QUARTZ: Quality Of Life After Radiotherapy And-or Steriods
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$63,000.00
Summary
Lung cancer is the commonest cause of cancer related death worldwide. In this group, one in four people will be diagnosed with brain metastases during their illness. This makes brain metastases a major health resource issue. For this group, the diagnosis of brain metastases is often associated with survival of less than 3 months. It is therefore important that this short survival period, which is often compromised by the effects of the disease, is not compromised further with the use of potentia ....Lung cancer is the commonest cause of cancer related death worldwide. In this group, one in four people will be diagnosed with brain metastases during their illness. This makes brain metastases a major health resource issue. For this group, the diagnosis of brain metastases is often associated with survival of less than 3 months. It is therefore important that this short survival period, which is often compromised by the effects of the disease, is not compromised further with the use of potentially toxic treatment. Whole Brain Radiotherapy (WBRT) is often used to treat these people. There is no current evidence to confirm that WBRT improves their quality of life. Most people with brain metastases routinely receive steroid medicine either as sole treatment or in addition to WBRT. Despite their potential side effects, steroids can control the symptoms of brain metastases and improve a person's quality of life. It is possible that the addition of WBRT adds nothing to steroids used alone or that only subgroups of these people benefit from WBRT. If these subgroups could be identified, treatment could be better tailored to the individual and minimise unnecessary hospital visits for these terminally ill patients. This could also potentially benefit the oncology community by translating into reduced radiotherapy waiting times. This is a unique, international collaborative study which aims to enroll 1000 people over a 3 year period from the UK, Australia and Canada .The main research question in this study is: Do the overall disadvantages of WBRT for lung cancer sufferers outweigh the advantages? It will be comparing the overall combination of quality and duration of survival in a) people receiving steroids and optimal palliative care alone to b) people receiving steroids, optimal palliative care and WBRT. The secondary research aims are to compare the two treatment groups in terms of symptoms experienced by the person and treatment side effects.Read moreRead less
An Integrated Psychoacoustic And High-field FMRI Study Of Auditory Temporal Processsing Dysfunction In Schiophrenia.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$306,000.00
Summary
This research seeks to improve our understanding of the causes of brain dysfunction in schizophrenia. This chronic and debilitating psychiatric disorder is usually accompanied by dramatic symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, paranoia and disordered patterns of thinking. Based on our interpretation of evidence from a number of fields of schizophrenia research we suspect that the brain dysfunction in schizophrenia may not in the brain areas responsible for those dramatic symptoms but occurs ....This research seeks to improve our understanding of the causes of brain dysfunction in schizophrenia. This chronic and debilitating psychiatric disorder is usually accompanied by dramatic symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, paranoia and disordered patterns of thinking. Based on our interpretation of evidence from a number of fields of schizophrenia research we suspect that the brain dysfunction in schizophrenia may not in the brain areas responsible for those dramatic symptoms but occurs initially in the very basic sensory regions of the brain. These regions can be thought of as providing the building blocks of our perceptions, that ultimately allow us to see, hear, smell and feel. Our previous research shows that people with schizophrenia have a very specific problem in the way that they perceive sounds. Using measures of brain activity, people with schizophrenia show consistent evidence that their brains do not process some of the timing information contained in sound. This is not the same as saying that people with schizophrenia are deaf, the deficits we see are much more subtle. It's a bit like the chaos theory analogy of a butterfly fluttering in Brazil and causing a typhoon in China. We think that very small alterations in brain activity in the initial stages of sensory processing can cascade through successively more complex stages of the brain, eventually creating the psychotic storm that becomes evident as the primary symptoms of schizophrenia. The brain regions we are interested in are located down at the base of the brain, in the brainstem, and it is only recently that the technology and methods of analysis we need to look at this activity have been developed. In this research we will be using functional magnetic resonance imaging and sophisticated hearing tests to examine whether these brain regions show the alterations we expect. If so, this will mean that the brain dysfunction in schizophrenia is quite different to what is currently believed.Read moreRead less
Anti-PD 1 Brain Collaboration + Radiotherapy Extension: The ABC-X Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,010,141.00
Summary
The purpose of this research study is to determine whether administering radiotherapy to melanoma brain tumours, in combination with 2 drugs called nivolumab and ipilimumab(also known as Immunotherapy), will be more effective than treating brain tumours with immunotherapy. Patients in this trial will be randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatment groups. Group 1 will receive radiotherapy to their melanoma brain lesion(s), combined with immunotherapy. Group 2 will receive immunotherapy treatment alone.
Radiotherapy Vs Chemotherapy For Low-grade Gliomas Stratified For Genetic 1p Loss: Efficacy And Quality Of Life Benefits
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$410,316.00
Summary
Low-grade glioma is an uncommon malignant brain tumour. Surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy delay growth of this tumour, but cure is uncommon. Currently the goal of treatment is to control tumour growth for as long as possible whilst maintaining quality of life. This study compares treatment with radiotherapy with a new form of chemotherapy to see which treatment controls tumour growth most effectively, which produces the least side effects and which results in the better quality of life.
Optimising Synchrotron Microbeam Radiation Therapy For Cancer Treatment
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$682,000.00
Summary
Over 50% of cancer patients receive radiotherapy (RT). Tumour control using RT is limited by adverse normal tissue reactions. Unlike conventional RT machines, the Australian synchrotron has the capability to deliver strong radiation in very thin slices, termed microbeam RT (MRT). Tumour control has been obtained in animal models with a remarkable sparing of normal tissue using MRT. We will optimize MRT as a crucial step towards a potentially revolutionary cancer treatment.
The Effect Of Whole Body Vibration Training On Insulin Sensitivity In Overweight Adolescents
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$107,377.00
Summary
Obesity in children and adolescents is often associated with high insulin levels. Adolescents with high untreated insulin levels are likely to get Type 2 diabetes. Diet and exercise can improve obesity and reduce the high insulin levels. Exercise makes muscle which allows uptake of sugars more easily and this decreases insulin levels. We plan to see if whole body vibration training will lower insulin levels by increasing muscle size; thereby preventing Type 2 diabetes and complications.
A Randomised Controlled Trial Comparing Intraoperative To Conventional Radiotherapy In Women With Early Beast Cancer.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$874,046.00
Summary
With the advent of breast screening in Australia many women are diagnosed with small low risk cancers that can be treated with breast conserving therapy with good outcomes. Surgery and radiotherapy in this situation are used to minimise the risk of local recurrence. It is now being questioned whether we can tailor radiotherapy to suit individual patients rather than recommending the daily 6-7 weeks of standard external beam radiotherapy to all patients. This trial aims to answer this question as ....With the advent of breast screening in Australia many women are diagnosed with small low risk cancers that can be treated with breast conserving therapy with good outcomes. Surgery and radiotherapy in this situation are used to minimise the risk of local recurrence. It is now being questioned whether we can tailor radiotherapy to suit individual patients rather than recommending the daily 6-7 weeks of standard external beam radiotherapy to all patients. This trial aims to answer this question as a new device which can deliver radiotherapy intraoperatively in a single session has now been tested and proven safe to use in the breast. The main objective of this trial is to demonstrate that a single dose of radiotherapy delivered intraoperatively (IORT) gives an equivalent local control rate to standard external beam radiotherapy in women with early low risk breast cancer who are suitable for breast conserving therapy. Other objectives include comparing the two treatments with respect to; disease-free-overall survival, cosmetic outcome, patient satisfaction-preference, quality of life and cost benefit. If the study finds that IORT alone after breast conserving surgery is as effective in achieving local control as standard external beam radiotherapy, a major benefit to patients would be shorter treatment duration by avoiding the 6-7 weeks of standard radiotherapy. A reduction in the number of early breast cancer patients requiring access to standard radiotherapy would also benefit treatment centres and other cancer patients by reducing the waiting times for radiotherapy. Consumer groups have supported the concept from the beginning and there has been recent increase in level of support by originally unsupportive groups. Of great significance is this trial offers an opportunity to formally investigate the efficacy of delivering IORT in the safe confines of a clinical trial, before allowing it to become a standard treatment which is occurring in other countries.Read moreRead less
Value Of Androgen Deprivation And Bisphosphonate In Patients Treated By Radiotherapy For Localised Prostate Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,533,827.00
Summary
Following on from significant findings in the TROG 96.01 trial, the 03.04 trial, known as the RADAR trial was developed. This is a large-scale randomised controlled clinical trial currently conducted at 23 cancer treatment centres throughout Australia and New Zealand. The RADAR trial aims to recruit 1000 men with localised but inoperable prostate cancer. It was anticipated that the length of time required to enrol 1000 participants to the trial would be 5 years. However, because enrolment has ex ....Following on from significant findings in the TROG 96.01 trial, the 03.04 trial, known as the RADAR trial was developed. This is a large-scale randomised controlled clinical trial currently conducted at 23 cancer treatment centres throughout Australia and New Zealand. The RADAR trial aims to recruit 1000 men with localised but inoperable prostate cancer. It was anticipated that the length of time required to enrol 1000 participants to the trial would be 5 years. However, because enrolment has exceeded expectations and 728 patients have already been recruited, it is anticipated that the recruitment target will be reached in mid 2007. Patients are randomly assigned to receive one of four treatment options in the RADAR trial. The first option: Option A: Radiation Therapy and 6 months of Hormone Therapy (Leuprorelin acetate), is currently the standard of care. Option C is a further 12 months of hormone therapy after the current standard of care. Two of the options (B and D) are identical to options A and C except that subjects also receive 18 months of zoledronate (a 'bone' drug) in addition to hormone therapy and radiotherapy. The main goal of the RADAR trial is to determine whether 12 months of hormone therapy using Leuprorelin acetate starting immediately after standard therapy (ie 6 months of Leuprorelin acetate before and during radiotherapy) will reduce risk of return of the cancer, either within the prostate region or at remote sites in the body, and prolong life. An additional goal is to see whether 18 months of bisphosphonate therapy (bone density therapy) using zoledronate will reduce the risk of cancer returning in the bones as well as stopping dangerous bone thinning which can sometimes be caused by hormone therapy. The trial also seeks to determine whether the additional therapy given in this trial alters quality of life.Read moreRead less
Optimal Duration Of Neoadjuvant Androgen Deprivation Therapy In Localised Prostate Cancer Treated By Radiotherapy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$422,335.00
Summary
The 96.01 trial aims to find out whether androgen deprivation (AD) administered prior to and during radiotherapy (i.e., neo-adjuvant AD) will improve outcomes in patients with locally advanced prostate cancer that is considered inoperable and is treated for cure by radiotherapy. The trial also aims to find out whether six months AD produces outcomes superior to those achieved by three months AD. The trial has been running since 1996 and involves 802 men who attend 19 cancer treatment centres acr ....The 96.01 trial aims to find out whether androgen deprivation (AD) administered prior to and during radiotherapy (i.e., neo-adjuvant AD) will improve outcomes in patients with locally advanced prostate cancer that is considered inoperable and is treated for cure by radiotherapy. The trial also aims to find out whether six months AD produces outcomes superior to those achieved by three months AD. The trial has been running since 1996 and involves 802 men who attend 19 cancer treatment centres across Australia and New Zealand. It would not have been possible without the continuous funding support of the NHMRC. So far this trial has shown that AD does prevent prostate cancer from returning after radiotherapy. This is very important because the need for treatment of recurrent cancer (usually AD for the rest of the patient's life) is halved by 6 months AD compared to standard treatment (radiotherapy alone). However, it is now necessary to observe the patients in this trial for another 5 years to find out whether AD also prolongs life, and whether 6 months AD is more effective than 3 months. Further patient follow up is also necessary to identify whether some men respond better to treatment than others. This is very important because it will enable treatment to be tailored to individual patients, in particular those who require more treatment than is given in this trial. This funding application is therefore to enable patient follow up on this large scale trial for another 5 years.Read moreRead less