Testing And Treatment For Prostate Cancer In Australia: Epidemiology And Modelling
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$267,886.00
Summary
We aim to use observational data and mathematical modelling to investigate testing and treatment for prostate cancer in Australia. We will incorporate changes in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing and in clinical practice to investigate: a) over-diagnosis, being cancer cases diagnosed through PSA testing that would not have been otherwise diagnosed; b) the effect of PSA testing on prostate cancer mortality; and c) mortality and health care use under different PSA test scenarios.
Incidence And Prognosis Of Metastatic Breast Cancer: A Population-based Data Linkage Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$97,700.00
Summary
This project will provide the first Australian population-based estimates of metastaticbreast cancer (MBC) incidence and survival in women with an initial diagnosis of early stage cancer that reflect current treatment practices. This evidence will help: women with MBC and their clinicians to make decisions about treatment and plan supportive care; researchers planning trials of MBC therapies, and future planning of cancer services.
Endometrial cancer (uterine or womb cancer) is the most common invasive gynaecological cancer in Australia. Each year more than 1400 women are affected by the condition, and death is common amongst a subset with more aggressive disease. We plan to conduct a national study of endometrial cancer to identify options for prevention of the disease. No previous studies have looked at risk factors for endometrial cancer in Australian women. In particular, we hope to identify modifiable risk factors for ....Endometrial cancer (uterine or womb cancer) is the most common invasive gynaecological cancer in Australia. Each year more than 1400 women are affected by the condition, and death is common amongst a subset with more aggressive disease. We plan to conduct a national study of endometrial cancer to identify options for prevention of the disease. No previous studies have looked at risk factors for endometrial cancer in Australian women. In particular, we hope to identify modifiable risk factors for endometrial cancer, and identify genes that make some women particularly susceptible to the disease. There are at least two main types of endometrial cancer and limited evidence suggests that they may have different causes. Few studies have examined the two different types separately, and there is virtually no information regarding risk factors for the more aggressive forms. In addition, little is known about genetic factors that predispose women to endometrial cancer. In the present study, we will investigate which genes cause endometrial cancer in women who have a strong family history of the disease. We will also identify genes that are related to endometrial cancer in women with no obvious family history of cancer, and investigate how these genes interact with environmental factors (such as hormone replacement therapy and obesity) to cause disease. National epidemiological studies of other cancers are currently being conducted by our research groups within QIMR. In the present proposal, we will use our experience to build on the infrastructure and procedures already in place to conduct a new study on endometrial cancer. As one of the largest population-based studies of endometrial cancer ever conducted, it will be able to answer many of the questions that are currently unresolved. Moreover, answers will be relevant to Australian women and clinicians as well as to inform prevention strategies.Read moreRead less
Occupational Exposure To Lead Compounds And Human Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$222,887.00
Summary
This study aims to investigate whether there is a link between cancer (in particular cancer of the stomach, lung, kidney and central nervous system) and occupational exposure to lead compounds. There are only a few published cohort studies available on occupational exposures in use and applications of lead compounds, despite the widespread use of these compounds in the past 50 years. Since the late 1980s the use of lead compounds in Australia has decreased, but Australian and world lead producti ....This study aims to investigate whether there is a link between cancer (in particular cancer of the stomach, lung, kidney and central nervous system) and occupational exposure to lead compounds. There are only a few published cohort studies available on occupational exposures in use and applications of lead compounds, despite the widespread use of these compounds in the past 50 years. Since the late 1980s the use of lead compounds in Australia has decreased, but Australian and world lead production has increased. Australia is the world's biggest producer of lead. The precise number of lead workers worldwide is unknown but there are likely to be more than 2 million workers of which many are in developing countries where control of lead exposure is unsatisfactory and occupational exposure limits are considerably higher than in developed countries. Evidence for or against cancer risk with exposure to lead compounds , in particular inorganic lead, will therefore have implications for many Australian and international workers. This is also important for health risk assessment for environmental contamination in the Australian community. In our study we will review the state government archived records of about 8,000 lead workers in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia, who took part in lead compound exposure surveys and had blood tests in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, as part of government lead regulations in force at the time. We will then match the details of these workers against the National Cancer and Death registry data to calculate cancer rates. This should involve a sufficient number of workers to enable us to undertake a comprehensive health evaluation of cancer risk and exposure to lead compounds.Read moreRead less
Patterns Of Care And Quality Of Life In Patients With Pancreatic Cancer.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$680,010.00
Summary
Available evidence suggests that care of patients with pancreatic cancer is variable and dependent on a variety of factors such as geographic location, socioeconomic status and hospital volume. Variability in care may influence survival and quality of life of patients. We propose to conduct a comprehensive study of the management of patients with pancreatic cancer in NSW and, in a substudy in QLD, to determine how variation in management affects patient quality of life.
The Effect Of Exogenous Hormones, Smoking And HPV On The Incidence Of Screen Detected Pre-invasive Cervical Cancer.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,201,168.00
Summary
Cervical cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer death in women internationally. About 15,000 women are detected in NSW annually as having pre-invasive cervical cancer (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grade I, II or III). Infection with certain high risk human papillomaviruses is known to be necessary for the development of cervical cancer. In addition, recent long term exposure to smoking and to hormonal contraception are two new factors considered as independent risk factors for ....Cervical cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer death in women internationally. About 15,000 women are detected in NSW annually as having pre-invasive cervical cancer (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grade I, II or III). Infection with certain high risk human papillomaviruses is known to be necessary for the development of cervical cancer. In addition, recent long term exposure to smoking and to hormonal contraception are two new factors considered as independent risk factors for the disease. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) preparations taken around the menopause are a similar composition to hormonal contraceptives, (oestrogen and progestogen), therefore women on HRT may also be at increased risk. No comprehensive study exists internationally to measure the relative importance of these exogenous hormones on the development of pre-invasive cervical cancer in a way that is of public health relevance (e.g. recent long-term use of oral contraceptives and time since stopped, and among smokers and non-smokers). No Australian data are available on the proportion of women who are current users of hormonal contraceptives or HRT. No local prevalence data on the major high risk HPV subtypes (e.g. 16, 18, 33, 45) are available for Australia to describe its distribution and to inform the cervical screening program and future vaccine initiatives. The NSW Pap Test Register holds the screening history of all women on the cervical screening program, hence this is an ideal source for recruiting a representative sample into a study. We wish to conduct a large study of ~2600 NSW women using the NSW Pap Test Register to measure the relative importance of hormones, smoking and HPV infection on the development of CIN II or III.Read moreRead less
Vitamin D And Risk Of Cancer And Mortality In The Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$519,829.00
Summary
Overseas studies indicate that vitamin D might protect against certain cancers and other diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. Vitamin D is made when skin is exposed to sunlight. Because sunlight is stronger in Australia than in most of the USA and Europe, where most studies were conducted, the results of those studies might not be relevant to Australia. In this study, we will see if vitamin D is important for cancer and mortality in Australia.
Investigating The Utility Of Primary Care Skin Cancer Clinics In Queensland
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$187,000.00
Summary
Skin cancer is the most common cancer in Australia, with an estimated 375,000 people being treated for some skin cancer in Australia in 2002, and 1462 dying from the disease (mainly from melanoma) in 2001. Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer, both melanoma and non-melanoma is the world. However, if detected early, skin cancer is curable, and the focus of current treatment programs internationally is to detect the disease before it progresses to an advanced stage. A large proportion of ....Skin cancer is the most common cancer in Australia, with an estimated 375,000 people being treated for some skin cancer in Australia in 2002, and 1462 dying from the disease (mainly from melanoma) in 2001. Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer, both melanoma and non-melanoma is the world. However, if detected early, skin cancer is curable, and the focus of current treatment programs internationally is to detect the disease before it progresses to an advanced stage. A large proportion of skin cancers are first detected by the non-medical community. However, due to the two-tiered medical system in Australia, a person first seeks medical opinion from a general practitioner (GP), who acts as a gatekeeper for further treatment from a specialist. Therefore the ability of GPs to be able to discern which lesions require further treatment is crucial, both for the patient, and the financial burden on the health system. A recent development has been the establishment of dedicated primary skin care clinics, which offer open access consultations to the community for the diagnosis and treatment of skin cancers and pigmented lesions. The emergence of these clinics has created much debate in the medical media. Concern has been expressed about the skills of practitioners in these clinics, whilst others argue that sub-specialisation in primary care will lead to improvements in the management of patients. As there is currently no data on the volume, casemix and diagnostic accuracy of these clinics it is difficult to assess the diagnostic ability of skin cancer clinics. This will be the first project to quantify the role of skin clinics in the diagnosis of skin cancer in the community, and in particular their case volume, casemix and diagnostic accuracy, and assess these measures in relation to a comparable sample of general practitioners. Queensland is an ideal location for a study of this type due to its high incidence of both types of skin cancer.Read moreRead less
A Case Control Study Of Risk Factors For Aggressive Prostate Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,592,353.00
Summary
Although most prostate cancers are not fatal, some develop into an aggressive form that is likely to progress and kill. How this happens and how to prevent these cancers, is not well understood. The study will examine the lives of men with aggressive prostate cancer, from the time of conception to adulthood, their family history and genetic characteristics to identify the role of life patterns and genes in the development of these cancers, seeking a basis for their prevention .
Opioid Dependent Persons In Pharmacotherapy: Blood Borne Viruses And Cancer Risk
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$88,495.00
Summary
Opioid dependent persons in pharmacotherapy in NSW are at increased risk of death from cancer. We will examine the occurrence of infection with hepatitis and HIV among this high-risk population using data linkage. We will define the relationship between infection, the duration, frequency and type of pharmacotherapy, and cancer risk. The findings will guide effective strategies that will reduce cancer incidence and mortality among this group, and minimise the associated health care costs.