For those who are interested we have a whole host of studies in lung cancer at the Austin hospital testing agents targeting EGFR, ALK and PD1/PDL1. The breast cancer portfolio was a wee bit quiet for a year but this is expanding including studies in triple negative breast cancer. Phase I studies run by A/P Hui Gan include a novel PARP inhibitor (attractive in breast and ovarian cancer partic in the BRCA +ve patients).
We are very collaborative in Melbourne and I work closely with colleagues at Peter Mac , Royal Melbourne Hospital (only to name a few centres) to give patients the option to participate in studies that suit their particular circumstances better. This is often under the auspices of Cancer Trials Australia (see introduction). We strongly encourage patients to consider trials. Ultimately as their clinician, I want them to personally benefit from such participation. It is true that altruism is maybe an important part of developing new and better treatments and improved outcomes in cancer medicine, and in health in general. SW Aug 2014
