A Randomised Controlled Trial Comparing Intraoperative To Conventional Radiotherapy In Women With Early Beast Cancer.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$874,046.00
Summary
With the advent of breast screening in Australia many women are diagnosed with small low risk cancers that can be treated with breast conserving therapy with good outcomes. Surgery and radiotherapy in this situation are used to minimise the risk of local recurrence. It is now being questioned whether we can tailor radiotherapy to suit individual patients rather than recommending the daily 6-7 weeks of standard external beam radiotherapy to all patients. This trial aims to answer this question as ....With the advent of breast screening in Australia many women are diagnosed with small low risk cancers that can be treated with breast conserving therapy with good outcomes. Surgery and radiotherapy in this situation are used to minimise the risk of local recurrence. It is now being questioned whether we can tailor radiotherapy to suit individual patients rather than recommending the daily 6-7 weeks of standard external beam radiotherapy to all patients. This trial aims to answer this question as a new device which can deliver radiotherapy intraoperatively in a single session has now been tested and proven safe to use in the breast. The main objective of this trial is to demonstrate that a single dose of radiotherapy delivered intraoperatively (IORT) gives an equivalent local control rate to standard external beam radiotherapy in women with early low risk breast cancer who are suitable for breast conserving therapy. Other objectives include comparing the two treatments with respect to; disease-free-overall survival, cosmetic outcome, patient satisfaction-preference, quality of life and cost benefit. If the study finds that IORT alone after breast conserving surgery is as effective in achieving local control as standard external beam radiotherapy, a major benefit to patients would be shorter treatment duration by avoiding the 6-7 weeks of standard radiotherapy. A reduction in the number of early breast cancer patients requiring access to standard radiotherapy would also benefit treatment centres and other cancer patients by reducing the waiting times for radiotherapy. Consumer groups have supported the concept from the beginning and there has been recent increase in level of support by originally unsupportive groups. Of great significance is this trial offers an opportunity to formally investigate the efficacy of delivering IORT in the safe confines of a clinical trial, before allowing it to become a standard treatment which is occurring in other countries.Read moreRead less
A Multi-Centre Feasibility Study Of Online Adaptive Image Guided Radiotherapy For Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$580,152.00
Summary
Many studies have shown that the bladder can move, change in size and shape through a course of radiation therapy. As shown in a pilot study, with the online adaptive radiotherapy technique trained staff can daily match the radiation fields to the bladder position and size using a type of CT scan. Potential benefits are better cancer coverage with improved cancer control and less normal tissue irradiation. This study will determine if the technique will work across multiple Australian centres.
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.
Enhancing The Anti-Cancer Immune Response By Combining Radiotherapy And Immunotherapy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$265,138.00
Summary
Lung cancer is the biggest cause of cancer related death in Australia. Recently, immune therapies have shown promise by unlocking the body’s own defenses to fight against lung cancer. I aim to maximise the effect of the anti-PD-1 immune therapy by ‘kick-starting’ the immune response with high-precision stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR). By completing clinical trials and biological research into the combination of therapies I hope to improve outcomes for patients with lung cancer.
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
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
Translating Synchrotron Microbeam Radiation Therapy Into A Clinical Reality For Cancer Patients
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$337,896.00
Summary
The aim of this project is to translate an experimental radiotherapy technique, known as microbeam radiotherapy, into a clinical reality for the benefit of cancer patients world-wide. I propose to achieve this aim by working at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) in France. The ESRF is Europe’s most powerful synchrotron light source, where a multi-disciplinary team of scientists and physicians are collaborating to treat the first human cancer patients with synchrotron radiation.
A Randomised Trial Of Surgery Versus Surgery Plus Radiotherapy For Regional Control In Patients With Stage 3 Melanoma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$305,163.00
Summary
Melanoma is a common disease in Australia. When it has spread to lymph glands it has a poor prognosis. If not controlled it can lead to severe local symptoms including pain, bleeding and disabilty. This is a world first clinical trial involving radiotherapy given after surgery for melanoma involving regional lymph glands. It involves a head to head comparison of surgery alone versus surgery followed by radiotherapy. The target is 230 patients, more than 160 being so far recruited. The main outco ....Melanoma is a common disease in Australia. When it has spread to lymph glands it has a poor prognosis. If not controlled it can lead to severe local symptoms including pain, bleeding and disabilty. This is a world first clinical trial involving radiotherapy given after surgery for melanoma involving regional lymph glands. It involves a head to head comparison of surgery alone versus surgery followed by radiotherapy. The target is 230 patients, more than 160 being so far recruited. The main outcome of the study is control of melanoma in the lymph gland basin. Other outcomes are survival, time to recurrence, side-effects (such as lymphoedema) and quality of life. The trial currently involves 13 centres in Australia, New Zealand and the Netherlands. It is expects to be completed in 2007.Read moreRead less