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International speaker, Dr Asad Umar from the National Cancer Institute, USA, presented his latest research at the MCCC, ASPREE and Monash University Seminar “The role of Aspirin and NSAIDs in cancer prevention” on 27th March.
Dr Umar's presentation discussed the evidence of Aspirins and Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) role in disease prevention, but most notably the clinical evidence of its use in cancer prevention.
“We have seen significant cancer risk reductions associated with the use of NSAIDs combined with dietary management.
“Our pre-clinical data is showing strong preventative signals for cancers such as colorectal and bladder, giving us an insight into its role towards reducing potential carcinogenesis " Dr Umar said.
In his recent studies, Dr Umar’s group showed a strong association of the use of aspirin to inflammatory driven cancers such as bladder, cervical, colorectal and colon, with aspirin users 40% less likely to develop colon cancer.
However they are still yet to determine the specific mechanisms influencing this outcome.
"Our observational studies on colorectal adenomas and polyps show indicative cancer prevention by NSAIDs, but we still need to asses randomised trials before we determine any possible targeted pathways" Dr Umar said.
A biochemist and immunologist, Dr Umar's main scientific interest is to understand the molecular pathways during gastrointestinal carcinogens and applying molecular targeted and immunologic interventions to prevent cancer.
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Minister for Health David Davis has announced the start of a new chapter in the way the Victorian Cancer Agency provides a dynamic and promising future for cancer research in Victoria.
“The Victorian Coalition Government is working to reduce the burden of cancer on the community by supporting our world leading cancer researchers,” Mr Davis said.
Monash Comprehensive Cancer Consortium (MCCC) welcomes the appointment of three of its members into the new Victorian Cancer Agency (VCA) Consultative Council which will be led by Professor Robert Thomas OAM.
Anna Kilgour, Chief Operating Officer for MCCC believes this new consultative council will benefit the already progressive work being produced by Victoria’s cancer research groups.
“MCCC’s partners and members will indirectly benefit from having such a diverse panel of experts assisting with the management of cancer research project funding.
“Over the next five years, a focus on cancer prevention and translational research outcomes will be vital to the health services and experience every Victorian cancer patient faces in the future”
“Groups such as MCCC will continue to work with the new Council to accelerate the growth of a new cancer research strategy for Victoria, and we look forward to seeing the efforts benefit everyone who is impacted by Cancer. “
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Cabrini, one of Victoria’s largest cancer treatment centres, has launched an innovative new breast cancer service called Brightways based at Cabrini Brighton.
“Brightways is a Cabrini initiative designed to provide our breast cancer patients with high quality, integrated, multidisciplinary cancer care*,” said David Nowell, General Manager of Cabrini Brighton, who spearheaded the service.
“Research indicates that the best cancer care is delivered via a multidisciplinary team approach where health professionals work together to plan treatment and care for individual patients.
“We place our patient at the centre of their care, coordinating all elements of breast cancer treatment around them, with a team of dedicated experts who remain with the patient throughout their treatment.
“The Brightways team includes breast surgeons, diagnostic experts, medical and radiation oncologists, plastic and reconstructive surgeons, specialist breast care nurses, specialist physiotherapists, social workers, psychologists, dieticians and rehabilitation specialists.”
A key point of difference is that under the Brightways model, all of the patient’s breast cancer treatment is coordinated via a dedicated Clinical Nurse Consultant. This position is held by Vicki Durston who has 20 years’ nursing experience and specialises in women’s health. Also, the service has been developed with the input of two former breast cancer patients, who participated in regular advisory group meetings, providing input to processes and patient materials.
Healthcare professionals and community groups have welcomed the new Brightways service, where many patients have been exposed to elements of the service since November 2012. Tracey Tobias, Manager of the Southern Melbourne Integrated Cancer Services, said Brightways is a positive initiative in the private health sector.
"It’s great to see a private health service take the initiative in developing a multidisciplinary, tumour-stream approach to the care of breast cancer patients – it is also pleasing that consumers were involved in its development to ensure the service is truly patient-centred."
First published cabrini.com.au
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A multiple myeloma blood cancer registry, the first of its kind in Australia and New Zealand, is being piloted at The Alfred, in conjunction with Monash University.
The head of malignant haematology and stem cell transplantation at The Alfred, Professor Andrew Spencer, said the registry has been activated at The Alfred, Peninsula Health and the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney, and it is hoped will expand to multiple other sites, following the pilot phase.
The registry was developed after a realisation that there was no correct data on myeloma in Australia, along with emerging evidence of substantial variations in therapy provided to patients with myeloma, which is causing varied outcomes.
"Multiple myeloma is one of the more common forms of blood cancer, and it's a real concern that some patients aren't being treated the way they should," Andrew explained.
"This registry is important because there is a lack of understanding of the incidence and outcomes of patients with this disease in Australia. The increasing complexity of its management means we need to understand patterns of care and why some patients are not being treated in an appropriate fashion.
"The registry will give us a handle on how many people there are with this disease, how each is being treated and will look differences in outcomes. Ultimately though, it's there as a resource for research."
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From 8 March 2013, Southern Health will be known as Monash Health after a recent name change to help the organization appropriately recognise their role in the delivery of high quality health services, research and clinical education. The name change took effect following an extensive consultation with board members and senior medical staff who believed that their current name did not reflect the significance of the organisation’s work in healthcare and research. The new name will build on several of Monash’s strong recognisable brands including Monash Children’s, MonashHeart, Monash Cancer Centre, Monash Health Foundation and Monash Doctors.
Monash Health believes this initiative will strengthen their reputation and continue to uphold their exceptional care and outstanding outcomes for its patients and the community. To view the new website visit www.monashhealth.org
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Professor Charles Swanton from the Translational Cancer Research Laboratories at University College London, presented his latest research at MCCC’s Seminar “Clinical Developments in Targeted Therapies” on 19 February. The seminar discussed targeted cancer therapies, cancer drug resistance and its critical impact upon quality of life, treatment failure and patient survival. Targeted cancer therapies are drugs or other substances that block the growth and spread of cancer by interfering with specific molecules involved in tumour growth and progression. By focusing on molecular and cellular changes that are specific to cancer, targeted cancer therapies may be more effective than other types of treatment, including chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and less harmful to normal cells.
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Cancer Australia in conjunction with Cancer Council Australia have recently announced they will support 38 new cancer research projects that are designed to support research that will have a direct impact on clinical practice, policy and patient outcomes. They have also just launched two new online multimedia resources to supply consumers, health professionals and cancer patients with the latest in research, new clinical trials and access to user-friendly tools. At the same time, Cancer Australia announced its new National Indigenous Cancer Network (NICaN) program designed to improve and provide better health services to Indigenous cancer patients.
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Dr Andrew Stephens and his team at Prince Henry’s Institute (PHI) are working in partnership with the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation to progress critical research needed to fight the disease and save the lives of the many women diagnosed each year. Dr Stephens and his team hope that identification of biomarkers may provide a basis for the development of a much-needed early detection test, as well as new targets for development of improved treatments.
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Dr Charbel Darido, from the Department of Medicine, Central Clinical School, Monash University, recently had the opportunity to attend the Keystone Symposia “Noncoding RNAs in Development and Cancer” after being awarded one of nine MCCC travel grants in 2012. In 2012 MCCC competitively awarded travel grants of up to $2,000 to early mid and late career cancer researchers, to support career development and promotion of high quality cancer research.
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The Cancer Council Australia recently released new clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of lung cancer which have been published in an electronic 'wiki' format to assist doctors and their patients make informed treatment choices based on the most current research available.
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Monash University are set to lead a national program designed to address predicted delays in access to radiation treatment due to increasing demand in an ageing population. The national education program for postgraduate radiation therapists aims to reduce the pressure on radiation oncologists, who prescribe radiation therapy, by up-skilling radiation therapists to become advanced practitioners.
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Monash’s Department of General Practice is currently working with Cancer Council Australia to develop a guide to assist GPs to manage people who have or may have lung cancer and support the early and rapid referral into the cancer care pathway.
Funded by Cancer Australia, the new guide is titled ‘Investigating Symptoms in Lung Cancer: A Guide for General Practitioners/Early Detection of Lung Cancer’, and will trial an innovative online approach to increase the availability and accessibility of evidence-based lung cancer information for health professionals.
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Prof Danielle Mazza and her team at Monash’s Department of General Practice developed an intervention that will increase the uptake of HPV vaccination in the general practice setting. It looked at increasing the uptake of the HPV vaccine in adult women (18-45 years old) in Australia.
Funded by GlaxoSmithKline, the study found as a result of a clinical audit, GPs practices show that once a HPV vaccination course is undertaken, there is an acceptable standard (over 90%) of immunisation of women in the 27-45 age group, however, on a whole there is a relatively low level of HPV vaccine uptake in women this age. A qualitative study of GP perceptions revealed a number of barriers to vaccine uptake, including insufficient research, low perceptions of HPV risk in this patient group, lack of patient interest and awareness, and time constraints within consultations.
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On Thursday, 25 October MCCC and SMICS hosted the inaugural 2012 Southern Melbourne Cancer Forum at the Hemisphere Conference Centre in Moorabbin. The forum was an opportunity for MCCC and SMICS to present a united report of selected projects that highlight some of the great cancer work being delivered within the Southern Melbourne region.
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Cancer Australia is pleased to announce the release of its 2011-2012 Annual Report. The Annual Report outlines the important milestones and achievements by Cancer Australia during 2011-2012 as it works to reduce the impact of cancer and improve the wellbeing of all people affected by cancer across Australia.
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On Thursday 19th October, Federal Health Minister Tanya Plibersek announced funding of $131.3 million towards cancer research through the National Health and Medical Research Council. Cancer research is the largest single investment by NHMRC with funding allocated to all categories, including genomics. NHMRC supports cancer research on the basis of quality of the research, with peer review of all grant applications. Researchers at MCCC’s partner organisations were awarded a total of $8.67M, which included project, program and career development fellowships.
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MCCC are delighted to announce its recent awardees of the MCCC 2012 Travel Grant Program.
Seven travel grants were awarded in total to its cancer researchers who were aligned with MCCC’s strategic program/projects, and who intended to travel to further develop their career.
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Researchers from Prince Henry’s Institute, Monash University and Walter and Eliza Hall may have discovered a way to protect female fertility during anti-cancer treatment. Published recently in the journal, Molecular Cell, the study involved investigating new strategies to protect the ovary and preserve fertility following radiation and chemotherapy through the inhibition of egg death. Using gene-targeted mouse models, it was found that elimination of the potent cell killers PUMA and NOXA protects eggs from radiation-induced death.
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On Monday 15th October, The Australian Cancer Research Foundation (ACRF) Centre for Cancer Genomic Medicine was officially opened yesterday by Minister for Regional Australia, Simon Crean.
The centre will accommodate a major genomics centre that will shape the future of cancer research and therapy at the Monash Health Translation Precinct (MHTP). MIMR Director Professor Bryan Williams said the new centre, funded by ACRF’s $1.6million grant, houses vital next-generation equipment providing researchers with the access to genetic profiles of specific cancers.
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Researchers from the Monash Institute of Medical Research may have discovered a way of blocking stomach tumours from growing and spreading, according to a paper published today in the highly-prestigious journal Cancer Cell, which is ranked in the top five science and medical research journals in the world, including Nature, Cell and Science. Stomach, or gastric, cancer is the second most lethal cancer in the world, and being one of the most aggressive forms of cancer it is also placed among the world’s top five cancers with the lowest survival rates.
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The Cancer Council Victoria has just released 'Cancer Survival 2012', a comprehensive report on survival for Victorians in 2006-2012.
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Enhanced cancer screening programs are considered to be a progressive step towards reducing the cancer mortality rate in Australia. However, recent studies have begun to question whether screening programs could detect cancers far too slow-growing to ever cause a problem, resulting in ‘over-diagnosis’ and the potential need for unnecessary treatment.
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MCCC’s August seminar, ‘Breast Cancer Screening: Exploring the Latest Developments and Research Opportunities’ provided an insight into the breast screening program, including the latest digital screening and diagnostic technologies. Podcast of this seminar is now available for downloading.
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Prince Henry's Ovarian Cancer Biomarkers laboratory is investigating different facets of ovarian tumour pathogenesis. The research aims to translate these findings to both improve understanding of ovarian cancer and identify new ways to diagnose and treat patients.
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On 30 July, members of SMICS, MDT leaders and others gathered to celebrate the official launch of the Alfred’s newly refurbished MDT meeting room – the first of several MDT meeting rooms that are being upgraded across Southern Melbourne’s clinical services.
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A PSA test is a common blood test used by doctors to assess whether an individual has prostate cancer. It can also predict the risk of developing prostate cancer sometime in the future. The blood test has not proven to be 100% accurate and there is an increased risk of cancer involved as the levels of PSA rise in the blood tested. However, Monash University Urologist A/Prof Mark Frydenberg believes the accuracy of the tests have improved by looking at the rate the PSA rises every year as well as modifying the interpretation of the results in accordance with the age of the patient, and measuring additional modifications of PSA.
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Researchers from the Monash Institute of Medical Research and the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre found some breast cancer cells can turn off a signal that causes the immune system to attack them.
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MCCC's Interim Research Director, Professor
Gail Risbridger and leading urologist
Associate Professor Mark Frydenberg,
will lead a five-year clinical research program
on prostate cancer at Monash, after the EJ.Whitten Foundation recently announced its largest ever donation of $550,000.
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The Victorian Minister for Innovation, Services and Small Business, the Hon Louise Asher MP, and Professor Ed Byrne officially opened the Monash Biomedical Imaging (MBI) on May 31.
Supported by a $7 million grant from the Victorian Government, the facility will will drive cutting-edge research in areas such as neuroscience, cardiovascular disease and cancer.
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Professor John McNeil, from Monash's Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, advised the Country Fire Authority (CFA) that an impact study to determine the incidence of certain cancers would be the most appropriate form of study for research to assess links between past practices and member's health.
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A study of 16,000 women found genetic mutations associated with breast size were also linked to the disease. Researchers say some of these are involved in regulating the female sex hormone oestrogen, which can trigger the growth of both breasts and tumours.
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Presentations of the Monash Partners Academic Health Science Centre Disciplines will be held on Monday 2 July and Thursday 5 July. Guests may attend/present on either day.
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Monash Comprehensive Cancer Consortium and Southern Melbourne Integrated Cancer Services recently formed a Joint Council, to advance the impact and outcomes of translational cancer research in Southern Melbourne. The joint Council intends to strategically align cancer research and clinical service delivery across Southern Melbourne, for the benefit of cancer patients.
Chaired by Prof David de Kretser, the Joint Council will meet quarterly and will consist of three Monash University cancer research representatives, the Director of Prince Henry’s Institute, the CEO of each hospital including Alfred Health, Cabrini Health, Peninsula Health and Southern Health.
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The number of people within our community who have survived cancer is increasing. But a recent Victorian study has shown that not all survivors are embracing good health.
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Researchers may have discovered a potential way of treating glioma, or brain cancer, using targeted therapies. This work is the result of a collaboration of
researchers from MIMR, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Austin Health, and Peter MacCallum.
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The MCCC is pleased to welcome Jade Sarna to the team as she takes on the role as Communications Officer. Jade’s prime responsibility is to improve clinical and research awareness, build and promote MCCC’s brand and engage with partner organisations to expand on its internal and external communication strategies.
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Monash University is proud to announce Michael Wright as the appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Monash Academic Health Science Centre (AHSC). The Monash AHSC is a company formed by the association of Alfred Health, Baker IDI Institute, Burnet Institute, Cabrini Health, Epworth Healthcare, Monash University, Prince Henry’s Institute and Southern Health.
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To explore the short-term effects, the ASPREE research program lead by Prof John McNeil of Monash Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, was involved in a recent study using individual patient data from randomised trials of daily aspirin versus no aspirin in prevention of vascular events. During the trials, results showed taking aspirin daily reduced the number of cancer deaths particularly from five years onwards and resulted in fewer non-vascular deaths overall.
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Dr Kristy Brown, head of the metabolism and cancer laboratory at Prince Henry’s Institute, is facilitating a new trial aimed at examining the effect of metformin, an anti-diabetic drug, to examine the effect on oestrogen biosynthesis in the breast in the preventative and neo-adjuvant settings.
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Earlier this month, the MCCC welcomed the Victorian Coalition Government’s decision to commit $59.6 million over the next four years through the Victorian Cancer Agency (VCA) to fund research into cancer.
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Prof John McNeil together with A/Prof Jeremy Millar, Prof Andrew Spencer and Dr Robert Stirling present the importance of registries and how it links with multiple health services to provide improvements in patient outcomes through clinical delivery and research.
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MCCC hosted its second Breast Cancer workshop “Progress and New Projects” last month.
Sponsored by Roche and Pfizer Oncology, the event brought together 50 multidisciplinary research and clinical representatives from Monash University, Cabrini Health, Southern Health, The Alfred, Peninsula Health, Prince Henry’s Institute, SMICS, Eastern Health, Peter MacCallum, University of Melbourne, Royal Women’s Hospital, VCOG, Victorian Cancer Biobank, as well as a number of private pathology labs.
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On March 30, the Victorian Government announced the state's largest investment in finding a cure for prostate cancer, funding a project which will bring together over 50 leading researchers and clinicians.
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The first Australian patient with leukaemia has been treated with a new investigational anti-cancer drug designed to target cancerous, but not healthy cells. The drug, KB004, a therapeutic antibody designed to target and destroy cancer cells in blood cancers and solid tumors, is based on research led by Associate Professor Martin Lackmann of Monash University's Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
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National Health and Medical Research Council's recent funding announcements reveal approximately $64.5 million was allocated to cancer research projects for 2012 nationally.
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Scientists have discovered a mechanism that causes an aggressive type of lung cancer to re-grow following chemotherapy, offering hope for new therapies.
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Oestrogen could treat advanced prostate cancer in men, according to a leading scientist.
Research suggests that targeting tumour cells with the female hormone may help men who do not benefit from existing drugs.
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Being diagnosed with breast cancer is not deterring women from drinking and smoking, research shows