Current and Past Research Projects
Principal Investigators: A/Prof R Stuart-Harris, The Canberra Hospital and Prof D Byrne, The Australian National University
Grant Awarded: 2003-06, $66,000 over 3 years
Project Title: Coping Styles and Severity of Toxicity from Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Early Breast Cancer
We recently completed our research which aimed to investigate the way in which coping affected the levels of anxiety, depression and side effects experienced by women undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy for early breast or colo-rectal cancer.
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Principal Investigator: Ms N. Druhan-McGinn - commissioned by The Cancer Council ACT
Grant Awarded: 2004-06, $31,243 over 2 years
Project Title: Towards a cancer prevention program for the ACT and SE NSW region. A background paper and mapping exercise.
Primary prevention has the most potential to improve cancer control in the ACT and SENSW region by saving lives and reducing future health care costs. Estimates suggest between one-third to one-half of all cancers are potentially preventable. The population of the ACT and SENSW region is ageing, and the number of new cancers diagnosed in the region is expected to increase by nearly 60% by the year 2032, if there is no change to current risk behaviours.
The prevention project addresses key areas for action outlined by The Cancer Council Australia’s National Cancer Prevention Policy 2004–06:
- Tobacco
- UV Radiation
- Physical Activity
- Nutrition and Diet
- Overweight and Obesity
- Alcohol
Within each action area the following issues have been addressed: the link between the risk factor and cancer, the impact of the risk factor on current and future cancer incidence in the region (projected to 2032), review the evidence for and features of effective interventions, a mapping of relevant national and local initiatives, and finally a series of recommendations will provide a framework for action with specific actions for The Cancer Council ACT. The recommendations include opportunities for collaboration with common stakeholders in the cardiovascular and diabetes fields, without losing the cancer element of the message.
The project has been completed in a draft form and is currently undergoing a peer review. Publication is expected later in the year.
Principal Investigators: Dr D Yip, Dr P Craft, A/Prof R Stuart-Harris, Dr D Leong, Dr A Davis, The Canberra Hospital
Grant Awarded: 2005-06, $33,700
Project Title: A clinical trials cancer research program in the ACT
The Canberra Hospital Medical Oncology Unit has continued clinical trial activities with the support of The Cancer Council ACT. Four Clinical Trial Coordinators are currently employed by the Unit to collect data and look after patients who enrol onto the studies. Funding is obtained through sponsorships from pharmaceutical companies for commercial studies, charitable donations and research grants; but not through the hospital. The department has formed links with a number of national collaborative research groups for the conduct of multicentre studies. These groups include: the Australasian Gastrointestinal Trials Group (AGITG), Australian and New Zealand Gynaecological Oncology Group (ANZGOG), the Australian and New Zealand Breast Cancer Study Group (ANZBCSG) and the Australian Lung Trials Group (ALTG).
The results of important studies that The Canberra Hospital has contributed to over the last 5 years have led to expanded indications for the following oncology drugs: oxaliplatin (Eloxatin), letrozole (Femara), docetaxel (Taxotere) and trastuzumab (Herceptin). Further trials conducted here have led to the registration of new drugs such as zoledronate (Zometa), pemetrexed (Alimta), erlotinib (Tarceva), sorafenib and sunitinib (Stutent). Patients participating on these clinical trials have benefited through early access to these agents prior to licensing. The wider availability of these drugs has made significant improvements to survival and quality of life of cancer sufferers.
The following is a list of current studies or studies in follow-up conducted at the Canberra Hospital that are supported in part by TCCACT grant:
Current studies:
A feasibility study of patient-initiated outpatient management of febrile neutropenia.
ESPAC –3: Phase III trial comparing 5FU and folinic acid versus gemcitabine in patients with resected pancreatic cancer.
SOFT: A Phase III trial evaluating the role of ovarian function suppression and the role of exemestane as adjuvant therapies for pre-menopausal women with endocrine responsive breast cancer.
Studies in follow-up:
ANZGOG 02 01: A phase II trial of weekly docetaxel (Taxotere) for patients with relapsed ovarian cancer who have previously received paclitaxel.
BIG 1-98: Randomised double blind phase III study of letrozole versus tamoxifen as adjuvant endocrine therapy in postmenopausal women with receptor positive breast cancer.
BIG2-98: Docetaxel sequentially or in combination with doxorubicin, followed by CMF (cyclophosphamide methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil), compared with doxorubicin alone or in combination with cyclophosphamide, followed by CMF, in the adjuvant treatment of node-positive breast cancer patients
BCIRG 005: A multicentre phase III randomized trial comparing docetaxel in combination with doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide (TAC) versus doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide followed by docetaxel (AC->T) as adjuvant treatment of operable breast cancer Her2neu negative patients with positive axillary lymph nodes.
BCIRG 006: Multicentre phase III randomized trial comparing doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide followed by docetaxel (AC->T) with doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide followed by docetaxel and trastuximab (AC->TH) and with docetaxel, platinum salt and trastuzumab (TCH) in the adjuvant treatment of node positive and high risk node negative patients with operable breast cancer containing the Her2neu alteration.
CO.17: Phase III randomised study of cetuximab (Erbutix, C225) and best supportive care versus best supportive care in patients with pretreated metastatic epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-positive colorectal carcinoma.
GOG0201: Phase II trial of weekly docetaxel (Taxotere) for patients with relapsed ovarian cancer who have previously received paclitaxel
VINCAP: Phase II Study of intravenous vinorelbine (Navelbine) + capecitabine (Xeloda) in patients with advanced breast cancer.
ZEST: A double blind controlled trial of Zoloft’s effects on symptoms and survival time in advanced cancer.
A full list of currently open clinical trials, research publications and activities are listed at this website http://health.act.gov.au/oncology under Medical Oncology Research.
Principal Investigator: Dr A Fahrer, The Australian National University
Grant Awarded: 2006-07, $42,500
Project Title: Understanding the role of Kleisin beta, a subunit of the condensin II complex, in T cell differentiation.
The research stems from discovering a mutant mouse strain called "nessy", which has abnormal T cells. T cells are white blood cells critical for fighting infections and cancers. After many years of work, we were able to identify the mutated gene causing the white blood cell problem. To our great surprise, the gene (called kleisin beta) is important for chromosome structure and for cell division. We were able to prove that a single mistake in this gene caused the abnormal T cell problem in nessy mice. The aim of our research work during the last year has been to identify exactly what was wrong with the T cells, and to start to understand how this single change in the kleisin beta gene causes these problems.
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