Putting the Brakes on Tumour Stealth
New research undertaken at Monash University has shed new light on how some cancers are able to escape our immune system.
The findings have significant implications for the burgeoning field of cancer immunotherapy, an approach that is focused on harnessing the remarkable power of our own immune system to seek out and destroy cancer. Continue reading »
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Scientists Take New Approach to Tackle Chemo Evading Blood Cancer
Acute leukaemia is an unusually lethal cancer. Despite achieving complete remission after intensive chemotherapy, 80% of patients will be dead within five years of diagnosis. Professor David Curtis, clinical haematologist and head of blood cancer research at the Australian Centre for Blood Diseases (ACBD) at Monash University's Central Clinical School, is investigating the mechanisms behind the cancer’s ability to resist chemotherapy. Continue reading »
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Brachytherapy Program Helping Men For Two Decades
A radiation therapy treatment that provides prostate cancer patients with an alternative to surgery is being acknowledged for 20 years of helping men at The Alfred. “Over 1,570 men have received brachytherapy as part of their prostate cancer treatment since the program began,” said radiation oncologist Dr Bronwyn Matheson. “During this time our staff have been part of advances in technology and techniques leading to better outcomes for our patients.” Continue reading »
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Life Saving Melanoma Drug Combination Listed On PBS
A drug combination that offers stage 4 melanoma patients the highest change of survival will be listed on the PBS from December 1, a move which specialists at the Victorian Melanoma Service say could buy some patients at least four more years of life. Dr Andrew Haydon, a medical oncologist with the Victorian Melanoma Service at The Alfred, was involved in a worldwide clinical trial combining Nivolumab and Ipilimumab in advanced melanoma. Dr Haydon welcomed the Federal Government’s announcement last week to list the drug combination on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). Continue reading »
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Double Trouble for Tumour Cells
The discovery of how some cancer drugs can deliver a ‘double-hit’ when targeting tumour cells could lead to further advancements in treatment. A new study has challenged the long-held belief that a type of induced cell death, which is regulated by the BCL-2 family of proteins, attacks cells in only one way. Continue reading »
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Melbourne Study to Examine Whether Anaesthetic Gases Used in Surgery are Causing Cancer to Return
Fears that anaesthetic gases used during cancer surgery may be causing patients' cancer to return have prompted a study into their dangers. With more than 300,000 cancer operations a year in Australia using anaesthetics, Melbourne researchers will lead the international study into their safety, likely to change surgical strategies worldwide. Continue reading »
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Neuroscientist Discovers Potential Treatment for Chemo Brain
In a discovery that could one day help breast cancer patients, Dr Adam Walker from Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) and UNSW Sydney has found a potential treatment for ‘chemobrain’, a condition that affects up to 60 per cent of women after receiving chemotherapy for breast cancer. ‘Chemobrain’ or problems with memory, learning and concentration in cancer patients had been blamed on chemotherapy until scientists found it also occurred before chemo began, suggesting the cancer itself played a role, but exactly how this worked was a mystery. Continue reading »
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One Test to Diagnose Them All: Researchers Exploit Cancers’ Unique DNA Signature
Researchers have developed a test that could be used to diagnose all cancers. It is based on a unique DNA signature that appears to be common across cancer types. The test has yet to be conducted on humans, and clinical trials are needed before we know for sure if it can be used in the clinic. Continue Reading »
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National Reports on Breast Implants a Step Closer With Breast Device Registry
Monash University’s Australian Breast Device Registry (ABDR) reached a new milestone, enlisting 90 per cent of eligible surgeons to help track the long-term safety of implantable breast devices in Australian patients. However, researchers are calling for more surgeons to give full national representation. Continue Reading »
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Mass Screening Kids for Cancer After Fukushima
To uncover the thyroid cancer fallout from the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011, Japanese researchers screened more than 300,000 children and young adults in the 5 years immediately after the disaster, before the radiation is likely to have had an impact. The screening found 187 thyroid cancers in total and a higher rate of cancer in older age groups. Continue Reading »
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Garvan Pilot Grant to Tackle Pancreatic Cancer
More than 3200 Australians are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer every year. It has an extremely low survival rate – only 8% of those diagnosed will live beyond 5 years. Pancreatic cancer is one of Australia’s top 10 most common cancers, yet little is known about its causes. However, we do know pancreatic cancer is fundamentally a genetic disease. Continue Reading »
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MYEFO Rips A$130 million Per Year From Research Funding Despite Budget Surplus
Yesterday morning, the mid-year budget update unveiled research funding cuts of A$328.5 million over the next four years. This budget raid on research was more than double the size expected by the university research community. This new freeze on growth in research funding and PhD scholarships follows last year’s freeze on funding for student places. Continue Reading »
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Dr Kate Webber – B.Sc (Med) MBBS (Hons 1) FRACP PhD
Dr Kate Webber joined the Department of Oncology at Monash Health in December. Kate is a medical oncologist specialising in gynaecological oncology, cancer survivorship and clinical trials. As the inaugural Survivorship Research Fellow at the National Centre for Cancer Survivorship at the University of New South Wales, Kate completed her PhD examining long-term health and psychosocial issues affecting cancer survivors whilst looking at novel models of care for these patients. Kate has presented her research at scientific meetings for the American Society of Clinical Oncology, International Gynaecological Cancer Society and European Society of Gynaecological Oncology, in addition to Australian meetings. Prior to her appointment at Monash Health, Kate was a medical oncologist at Prince of Wales Hospital and the Royal Hospital for Women in Sydney, and had an honorary appointment at Sydney Children’s Hospital. At Prince of Wales Hospital she also served as Clinical Superintendent for Medicine and co-Director of Advanced Physician Training, as well as convenor of the UNSW Human Research Ethics Advisory Panel (Biomedical). Kate is a member of the Cancer Institute NSW eviQ Medical Oncology Reference Committees in gynaecolocical cancer and sarcoma.
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The Victorian Cancer Registry, at the Cancer Council Victoria, has published Cancer in Victoria: Statistics and trends 2017.
It is estimated that 95 new cancer diagnoses and 30 cancer related deaths are recorded in Victoria each day. In 2017 this equates to 34,557 Victorians diagnosed with cancer, 10,955 deaths from cancer and premature loss of almost 60,000 years of life (to age 75 years). Due to the growth and ageing Victorian population, an increase in both cancer incidence and deaths is projected. The Cancer in Victoria Statistics and trends 2017 report includes a summary of latest cancer statistics for Victoria including:
- incidence and mortality in 2017
- trends in incidence and mortality from 1982-2017
- cancer in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders for 2012-2016 (including data augmented through linkage to other Victorian health datasets)
- five-year period relative survival for 2012-2016
- projections of incidence and mortality to 2032
- a special report on melanoma in Victoria
- background information on the Victorian Cancer Registry
- indices of data quality
- statistical methods
- Victorian demography
Any requests for statistics not available here can be directed to the registry at VCR@cancervic.org.au.
More than a quarter of century of cancer data are available presented in a variety of reports and graph formats or as data downloads. Each report can be user-customised according to a range of factors such as cancer type, region or time period.
Note: the 2017 will not be added until early 2019 when geocoding has been completed – currently includes data for 1982-2016.
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Medical Research Future Fund – Targeted Health System and Community Organisation Research Grant
$9,800,000 available. Applications close 6 Feb 2019 5:00 pm
This opportunity will support research to address:
- questions that focus on comparative effectiveness of health services and areas of health system practice with low or insubstantial evidence
- gaps in knowledge and evidence relating to health system problems important to the public, providing opportunities to explore consumer-driven research.
Health system research question topics for this grant opportunity are:
- Melanoma Surveillance Photography (MSP) to improve early detection of melanoma in very high risk (or high risk) patients
- Breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to assist in the diagnosis, staging and pre-surgical planning of breast cancer.
Find out more »
NHMRC Investigator Grant Scheme
Investigator Grants provide the highest-performing researchers at all career stages with funding for their salary (if required) and a research support package (RSP) for five years. Minimum data due in NHMRC’s granting system by 16 January 5:00pm. Find out more »
Cancer Survivorship for Primary Care Practitioners - FREE online course commences 4 February 2019
Keep up-to-date with contemporary cancer care via this accessible online course. Registration open now for start on 4 Feb 2019. GP’s and Healthcare providers who would like to build on their skills in cancer survivorship are encouraged to register. Find out more »
Victorian Tumour Summits Evaluation Survey is for anyone who is currently working in the cancer care sector in Victoria. Consumers are also invited to complete it. No prior knowledge or attendance of the Tumour Summits is required. It takes less than five minutes to complete. Your answers will help us evaluate the project and plan for the future. Find out more »
Cancer Research Institute (CRI) Lloyd J. Old STAR Program
Candidates selected for this award are expected to be the future leaders in the field of cancer immunotherapy, and this sustained funding will enable them to carry out transformational research. Funding will not be tied to a specific research project, but rather will aim to provide a degree of flexibility and freedom for investigators to explore out-of-the-box and disruptive avenues of research. Lloyd J. Old STAR Program grants provide up to $250,000 per year for five years. Funder application deadline: 1 March 2019
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Lorne Cancer Conference
Date 14-16 February 2019
Where: Cumberland Conference Centre, Lorne
More information
Abstract Submissions Information
VICS 2019 Lung Cancer Summit
Date: Friday 22 February 2019
Where: RACV City Club, Melbourne
Information and Registration
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Victorian Integrated Cancer Services (VICS) Conference - Partnering to Optimise Patient Outcomes in Cancer
Date: 9-10 May 2019
Where: Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre
Information and Registration
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Cetuximab Alone or With Irinotecan for Resistant KRAS-, NRAS-, BRAF- and PIK3CA-wild-type Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: The AGITG Randomized Phase II ICECREAM Study. Read article »
Experiences and healthcare preferences of women with ovarian cancer during the diagnosis phase. Read article »
Incorporating digital anorectal examinations for anal cancer screening into routine HIV care for men who have sex with men living with HIV: a prospective cohort study. Read article »
Prostate Cancer Risk-Associated Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism Affects Prostate-Specific Antigen Glycosylation and Its Function. Read article »
Toll-like receptor 2 regulates metabolic reprogramming in gastric cancer via superoxide dismutase 2. Read article »
Mobile phone use and incidence of brain tumour histological types, grading or anatomical location: a population-based ecological study. Read article »
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MPCCC is the Cancer and Blood Disease Theme of the Monash Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre and represents a formal alliance of the Monash Comprehensive Cancer Consortium (MCCC) and the Southern Melbourne Integrated Cancer Services (SMICS). Our partner organisations include Monash University, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Alfred Health, Monash Health, Peninsula Health, Cabrini Health and Eastern Health.
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