Evaluation Of Blood-based Screening Tests For Colorectal Neoplasia; From Biomarker Candidates To Accurate And Acceptable Tests
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$767,382.00
Summary
Current bowel cancer screening tests require people to collect a stool sample. While able to be done at home, this creates certain inconveniences and has other barriers to its use including being distasteful to some. Also, even though stool tests are useful they are not as accurate as we would like. We have discovered a molecule in the blood of patients with bowel cancer that could, if configured as a screening test, serve to be of even greater accuracy and also be more acceptable to people.
Population Testing Of An Internet-based Personalised Decision Support System For Colorectal Cancer Screening
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$480,230.00
Summary
This study will determine the impact of a fully developed computerised Personalised Decision Support (PDS) package on colorectal cancer screening participation. The PDS tool is designed to guide people through the decision processes relevant to deciding whether to undertake screening. The PDS presents personally tailored messages aimed at progressing individuals towards screening test use and has the potential to supplement traditional paper methods of increasing screening participation.
A Population Based Communication Strategy To Optimise Colorectal Cancer Screening Behaviour In Australia.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$532,425.00
Summary
There is good evidence that population screening, based on the detection of blood in faeces, is effective in reducing deaths from bowel cancer (CRC) by around 30-40%. The process depends on the use of a simple faecal occult blood test (FOBT) to identify those who need a more complex and costly test (colonoscopy), which is capable of accurately detecting curable cancers and precancers so that they can be removed. If we are to reduce deaths from CRC at the population level, we must have an effecti ....There is good evidence that population screening, based on the detection of blood in faeces, is effective in reducing deaths from bowel cancer (CRC) by around 30-40%. The process depends on the use of a simple faecal occult blood test (FOBT) to identify those who need a more complex and costly test (colonoscopy), which is capable of accurately detecting curable cancers and precancers so that they can be removed. If we are to reduce deaths from CRC at the population level, we must have an effective way of encouraging as many people as possible to do FOBT tests. While much has been learnt about how to offer screening from experience with programs for breast and cervical cancer, CRC screening involves different behavioural, psychological and social issues. We need to better understand how these factors influence participation in CRC screening. We plan a series of studies that will lead to improvements in participation in CRC screening programs: a) a survey of a randomly selected group of the general population to measure a range of behavioural features that are of importance to CRC screening, especially as they relate to participation. b) an offer of FOBTscreening to those invited to complete the survey, to match population characteristics with intentions and actual participation, c) on the basis of these studies, to design new screening program strategies, especially in relation to the communication of messages to encourage community participation, d) to test the effectiveness of the new communication strategies by offering FOBT screening to another randomly selected group from the general population. This will allow us to optimise the delivery of messages that encourage participation. If we can design a better communication strategy that achieves an increase in screening participation and has minimum cost implications, we will substantially reduce the number of deaths from CRC in Australia.Read moreRead less
About 14,000 cases of bowel cancer occur annually in Australia despite the availability of life-saving screening. Most people do not receive recommended screening colonoscopy. We will look at why people at high-risk avoid screening and why people at average risk seek unnecessary screening. We will analyse family history and contacts with the healthcare system that impact screening decisions. We will determine the impact of screening on reducing the number of new cases and deaths.
Effectiveness And Cost-effectiveness Of Systematic Screening For Lynch Syndrome (LS) In Australia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$485,762.00
Summary
Lynch syndrome (LS) is an inherited condition that puts people at an increased risk of developing a range of cancers. We will use a detailed simulation model to evaluate the potential health benefits of testing new cases of colorectal, endometrial and ovarian cancers for LS, and whether this would be cost-effective. The aim is to identify LS-related cancer cases, so family members can be offered LS testing, and individuals found to have LS can be offered close observation/preventative surgery.
Reducing The Burden Of Cancer In Chronic Kidney Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$257,561.00
Summary
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an important public health problem in Australia and worldwide. Not only does CKD predisposes to end-stage kidney disease, but more importantly, increases the risk of co-morbidities such as cancer and cardiovascular disease, leading to premature death. As an academic nephrologist with interests in clinical epidemiology, health economics and translation research, this proposed program of work will focus on assessing the critical areas in improving the cancer outcome ....Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an important public health problem in Australia and worldwide. Not only does CKD predisposes to end-stage kidney disease, but more importantly, increases the risk of co-morbidities such as cancer and cardiovascular disease, leading to premature death. As an academic nephrologist with interests in clinical epidemiology, health economics and translation research, this proposed program of work will focus on assessing the critical areas in improving the cancer outcomes in patients with CKD.Read moreRead less
Case-control Study Of Reasons For Presentation Of Nonmelanocytic Skin Cancers At An Advanced Stage.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$250,614.00
Summary
There are about four times as many skin cancers treated in Australia each year as all other cancers combined and the vast majority of these are the nonmelanocytic skin cancers (NMSC). While most of these cancers are easily treatable, a proportion of these cancers are not given potentially effective treatment until the cancer has reached an advanced stage. Preliminary results from our pilot studies indicate that at least 50% of patients with NMSC who are treated with radiotherapy and 92% of NMSC ....There are about four times as many skin cancers treated in Australia each year as all other cancers combined and the vast majority of these are the nonmelanocytic skin cancers (NMSC). While most of these cancers are easily treatable, a proportion of these cancers are not given potentially effective treatment until the cancer has reached an advanced stage. Preliminary results from our pilot studies indicate that at least 50% of patients with NMSC who are treated with radiotherapy and 92% of NMSC patients treated with a graft or flap surgical procedure by the dermatologists in Newcastle are so treated because of the extent of disease at the primary site. These advanced stage cancers make an important contribution to the 70,000 admissions to hospital for the treatment of NMSC each year in Australia. The total direct health services cost of treatment of these skin cancers was estimated to be $232,000,000 in 1993-94, which was more than for any other type of cancer. Some 379 people died from nonmelanocytic skin cancer in Australia in 1993 and these were all potentially preventable deaths. The study aims are therefore to: 1. Measure the contributions of delay in seeking treatment and inadequate inital treatment to the need for treatment of skin cancer at an advanced stage. 2. Ascertain the factors that are associated with delay in seeking treatment for skin cancer until it has reached an advanced stage. This study will be the first substantial and population-based study of advanced skin cancer and the factors that underlie it. It will give the first empirical guidance to the design of initiatives to prevent the development of advanced skin cancer, a major area of cost to Australian health services. The study will increase understanding of why some skin cancers are not treated definitively until they reach an advanced stage and guide the development of interventions to reduce the frequency of patients who present with advanced stage skin cancer.Read moreRead less
Re-participation In Screening For Colorectal Cancer: Behavioural Outcomes And Predictors.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$687,438.00
Summary
Screening for bowel cancer (CRC) is an important public health initiative. It is most effective when undertaken regularly but there is little research on what personal factors relate to ongoing participation in a screening program. This study will determine the factors associated with ongoing participation in CRC screening and will lead to better screening programs and improved health benefits. This study directly addresses the Cancer Australia priority area re improving screening programs.
Green Tea Polyphenols And Cancer Prevention: Use Of Population Controls And Biomarkers To Elicit Causal Pathways
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$956,189.00
Summary
There is laboratory evidence that chemicals in green tea (poloyphenols) protect against cancer. Epidemiologic studies in humans have generally supported these findings, especially for breast cancer. This project is a crucial stepping stone towards future prospects of a large-scale trial using green tea extract. It will see if the protection extends to leukaemia and bowel cancer, and will identify the genetic makeup of people who are able to benefit the most from green tea polyphenols.