Value Of Androgen Deprivation And Bisphosphonate In Patients Treated By Radiotherapy For Localised Prostate Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,533,827.00
Summary
Following on from significant findings in the TROG 96.01 trial, the 03.04 trial, known as the RADAR trial was developed. This is a large-scale randomised controlled clinical trial currently conducted at 23 cancer treatment centres throughout Australia and New Zealand. The RADAR trial aims to recruit 1000 men with localised but inoperable prostate cancer. It was anticipated that the length of time required to enrol 1000 participants to the trial would be 5 years. However, because enrolment has ex ....Following on from significant findings in the TROG 96.01 trial, the 03.04 trial, known as the RADAR trial was developed. This is a large-scale randomised controlled clinical trial currently conducted at 23 cancer treatment centres throughout Australia and New Zealand. The RADAR trial aims to recruit 1000 men with localised but inoperable prostate cancer. It was anticipated that the length of time required to enrol 1000 participants to the trial would be 5 years. However, because enrolment has exceeded expectations and 728 patients have already been recruited, it is anticipated that the recruitment target will be reached in mid 2007. Patients are randomly assigned to receive one of four treatment options in the RADAR trial. The first option: Option A: Radiation Therapy and 6 months of Hormone Therapy (Leuprorelin acetate), is currently the standard of care. Option C is a further 12 months of hormone therapy after the current standard of care. Two of the options (B and D) are identical to options A and C except that subjects also receive 18 months of zoledronate (a 'bone' drug) in addition to hormone therapy and radiotherapy. The main goal of the RADAR trial is to determine whether 12 months of hormone therapy using Leuprorelin acetate starting immediately after standard therapy (ie 6 months of Leuprorelin acetate before and during radiotherapy) will reduce risk of return of the cancer, either within the prostate region or at remote sites in the body, and prolong life. An additional goal is to see whether 18 months of bisphosphonate therapy (bone density therapy) using zoledronate will reduce the risk of cancer returning in the bones as well as stopping dangerous bone thinning which can sometimes be caused by hormone therapy. The trial also seeks to determine whether the additional therapy given in this trial alters quality of life.Read moreRead less
Optimal Duration Of Neoadjuvant Androgen Deprivation Therapy In Localised Prostate Cancer Treated By Radiotherapy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$422,335.00
Summary
The 96.01 trial aims to find out whether androgen deprivation (AD) administered prior to and during radiotherapy (i.e., neo-adjuvant AD) will improve outcomes in patients with locally advanced prostate cancer that is considered inoperable and is treated for cure by radiotherapy. The trial also aims to find out whether six months AD produces outcomes superior to those achieved by three months AD. The trial has been running since 1996 and involves 802 men who attend 19 cancer treatment centres acr ....The 96.01 trial aims to find out whether androgen deprivation (AD) administered prior to and during radiotherapy (i.e., neo-adjuvant AD) will improve outcomes in patients with locally advanced prostate cancer that is considered inoperable and is treated for cure by radiotherapy. The trial also aims to find out whether six months AD produces outcomes superior to those achieved by three months AD. The trial has been running since 1996 and involves 802 men who attend 19 cancer treatment centres across Australia and New Zealand. It would not have been possible without the continuous funding support of the NHMRC. So far this trial has shown that AD does prevent prostate cancer from returning after radiotherapy. This is very important because the need for treatment of recurrent cancer (usually AD for the rest of the patient's life) is halved by 6 months AD compared to standard treatment (radiotherapy alone). However, it is now necessary to observe the patients in this trial for another 5 years to find out whether AD also prolongs life, and whether 6 months AD is more effective than 3 months. Further patient follow up is also necessary to identify whether some men respond better to treatment than others. This is very important because it will enable treatment to be tailored to individual patients, in particular those who require more treatment than is given in this trial. This funding application is therefore to enable patient follow up on this large scale trial for another 5 years.Read moreRead less
Predicting Dysphagia-related Complications And Improving Outcomes In Patients Treated With Head And Neck Radiotherapy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$311,597.00
Summary
This project aims to improve swallow-related quality of life in patients undergoing head and neck radiotherapy by: 1) Identifying throat muscles, critical to swallowing in order to refine future radiation strategies in order to minimise collateral damage to these critical structures; 2) Improve health care management of post-radiotherapy patients via identification of markers that predict response to therapy; 3) Evaluate a therapy to improve swallow dysfunction
Radiotherapy Treatment For Prostate Cancer - A Change In Practice Based On Direct Evidence For Targeting And Toxicity Effects Using Real Outcomes Data
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$555,129.00
Summary
Radiotherapy for prostate cancer treatment will be more effective when we have better knowledge of what patient anatomy needs to be targeted, and what needs to be avoided. This project will combine data collected during a large Australasian prostate cancer radiotherapy trial, ‘RADAR’, with data collected using new patient imaging methods to determine how patient anatomy impacts on the effectiveness of their treatment and the side-effects they experience.
Prognostic Significance Of Circulating Tumour Biomarkers In Patients Treated With Curative-intent Radiotherapy For NSCLC
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$877,098.00
Summary
More than 50% of cancer patients in Australia receive radiotherapy but many later die from distant metastases. This study of circulating biomarkers (tumour cells and DNA in the bloodstream) builds on evidence from research at Peter Mac showing that some lung cancers might spread during treatment with radiotherapy that would otherwise be curative. This study will help identify cancer patients at high risk of secondary cancers and could allow us to modify treatments to prevent them.
The TOPGEAR Trial; Trial Of Preoperative Therapy For Gastric And Esophagogastric Junction Adenocarcinoma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,974,558.00
Summary
While surgery to remove gastric (stomach) cancer has been traditionally accepted as the only way to potentially cure the disease, there have been several recent advances using chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy both before and after surgery. However doctors' opinions remain divided regarding the best treatments to give and in what order. This randomised clinical trial will address the important question of whether combined chemotherapy plus radiotherapy is more effective than chemotherapy alone in ....While surgery to remove gastric (stomach) cancer has been traditionally accepted as the only way to potentially cure the disease, there have been several recent advances using chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy both before and after surgery. However doctors' opinions remain divided regarding the best treatments to give and in what order. This randomised clinical trial will address the important question of whether combined chemotherapy plus radiotherapy is more effective than chemotherapy alone in improving cure rates for stomach cancer.Read moreRead less
Improving Patient Safety In Radiation Therapy With The Watchdog Real-time Treatment Delivery Verification System
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$593,742.00
Summary
Radiation therapy is a highly effective cancer treatment with extremely high doses delivered using very complex treatment machines. Unfortunately errors have occurred resulting in cases of patient death and mistreatment. We have developed a novel method to assess the treatment delivery in real-time to prevent errors. The method uses imaging devices that are already present on the treatment machine meaning that this method could have a major impact on patient safety in modern radiation therapy.
Biofocussed Prostate Cancer RadioTherapy (BiRT): A Personalised Approach To Delivering The Right Dose To The Right Place
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$753,565.00
Summary
We propose a new approach to treating prostate cancer with radiotherapy to move from the standard whole prostate treatment to a personalised treatment that varies radiation intensity throughout the prostate. We will mathematically combine features that influence radiotherapy effect from advanced imaging, clinical and biopsy information. This model will map out the radiotherapy dose required at each part of the prostate, to maximise killing of the cancer whilst minimising harm to normal tissue
Randomised Phase III Trial Of Adjuvant Radiotherapy Versus Observation Following Breast Conserving Surgery And Endocrine Therapy In Patients With Molecularly Characterised Low-risk Luminal A Early Breast Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$4,087,188.00
Summary
Radiotherapy after surgery for early breast cancer decreases recurrence but its benefit varies. Thus, it is important to identify low-risk patients who are unlikely to benefit from radiotherapy, sparing them its toxicity and costs. We propose a randomised study to investigate if patients whose breast cancer is postulated to be low-risk based on PAM50 (a 50-gene test) may safely omit radiotherapy after surgery. If successful, these patients will be able to avoid the risks of over-treatment.
DOCetaxel With Or Without Radiation Therapy For Resectable Oesophageal Adenocarcinoma Based On Early PET Response To Induction Chemotherapy (DOCTOR).
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,024,738.00
Summary
Oesophageal cancer continues to have poor survival despite surgery. Patients responding to pre-operative chemotherapy have better survival than those who do not. This study proposes using early FDG-PET scan to identify patients not responding to standard chemotherapy. This will permit the timely change of therapy to alternative regimens with a newer agent with or without radiotherapy, aiming to improve outcomes. This represents a paradigm shift in the management of oesophageal cancer.