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Peter Mac is presenting research that is changing cancer clinical practice at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting in Chicago.
ASCO attracts over 34,000 health professionals each year and 29 research projects conducted at Peter Mac are being presented at this prestigious conference.
A simple blood test saving colon cancer patients from chemotherapy
A new blood test that looks for circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA – genetic material from cancer cells that has leaked into the blood) in colon cancer patients post-surgery is being used to determine who will need chemotherapy.
Associate Professor Jeanne Tie, lower gastrointestinal medical oncology and trials lead presented the results of the DYNAMIC trial which showed a simple blood test could spare colon cancer patients from chemotherapy.
The DYNAMIC trial tested if a person could be spared chemotherapy if ctDNA was not present in a colon cancer patient’s blood test four to seven weeks after surgery.
The results indicated that ctDNA is very effective at guiding whether ongoing chemotherapy is necessary post colon cancer surgery and can potentially spare many patients from unnecessary treatment.
New treatment for lymphoma patients
Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients have new hope with a treatment called glofitimab producing remarkable results in patients that have been treated with an average of three prior therapies.
Associate Professor Michael Dickinson, Lead of the Aggressive Lymphoma Disease Group within Clinical Haematology, presented the positive results and said: "I'm encouraged by these data as they signify new hope for these patients who otherwise have limited effective treatment options and have faced disappointment from not responding to multiple rounds of treatments.
"These glofitamab data suggest that patients may be able to achieve durable responses with a set course of treatment that they don’t have to take continuously until disease progression."
Solid tumours with a DNA fusion achieve good treatment response
Patients with a rare genetic mutation called NRG1 can achieve good results from a new treatment called seribantumab. Usually people that have this genetic mutation do not respond well to conventional treatments so it is exciting to have a new treatment option for them.
Associate Professor Jayesh Desai, Medical Oncologist said: "We've been very pleased to be directly involved with this clinical trial with seribantumab, a novel agent that targets a molecular switch in cancers known as NRG1.
"We have managed to work together collaboratively within Australia through the MoST program to test and identify patients with NRG1 fusions in their cancer, as part of this important international trial."
A biomarker is helping identify people that will respond to adavodertib
A biomarker cyclin E1 protein expression, is effective in identifying patients that may have a higher response rate to treatment with adavosertib.
The trial was the first of its kind to select patients based on the expression of cyclin E1 and was led by medical oncologist Dr George Au-Yeung from the Peter Mac.
Further cancer trial results
Peter Mac researchers also showcased research in the disease areas of breast cancer, sarcoma, melanoma and prostate cancer to name a few.
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A unique live comedy show - open for one night only in Melbourne - will feature a group of first-time comedians drawn solely from Peter Mac’s community of patients, carers and staff.
“Stand-Up for Cancer” is an initiative of Peter Mac’s Wellbeing Program that will support participants to share their cancer and related experiences in a completely different way.
Participants will develop a five-minute stand-up comedy routine during a workshop led by Australian comedian Rachel Berger. Hours later they’ll deliver their material before a live audience.
Director of Prevention & Wellbeing Geri McDonald said after some tough pandemic years it was an opportunity for fun, and the workshop and comedy event would have many other benefits for those involved.
“Everybody responds to cancer differently. For some people, humour is an attractive way to process what’s happening and they want to explore new ways of talking about their cancer experience,” Ms McDonald says.
“This workshop supports Peter Mac patients, carers and staff to investigate humour as a mechanism for processing and communicating about their cancer, with expert guidance.”
Dr Maria Ftanou, Director of Psychosocial Oncology at Peter Mac, says humour can play a role in relieving stress and anxiety for patients, and could lead to better healthcare outcomes.
“A growing body of evidence in oncology suggests that for some people, humour relieves stress, reduces anxiety, facilitates improved communication with health care professionals, builds social connections and is an important strategy used to cope with the ups and downs of cancer and its treatments,” Dr Ftanou says.
Rachel Berger has been a stand-up comedian for over 30 years. Rachel will help the group to leverage the craft of storytelling, understand what makes them funny, and how to put their experiences through a comic lens.
“It’s about harnessing the transformative power of stand-up comedy to empower, to find a voice and connection through common experiences,” Ms Berger says.
The event will be held from 7pm on Thursday 7 July at Peter Mac (305 Grattan Street, Melbourne), in the Level 7 lecture theatre. Tickets are available for purchase at: www.petermac.org/events/stand-cancer.
Please note the comedy event is recommended for people aged 18+ years as language and themes may not be suitable for children.
Proceeds will support the Wellbeing Centre – which is a supportive, patient-led program at Peter Mac where patients and carers can access services such as oncology massage, art therapy, meditation and system navigation, as well as information, and emotional and physical support.
Contacts:
For more information contact the Peter Mac Communications team on 0417 123 048.
About Peter Mac
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre is a world-leading cancer research, education and treatment centre and Australia’s only public health service solely dedicated to caring for people affected by cancer.
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Researchers have developed a new blood test that could revolutionise how chemotherapy is used for colon cancer, by identifying the patients that need chemo and those that can be safely spared treatment.
More than 450 patients and over 20 hospitals from across Australia were involved in the DYNAMIC trial, which investigated the blood test as a promising aid to cancer treatment decision-making.
The study – co-led by WEHI and the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Centre in the US, and with the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre as the lead clinical site – found the test could accurately predict which patients would benefit from chemotherapy after their cancer is surgically removed.
Stage II colon cancer is defined as a cancer that has grown through the wall of the colon, but does not extend to the lymph nodes or other organs. Nearly 4,000 Australians are diagnosed with it each year.
While most patients with stage II colon cancer are cured after surgery to remove the cancer from the bowel, the cancer will recur in around 20 per cent of patients.
Chemotherapy is currently offered to all stage II colon cancer patients despite a majority not needing it.
The goal of chemotherapy when given after surgery is to eradicate micrometastases – cancer cells that have travelled from the original cancer in the bowel through the bloodstream to deposit in another site, such as the liver.
These deposits of cancer cells are miniscule and are not seen at surgery or on radiologic images during the initial stages. However, they will gradually increase in size and become large enough to be seen on a standard CT scan if they are not treated with chemotherapy.
Associate Professor Jeanne Tie – a medical oncologist at Peter Mac and a clinician scientist at WEHI – was part of the team developing the blood test.
The test can detect these invisible cells that release tiny amounts of circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) – genetic material shed from tumours into the bloodstream, enabling researchers to identify which patients should be offered chemotherapy based on whether micrometastases has been detected.
"Our trial has conclusively shown how the ctDNA blood test can be used to direct post-surgical therapy in stage II colon cancer and substantially reduce the number of patients treated with chemotherapy, without impacting the risk of cancer relapse," Associate Professor Tie said.
"We found that when a patient's blood test does not reveal ctDNA after colon surgery, the likelihood of micrometastases is very low and chemotherapy can be avoided as there are no tumour fragments left to kill."
The findings, published in The New England Journal of Medicine over the weekend, are globally significant as previously there was no way of determining whether all the cancer had been removed through colon surgery.
“While chemotherapy can be essential and lifesaving, many patients are receiving the treatment and its associated toxicities without any benefit,” Associate Professor Tie said.
“This ctDNA blood test could be used to spare around 600 Australians and over 100,000 people worldwide from unnecessary chemo treatments each year.”
Lead image: Sangharsh Lohakare, Unsplash
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Two exceptional Peter Mac staff have been nationally recognised for their services to medicine and medical research.
Peter Mac's Chief Medical Officer Dr David Speakman received the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to medicine, particularly cancer treatment.
Medical oncologist and researcher Professor Clare Scott received was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to medicine, particularly cancer treatment.
Dr Speakman has over 20 years' experience as a breast, skin and melanoma specialist and surgeon. Many Peter Mac patients and families will recognise Dr Speakman, who has been Chief Medical Officer since 2013 and as a clinician is deeply dedicated to patient-centred care and a strong connection between clinicians, patients, their families.
He is the Chair of Breast Screen Victoria’s Quality and Accreditation Committee, and a member of the Clinical Oncology Society of Australia (COSA) Council representing both melanoma and surgical oncology groups. Dr Speakman also remains actively involved in teaching programs for medical, nursing, and allied health students of all levels.
In addition to her work at Peter Mac, Professor Scott also practises as a medical oncologist at the Royal Melbourne and Royal Women's Hospitals, is Professor of Gynaecological Cancer at the University of Melbourne, Chairs the Australia New Zealand Oncology Group (ANZOG), and leads and ovarian cancer focused research laboratory at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute (WEHI).
Peter Mac Chief Executive Professor Shelley Dolan extended her congratulations, "On behalf of all Peter Mac staff, patients and families, I thank you both for your outstanding dedication to care and research. Peter Mac is so fortunate to benefit from your deep expertise and intellect."
Other Queen's Birthday Honour recipients in the medical field included former Australian Chief Health Officer Dr Brendan Murphy and Cancer Council Victoria CEO Todd Harper. NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant, former QLD Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young, and epidemiologist Professor Mary-Louise McLaws from UNSW were also recognised, for their service throughout the pandemic.
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Brian Le has been appointed to the position of Honorary Clinical Professor in both the Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology and the Department of Medicine – Royal Melbourne Hospital at the University of Melbourne.
Professor Le is a palliative care physician and medical oncologist, and is Precinct Director of Palliative Care at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre (appointed 2016) and at The Royal Melbourne Hospital (appointed 2008).
Brian's period of leadership of the Precinct Palliative Care Service has been hallmarked by significant service expansion to become a leading service provider in Australia with a national and international reputation for quality and service innovation, and one of the largest training sites for palliative medicine in Australia.
The clinical services have grown substantially to currently an EFT of over 60 specialist physicians, nurses and allied health staff, providing care to over 1,000 new inpatients and over 1,200 outpatients per year, with recent significant government investment to develop, evaluate and facilitate broader statewide translation of novel services to the Victorian population.
This includes establishment of the first outreach rapid palliative care assessment service in 2016, a model which has now been funded and implemented across Victoria, and in 2020, funding to establish and operate the unique inaugural Victorian statewide Palliative Care Advice Service. He also led the opening of the Palliative Care Unit at The Royal Melbourne Hospital in 2009, and the first Inpatient Palliative Care Unit at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in 2020.
Alongside his fulltime clinical and service leadership responsibilities, Brian has established a productive and vibrant research program. He has a career total of over 95 publications, with numerous outputs in the top-ranked journals in this emerging and highly specialised field. He is currently a chief investigator for an NHMRC Clinical Trials Grant and a chief investigator on a current NHMRC MRFF research grant, exploring the early integration of palliative care into advanced cancer care. In total, he is a chief investigator for research funding of $4.2 million ($3.1 million in the last five years) and associate investigator for a further $4 million (career total $8.2 million).
Brian has held numerous committee roles providing advice to government and community organisations. He was appointed by the Minister to the Victorian Clinical Council and held past roles advising the Commonwealth and New South Wales Health. He is co-Chair of the Palliative Care Clinical Studies Collaborative, the largest and highest impact cooperative research group in palliative care worldwide, and previous deputy Chair of the Scientific Advisory Committee, Cancer Symptom Trials Group of Cancer Australia. He is a previous Chair of Palliative Care Victoria, the peak body representing all Victorian palliative care services to government and the community.
Brian has throughout his career demonstrated his dedication to professional learning and teaching. He has made significant contributions to curriculum development and creation of teaching resources for three current University of Melbourne programs in palliative care, including the current teaching of palliative medicine in the Melbourne MD, palliative care content development as part of the Master of Cancer Sciences, and content and teaching as part of the Specialist Certificate in Palliative Care since its inception in 2008.
He has held several roles with the Royal Australasian College of Physicians including as Chair of the Training Committee for Palliative Medicine, responsible for the training and certification of all specialists in palliative medicine across Australia and New Zealand.