CABERET
Principal Investigator: Dr Ross Jennens
Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) is one of the most aggressive forms of malignant brain tumour. Despite a low incidence, it carries a high risk of mortality. The optimal management of these patients is complex. Despite aggressive primary management, relapse is almost inevitable. Currently in Australia there is no accepted standard management for patients following disease progression (relapse). The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Therapuetic Goods Administration (TGA) recently approved the use of bevacizumab in recurrent GBM, with preliminary trials showing improved progression free survival at 6 months in these patients. The primary aim of the current study therefore is to determine the effect of the combination of bevacizumab plus carboplatin versus bevacizumab alone on progression free survival in patients with recurrent GBM. The study is a randomised, nonblinded, nonplacebo controlled multicentre phase II study. One hundred and twenty consenting male and female patients aged ≥ 18 years with recurrent GBM following radiotherapy and one prior chemotherapy regimen that includes temozolomide will be recruited to participate. Assessments will include physical and neurological examination, neurocognitive testing, haematology and biochemistry tests, urinalysis, health related quality of life questionnaires,
magnetic resonance imaging, as well as an electrocardiogram and pregnancy test (if applicable) at baseline.
Care Coordination to Support Cancer Patients Undergoing Adjuvant Chemotherapy: A Pilot Study
Principal Investigators: Prof Mari Botti & Dr Patricia Livingston
There is limited evidence for best practice in the provision of information and support to cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. This pilot study aims to assess a new model for care coordination focusing on preparing patients for procedures and treatments, providing emotional and social support, ensuring continuity of care, and addressing individual needs. This intervention will be provided by specialist liaison nurses for patients undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy for recently diagnosed breast or colorectal cancer.
Australian Multicentre Colonic Endoscopic Mucosal Resection (EMR) Study
Principal Investigator: Dr Gregor Brown
Bowel cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death and the most common cancer in Australia. Colonoscopy is important in early detection and prevention of colorectal cancer and is increasingly being used to manage large colonic polyps that experienced colonscopists remove using endoscopic mucosal resection. This study aims to prospectively audit every case of colonic EMR of large flat polyps performed on adults in the leading institutions around Australia to identify factors associated with good or poor outcomes of this procedure.
JUST Joints Under Study: EMU OIL for Joint Pain Relief
Phase II Randomised, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the efficacy of topical pure emu oil for arthralgic pain related to aromatase inhibitor use in postmenopausal women with early breast cancer
Principal Investigator: Mr Richard de Boer
Aromatase inhibitor drugs provide protection against breast cancer recurrence but a common side effect that may limit treatment is joint pain and stiffness. There are anecdotal reports dating back to the 1860’s of the effectiveness of emu oil for alleviation of dry skin, muscular complaints and improving wound healing. The aim of this study is to determine whether the use of emu oil rubbed into painful joints on a daily basis can lessen the pain in joints experienced by women taking an aromatase inhibitor for breast cancer.
Status: Recruiting
Contact: Clinical Trials and Research Centre
RAVES – Radiotherapy Adjuvant Versus Early Salvage
Principal Investigator: Dr Patrick Bowden
Radical Prostatectomy is the most common treatment modality for clinically localised prostate cancer. However, 20-50% of patients with clinically localised disease will have extension beyond the resected prostate area with a high risk of relapse. This multi-centre trial compares post prostatectomy radiotherapy with early salvage radiotherapy only if recurrence occurs. If radiotherapy at recurrence results in equivalent outcomes and improved quality of life, it would become the standard of treatment.
A multi-site study to investigate the optimal bladder filling instructions for prostate cancer patients undergoing radical radiation therapy using IGRT to verify daily bladder volume
Principal Investigator: Dr Kellie Knight
Radiation therapy for Prostate Cancer is planned using an initial CT scan to locate the prostate accurately within the pelvis. However, the prostate can move significantly affecting treatment delivery. One cause for variation in prostate position is differential bladder filling. This study investigates optimal bladder filling instructions to minimise bladder filling variation across a treatment course by performing Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT), using CT to verify the location of the prostate and surrounding organs prior to treatment.
Evaluation of the Prostate Cancer Risk Information Clinic
Principal Investigators: Professor Anthony Costello, Associate Professor Declan Murphy
There is ongoing debate about the risks and benefits of prostate cancer screening, including PSA blood testing. Screening may lead to the early detection of prostate cancer before symptoms develop, permitting cure or treatment that could extend life. Alternatively, screening may lead to the diagnosis and treatment of a cancer that may never cause any health-related problems. This study aims to review the Prostate Cancer Risk Information Clinic at Epworth, and to evaluate if the service is useful to men.
Ovarian Cancer Patterns of Care Survey
Principal Investigator: Associate Professor Penelope Webb
The 2007 Senate report ‘Breaking the silence: a national voice for gynaecological cancers’ called for improved management of women with gynaecological cancer. For this to occur, a clear understanding of the current patterns of care and outcomes for patients and identification of areas where changes could have the greatest positive effect need to be implemented. This study will collect socio-demographic and treatment information for all women diagnosed with ovarian cancer in Australia during one year, to describe the patterns of patient management and then relate this to patient survival.
PSA Watch Audit Project
Principal Researcher: Associate Professor Declan Murphy
This study is being undertaken to confirm the accuracy and clinical usefulness of a rapid quantitative PSA measuring device using a finger-prick blood specimen. Researchers will compare the values obtained using the PSA Watch – Bioscan reader system with those PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) readings from a reference laboratory. The improvement in monitoring of patients with prostate cancer could translate into public health cost savings.
Analysis of benign and malignant prostate tissue: signalling pathways and novel biomarkers
Principal Investigator: Professor Anthony Costello
Prostate cancer is the second commonest cause of cancer death in Australian men. The malignancy has a wide spectrum of biological aggressiveness, and it is important to adequately predict tumour behaviour, to enable appropriate patient selection for early aggressive therapy or reassurance with long-term surveillance. To assist in determining tumour activity, this study aims to assess genes and signalling pathways that are activated by androgen receptors in various stage of prostate cancer and to identify levels of prostate-specific exosomes in various stages of prostate cancer.
Biomarkers in prostate cancer: Utility in prognostication
Principal Investigator: Professor Anthony Costello
In 2006 prostate cancer was the most frequent newly diagnosed cancer in Australian men. There is currently no satisfactory test that will determine the prognosis of men with prostate cancer, as the commonly used Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) test lacks specificity and sensitivity. In this project, we test prostate cancer cells for various genes, proteins, and other molecules to find a marker, or group of markers that can help to differentiate those with aggressive disease from those who are likely to run a more indolent course.
Management of Young Patients with Colorectal Cancer
Principal Investigator: Mr Satish Warrier
The aim of this study is to review management practices for colorectal cancer in patients less than 50 years of age. These patients are at a higher risk of subsequent malignancy due to the biology of the cancer as well as the length of the follow-up. The extent of resection and surveillance strategy will be assessed. This data will assist in the generation of a prospectively created database to assist surgeons with future research and assist with improved surgical practices in this patient group.