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
Optimal Duration Of Neoadjuvant Androgen Deprivation Therapy In Localised Prostate Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$275,000.00
Summary
Each year approximately 8000 men in Australia and New Zealand develop prostate cancer which has not spread widely and which is amenable to attempted cure by surgery or radiation. Prostate cancer depends for its growth on the male hormone, testosterone, which circulates in the blood. As a result treatment which reduces testosterone level ('androgen deprivation' [AD] therapy) can produce shrinkage of prostate cancer. In fact AD has caused temporary but valued relief to millions of men with cancer ....Each year approximately 8000 men in Australia and New Zealand develop prostate cancer which has not spread widely and which is amenable to attempted cure by surgery or radiation. Prostate cancer depends for its growth on the male hormone, testosterone, which circulates in the blood. As a result treatment which reduces testosterone level ('androgen deprivation' [AD] therapy) can produce shrinkage of prostate cancer. In fact AD has caused temporary but valued relief to millions of men with cancer of the prostate that has spread throughout the body for the last five decades, worldwide. It remains uncertain however whether AD administered before surgery or radiation will benefit any of the 8000 men each year who develop localised cancer by shrinking the cancer first. In 1996 a trial involving 800 men across Australia and New Zealand commenced under the auspices of the Trans-Tasman Radiation Oncology Group (TROG) to answer the questions: 1 - Does either 3 or 6 months AD prior to radiotherapy reduce the chances of recurrence of the cancer after radiotherapy? 2 - Does such therapy reduce the volume of tissue requiring radiotherapy and hence the chances of long term side effects after radiotherapy? This grant will support collection of follow-up information from the trial and hence answers to the questions asked.Read moreRead less
A Randomised Trial Of Preoperative Radiotherapy For Stage T3 Adenocarcinoma Of Rectum
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$521,220.00
Summary
The most appropriate management of locally advanced rectal cancer is controversial as evident by various treatment options available and used. It remains unclear whether pre-operative radiotherapy, and if so what form of therapy, is required for this group of patients. The first aim of this trial is to see whether a long course of radiotherapy with chemotherapy is superior to a short course of radiotherapy. The second aim is to see whether the advantage of pre-operative radiotherapy remains with ....The most appropriate management of locally advanced rectal cancer is controversial as evident by various treatment options available and used. It remains unclear whether pre-operative radiotherapy, and if so what form of therapy, is required for this group of patients. The first aim of this trial is to see whether a long course of radiotherapy with chemotherapy is superior to a short course of radiotherapy. The second aim is to see whether the advantage of pre-operative radiotherapy remains with modern surgical technique. Colorectal cancer is the commonest cancer in Australia and local recurrence leads to severe morbidity with no effective treatment for permanent control. It is important, therefore, to establish treatment regimens that will minimize the risk of local recurrence and it will be significant if this trial can establish that pre-operative radiotherapy can achieve this with minimal toxicity. The quality of life associated with each of the three arms of the trial has not been adequately addressed and will be studied here. The result of this trial will influence designs of future trials if one or other of the pre-operative regimens is shown to be effective. The two regimens, Short Course and Long Course , represent opposing philosophies: minimize the overall treatment time (2 weeks from start of radiotherapy to surgery) to avoid accelerated repopulation versus give more intensive therapy and utilise the sensitising effect from 5-FU on radiotherapy to obtain greater tumour cell kill probability. If one regimen proves more effective than the other, the design of future trials and the way of thinking about the biology will be influenced. There may be implications for the cost of treatment of this disease: Long Course is much about five times more expensive to deliver than Short Ccourse.Read moreRead less
Radiotherapy Vs Chemotherapy For Low-grade Gliomas Stratified For Genetic 1p Loss: Efficacy And Quality Of Life Benefits
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$410,316.00
Summary
Low-grade glioma is an uncommon malignant brain tumour. Surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy delay growth of this tumour, but cure is uncommon. Currently the goal of treatment is to control tumour growth for as long as possible whilst maintaining quality of life. This study compares treatment with radiotherapy with a new form of chemotherapy to see which treatment controls tumour growth most effectively, which produces the least side effects and which results in the better quality of life.
Genetic And Epigenetic Mechanisms Determining Responses To Therapies In Non-small Cell Lung Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$22,677.00
Summary
Lung cancer results in more cancer related deaths than any other cancer. The aim of this study is to identify prognostic and predictive markers for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with chemotherapy, palliative radiotherapy and also novel targeted agents. This will help to better utilise these treatments and hopefully improve outcomes in patients with NSCLC.
New methods to improve regional isotope therapy of liver tumours in cancer patients. The most common cause of death in cancer patients is secondary tumours in vital organs. Successful treatment of liver tumours with regional isotope therapy now offers improved survival rates. This project will research novel radiolabelled nanoparticles and advanced computer imaging algorithms to improve regional isotope therapy of liver tumours. It will provide better methods of objective assessment and manageme ....New methods to improve regional isotope therapy of liver tumours in cancer patients. The most common cause of death in cancer patients is secondary tumours in vital organs. Successful treatment of liver tumours with regional isotope therapy now offers improved survival rates. This project will research novel radiolabelled nanoparticles and advanced computer imaging algorithms to improve regional isotope therapy of liver tumours. It will provide better methods of objective assessment and management that can reduce risk and improve patient survival.Read moreRead less
Therapeutic Strategies In Epithelial Cancer Through Signalling Inhibition Of The Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$136,250.00
Summary
The growth of cancer cells is regulated by many factors, including the presence of growth receptors on the surface of cancer cells. The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is present in some normal tissues, but is highly expressed on many common cancers, including brain, breast, lung, head and neck, colon and prostate cancer. We are developing a number of potential therapeutic compounds that act by inhibiting the EGFR in cancer cells. These compounds include a novel monoclonal antibody that ....The growth of cancer cells is regulated by many factors, including the presence of growth receptors on the surface of cancer cells. The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is present in some normal tissues, but is highly expressed on many common cancers, including brain, breast, lung, head and neck, colon and prostate cancer. We are developing a number of potential therapeutic compounds that act by inhibiting the EGFR in cancer cells. These compounds include a novel monoclonal antibody that binds to EGFR and inhibits its function, and a small molecule that binds to a portion of the EGFR inside cancer cells and also inhibits function. Both of these compounds prevent tumour growth in laboratory studies. This project will examine the mechanisms of action of these compounds, and explore ways to improve their anti-cancer effect. We have also shown that combining these compounds with other therapeutics eg chemotherapy markedly enhances their anti-cancer effect. We will further examine the mechanisms of these effects, and also determine if radiotherapy has additive anti-cancer effects. These studies will provide a basis for improved therapies for cancers overexpressing the EGFR.Read moreRead less