Development Of A Transdiagnostic Intervention For Patients With Cancer Experiencing Anxiety In The Context Of Ongoing Uncertainty
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$72,768.00
Summary
Surprisingly little work has been done to explain how anxiety develops and persists in patients with cancer. A model was recently developed to explain how fears of cancer recurrence develop and persist, which led to a new intervention. This study proposes to extend that work for patients with ongoing cancer threat or poor prognosis. The proposed study will develop a model of cancer-related anxiety and develop and test an intervention for anxiety in cancer patients with ongoing uncertainty.
NY-ESO-1 Expression As An Inducible Chemosensitivity Marker
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$113,237.00
Summary
Immunotherapy is a new concept treatment for lung cancer. Cancer testis antigen (CTA, eg NY-ESO-1) is an immunogenic molecule that was related with poor outcomes, but our recent studies have found that tumours that express NY-ESO-1 are more responsive to chemotherapy. We are also able to induce expression of NY-ESO-1 in cells that do not normally express it using demethylating agents. We aim to determine if we can increase the response to chemotherapy by using these drugs in combination.
Optimising Cooperative Group Cancer Clinical Trials In The Era Of Molecularly Targeted Treatments
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$55,778.00
Summary
Cancer treatments are tested in trials to ensure that they are effective and safe for use. Recently treatments have been developed that act on newly discovered pathways of cancer growth. I aim to research the way cancer clinical trials are designed and evaluate ways to improve them. This will help to ensure cancer medicines are brought into clinical use as efficiently as possible in this new era of drug treatment.
Personalised Treatment In Melanoma: Matching Optimal Drug Therapies For Individual Patients To Improve Survival.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$132,743.00
Summary
The best treatment for melanoma currently is immunotherapy. However, most patients become resistant to immunotherapy after an initial response. When this occurs, patients are treated with new medications, often in a clinical trial. Unfortunately, doctors cannot predict if a patient is going to respond to a particular new treatment. This project will study the makeup of individual melanomas and use this to recommend which new treatment is most likely to work for the patient.
Is Integrated Geriatric Care Effective In Older Adults With Metastatic Cancer Receiving First Line Chemotherapy?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$119,538.00
Summary
INTEGERATE looks at a coordinated program called integrated geriatric care to better support older people who are having chemotherapy for cancer which has spread (metastatic cancer). Doctors often treat metastatic cancer with chemotherapy. But older people are more vulnerable to problems from chemotherapy and cancer due to other health problems, trouble with doing things and their social circumstances. The researchers want to learn whether integrated geriatric care helps older people having chem ....INTEGERATE looks at a coordinated program called integrated geriatric care to better support older people who are having chemotherapy for cancer which has spread (metastatic cancer). Doctors often treat metastatic cancer with chemotherapy. But older people are more vulnerable to problems from chemotherapy and cancer due to other health problems, trouble with doing things and their social circumstances. The researchers want to learn whether integrated geriatric care helps older people having chemotherapy for metastatic cancer.Read moreRead less
Overcoming Radiation Resistance In Glioblastoma With Novel Metabolic Modulations
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$62,554.00
Summary
Aim 1 is to document the pathological, surgical, radiotherapy and chemotherapy patterns of care in the Australian setting using the AGOG (Australian Genomics and Clinical Outcomes of Glioma) database. The second aim to develop non-invasive imaging biomarkers which can be used to monitor treatment efficacy. The third aim is to improve outcomes using drug and radiation combination therapy. in the treatment of high grade gliomas.
Assessing And Optimising Anti-Cancer Drug Utilisation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$128,224.00
Summary
Cancer is increasingly common in Australia and often treated with expensive drugs tested in idealised settings within clinical trials. It is vital to collect real world data about how cancer treatments are used in Australia. This research will use routinely collected health care data to determine how anti-cancer drugs are used in the real world, how effective they are in treating cancer, and identify areas for improvement to promote effe ctive, appropriate and equitable use of anti-cancer drugs.
An Exploration Of The Nature And Meaning Of Informal Communities In Cancer Treatment
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$92,745.00
Summary
The interactions that occur in cancer treatment with other patients, family members and staff are often unavoidable. Recent research examining patient's interactions has demonstrated the importance of these communications, as social support, a forum to exchange information and ideas, and a gathering of people facing the same challenges. This study aims to examine the role of these interactions between patients, staff and family members to explore the purposes and effects of these interactions.
Prospective Clinical Research Of Radiation Response To High-dose Radiotherapy In Lung Tumours And Surrounding Normal Tissue Using Functional Imaging Biomarker Assessments
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$120,275.00
Summary
Radiotherapy is a potentially curative treatment for cancers of the lung. To improve outcomes, modern research efforts have focussed on radiotherapy dose escalation. However a major limitation to dose escalation is the associated toxicity to the lung. At present, the mechanisms of lung toxicity are incompletely understood. This research will investigate biomarkers of radiation response in patients receiving high-dose radiotherapy to the lung by using state-of-the-art scanning techniques.