescope) which is introduced at the umbilicus. An image on a video screen of the gall bladder is then used to guide instruments to remove the gall bladder without making a large incision in the abdominal wall. This is called a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The safety of a laparoscopic assisted approach in the removal of colon cancer is yet to be determined. This study will compare the long term and short term outcomes of people who have colon cancers removed whether by laparotomy ( a cut in the midline of the abdominal wall) or by a laparoscopic assisted approach (telescope).Read moreRead less