ANZUP's UPdate newsletter - Summer edition

The Newsletter of ANZUP Cancer Trials Group Limited

SUMMER 2017

Towards ANZUP’s 10th anniversary Our next Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM), more so than any other, is a coming of age for ANZUP and it is for that reason I am delighted to be the 2018 Convenor. As we look forward to our 10th anniversary year, the 7th standalone ANZUP ASM is an opportunity to reflect on the achievements over the last decade. For an organisation which basically started from scratch in 2008, to now being recognised internationally for our clinical trials is a truly outstanding accomplishment.

Stepping away from the current trend of big data, the #ANZUP18 theme ‘Putting People First’ will focus on the management of GU cancers from a holistic, people-centric perspective. While big data sets have an important place in identifying trends and associations between disease factors, they can also lose sight of the individual. Putting People First means focusing on patients, carers and every individual involved in the multidisciplinary care of patients and clinical trials research. It is a sentiment which not only reflects ANZUP’s priorities but is also a tribute to the many individuals who have made ANZUP what it is today.

The convening committee has secured an amazing international faculty, bringing together a mix of key opinion leaders and up and coming clinicians. While all bring great value in their areas of expertise, they have also been selected for their patient focus and fit with the engaging and supportive spirit of ANZUP and our ASMs.

Urologist Angie Smith has seen a meteoric rise in the US thanks to her work in bladder cancer and patient outcomes. She’s also an advocate for patient care and the importance of doctors’ own health. I have no doubt she will bring a real breath of fresh air to Sydney.

Medical oncologist Laurence Albiges, who joins us from Gustave Roussy, Paris, is representative of how much of an impact European cancer research is having on our day-to-day practice.

We will also welcome radiation oncologist Tamim Niazi from Montreal, medical oncologist Sumanta (Monty) Kumar Pal from California and two internationally renowned members of the ANZUP Scientific Advisory Committee – medical oncologist Chris Sweeney and urologist Bertrand Tombal.

Why should delegates register for #ANZUP18? Things are changing in uro-oncology at breakneck speed to the extent that even taking a year off from work in this area would have you feeling outdated. If you want to be where it’s all happening, this is where you need to be.

Registrations open 5 February, 2018.

I look forward to welcoming you to Sydney in July next year.

HENRY WOO Convenor, 2018 ANZUP Annual Scientific Meeting

ASM DELEGATES

290

297

335

2015

2016

2017

Hello, welcome to ‘UPdate’

Message from the Chair

Contents:

Welcome to this edition of UPdate, the newsletter of the Australian & New Zealand Urogenital and Prostate Cancer Trials Group Ltd (ANZUP). It does not seem very long since our last newsletter, but things move so quickly around here that you need to move fast to keep up.

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2017 HIGHLIGHTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 TRIAL NEWS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 New renal cell trials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 TheraP trial opens for advanced prostate cancer . . . . . 9 WORKSHOPS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Preceptorship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Best of GU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 PEDALTHON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 One man’s idea to a million dollars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Melbourne Pedalthon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 UPDATES FROM SAC AND SUBCOMMITTEES . . . . 14 Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Bladder Cancer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Germ Cell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Renal Cell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Prostate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Translational Research . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Quality of Life and Supportive Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Consumer Advisory Panel (CAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 OTHER NEWS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 2017 Astellas Young Investigator at ASTRO . . . . . . . . 22 Awards and fellowships . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Tolmar Fellowship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 e-TC – the road to 40 patients . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Talking Urology captures ASM insights . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Helping us make a better ANZUP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 EVENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 USANZ NZ Section Meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 2018 Concept Development Workshops . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Event calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 In memoriam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 SPONSORS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 2 | ANZUP UPdate Summer 2017

We are here to make a positive difference for people affected by genitourinary cancers (prostate, kidney, bladder and testis). Their outcomes can only be improved if we are well armed with the evidence we need to understand the diseases better, design new treatments, implement them more effectively, and support people throughout. We need to work closely with others in this part of the world as well as internationally, especially when the questions involve uncommon conditions or a trial requires large numbers of patients. We also need to ensure we keep ourselves current with the sometimes overwhelming amount of information there seems to be out there, and to bring others in to continue the work with us and after us.

ANZUP’s activities reflect these imperatives. We have clinical trials active in each of the cancers in our ambit. We work closely with those doing basic or translational research, supportive care research, health economics and other health outcomes work, and many others. We have highly functional links with other groups in Australia and New Zealand, as well as with international groups in Ireland, UK, Europe, USA, Canada, and others planned. We are linked to various stakeholder organisations including those involved in community support, advocacy or fundraising. We are frequently and visibly present at major international meetings, presenting and promoting our work. And we devote

Message from the Chair considerable time and resources to mentoring and fostering people early in their careers to ensure they are well set up for work in these areas in the future.

2018 will be our tenth anniversary year and celebrations are planned. It does not seem so long ago that we commenced in 2008 with just over 150 members and pretty much no resources. How is it possible that in less than ten years we are coming close to 1,300 members, have completed clinical trials involving thousands of patients, and our organisation has taken a leadership role in establishing an international genitourinary cancer clinical trials consortium? When I am asked this I often answer, “It seemed like a good idea at the time”. It appears that others thought similarly. It does mean though that the bar has been lifted higher than we could have imagined, but we are well placed to continue clearing it and pushing it even higher.

ANZUP ASM, HYATT REGENCY SYDNEY, 8-10 JULY 2018

their families and the people involved in their care. Watch out also for the various grants and fellowships that will be made available in the context of the 2018 ASM and at other times throughout the year.

The Annual Scientific Meeting in July once again was highly How is it possible that successful. It is extraordinary in less than ten years we every year to be able to are coming close to 1,300 experience the warm, friendly, enquiring, supportive and members, have completed collegial atmosphere that clinical trials involving Make sure you take time RIGHT characterises the ASM and in thousands of patients, and NOW to block out the dates in fact everything that ANZUP your diary: Sunday 8 – Tuesday have taken a leadership does. This speaks volumes to 10 July 2018 at the Hyatt the nature of our members, role in establishing an Regency in Sydney. We look and of course to our wonderful international genitourinary forward to seeing you there. supporting secretariat that cancer clinical trials makes everything happen so Tuesday 19 September 2017 smoothly and seamlessly. Our consortium? saw the fourth annual ANZUP 2018 convening committee, Below the Belt Pedalthon led by Henry Woo, is well at Eastern Creek in Sydney. advanced in planning what With 48 teams comprising will be a memorable 10th almost 250 riders, this was once again a very successful anniversary ASM. We have already confirmed attendance and memorable day. I am delighted to report that more from a number of international experts, with more in the than $255,000 was raised which will go towards ANZUP’s pipeline. Keep an eye on our website for more details.

Below the Belt Research Fund, all of which will be The theme of the meeting will be ‘Putting People First’, which reflects ANZUP’s priorities brilliantly. It refers not only to the patients affected by these cancers but also

reinvested in supporting projects aimed at future ANZUP clinical trials. Watch out for announcements about the opening of applications for these grants.

ANZUP UPdate Summer 2017 | 3

Message from the Chair Like cycling?

Don’t like cancer?

RIDE WITH US IN MELBOURNE

SANDOWN RACECOURSE SUNDAY 18 MARCH 2018

Join us in the ride to defeat testicular, prostate, bladder and kidney cancers!

We are now well advanced in planning for the inaugural Melbourne Pedalthon on 18 March 2018 at Sandown, with the kind support of the Melbourne Racing Club. This will be a great opportunity for those of you in Melbourne who have always wanted to be part of the Pedalthon but were unable to make it to Sydney. For more information see page 13 or visit www.pedalthon.org.au.

The 2017 GU Preceptorship in Prostate Cancer was held in Melbourne on 3-4 November 2017. This initiative was developed by Eva Segelov, initially in GI and lung cancers and is now expanding into genitourinary cancers. The Preceptorship involved five preceptors from urology, medical and radiation oncology; and 36 delegates. The Preceptorship is a novel and highly effective model of learning: it is not intended to cover all topics exhaustively, but the delegates are exposed to the key papers and discuss them in depth with the input of the expert preceptors. It is an exhilarating experience and a great way to come to grips with the principles of prostate cancer management, for everyone concerned – even the preceptors!

We also held our 2017 ANZUP Best of GU Evening Symposium on 8 November 2017 in Sydney. This was convened by Henry Woo and included some great speakers in the form of Daniel Heng (kindly supported by Novartis), Mark Frydenberg, Shankar Siva, Peter Croucher, Haryana Dhillon and Venu Chalasani. This Symposium is a 4 | ANZUP UPdate Summer 2017

www.pedalthon.org.au

great way to catch up on the key advances in GU cancer happening in ANZUP and elsewhere. Many thanks to our wonderful sponsors Astellas, AstraZeneca, Janssen, Novartis and Tolmar, without whom we wouldn’t be able to host such an event.

Farewell We have recently been advised our good friend, A/Prof Anthony Lowe, will be leaving PCFA as of 31 January 2018. In his announcement, Mr Jim Hughes AM, National Chairman of Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia said Anthony had made a significant contribution to the foundation.

On behalf of the ANZUP Board, I would like to add our recognition and profound thanks to Anthony for all he has done for PCFA and, indirectly, for the benefits that have resulted for ANZUP and the broader community. Anthony has been a tireless worker and advocate for PCFA and certainly leaves PCFA much stronger, from the point of view of interested external observers such as ANZUP. We will miss him very much and hope he continues his interest in men’s health through his ongoing membership of and contribution to ANZUP.

Message from the Chair up (ENZAMET, BL.12). New trials are at various stages of development: TIGER (poor risk germ cell); RAMPART (adjuvant RCC immunotherapy); and expansion of other studies pending grant funding (BCG/mitomycin; germ cell translational research). It is an exciting and busy time, particularly as ANZUP moves towards bringing sponsor functions under its umbrella for many of these trials.

UNISoN INVESTIGATOR MEETING

We have not been quiet on the clinical trials front.

Investigator meetings for UNISoN and KEYPAD trials were held in Sydney on 4 October 2017 and five sites have now been initiated for UNISoN with other sites soon to follow.

This trial studies an interesting immunotherapy strategy in non-clear-cell renal cell carcinomas, an area where there is considerable clinical need as no treatments are approved in Australia for these diseases. The first three sites have opened for the KEYPAD study. KEYPAD will study a novel immunotherapy combination in post-first-line clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Both these studies are being led by the ever enthusiastic Dr Craig Gedye.

At the time of writing, we are on the cusp of opening the lutetium-177 PSMA “TheraP” trial. This trial is highly significant for several reasons: it is a translation of previous work done in Australia; it will be one of the first randomised trials of this therapy; it addresses an area of unmet clinical need with the potential for significant patient benefit; it brings together several groups that without ANZUP probably would not have been able to work together; and it represents the first project supported through the agreement between ANZUP and Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia.

Other support for the trial is provided by ABX, Endocyte, and ANSTO. One of our strategic goals is to be able to do trials without waiting for the uncertainties and limits of competitive grant funding and TheraP is a great example of how this might work in the future. TheraP will be led by A/Prof Michael Hofman.

We continue to recruit strongly to ENZARAD (at the time of writing 667 enrolled), BCG/mitomycin (149), phase 3 accelerated BEP (43), Pain Free TRUS B (over 161), PCR-MIB (4), e-TC (25), and co-badged studies (NMIBC patient-reported symptom index; RCC FASTTRACK II).

Other trials that have completed accrual are now in follow

We are so fortunate to have an amazing team supporting what we do. Marg McJannett steers the ship with great effectiveness as our CEO, supported by Anne Woollett, Lucy Byers, Michelle Bowers, Gill Bailey, Christine Garforth, our fellow Nicky Lawrence, our brilliantly supportive Board, SAC and subcommittee chairs / deputy chairs / PIs / members, our volunteers Jo Stubbs and Lesley Tinkler, and our hardworking and supportive colleagues and collaborators at NHMRC CTC and at Centre of Biostatistics and Clinical Trials (BaCT).

One of our strategic goals is to be able to do trials without waiting for the uncertainties and limits of competitive grant funding and TheraP is a great example of how this might work in the future.

Thanks to all of you as well. We are all here for the same reasons, and you make it such a joy to be part of it all. Sometimes the work can seem thankless but it’s important to remember that there are many people who are very grateful for everything you do. You can count us among them.

Please enjoy this edition of UPdate and have a safe and happy Christmas and New Year.

IAN DAVIS Chair ANZUP UPdate Summer 2017 | 5

ANZUP 2017 Highlights MEMBERSHIP

>30%

1,290 members

2015

2016

since 2015

2017

TRIALS

TRIAL PATIENTS (ANZUP ONLY)

6

7

10

2015

2016

2017

ASM

2017

DELEGATES

2016 2015

729 1,711 2,337

290

297

335

2015

2016

2017

BEST OF GU

PRECEPTORSHIP

ATTENDEES

ATTENDEES

36

35

36

2015

2016

2017

6 | ANZUP UPdate Summer 2017

40

70

60

2015

2016

2017

ANZUP 2017 Highlights

CDW

1

2015

4

2016

4

2017

ANZUP CLINTRIAL APP SCREEN VIEWS

CORPORATE SUPPORTERS

IN-KIND SUPPORTERS

8

5

8 IN 2016

5 IN 2016

6 IN 2015

2 IN 2015

WEB PAGE VIEWS 2015

463

71

1,446

2016

2015

2016

2017

2017

TWITTER FOLLOWERS

72,580 119,020 140,912

1,560

ANZUP

2017

1,268

2015

2016

276

5,005 LAPS

FUNDS

248

4,414 LAPS

$303K FUNDS

243

4,176 LAPS

$255K

RIDERS

$150K

1,000+ 2015 2016

ASM TWITTER IMPRESSIONS

1.28M 2015

1.22M

2.65M

2016

2017

ANZUP

FELLOWSHIPS, SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS

2017

27

2015

40

2016

47

2017

RIDERS

RIDERS

FUNDS

BELOW THE BELT RESEARCH FUND GRANTS

3

7 2017

2016

ANZUP UPdate Summer 2017 | 7

Trial News NEW RENAL CELL CARCINOMA TRIALS On 4 October, more than 30 investigators and trial coordinators gathered at the Pullman Sydney Airport for the UNISoN and KEYPAD Investigator Meetings.

The Investigator Meetings represented a key milestone in the lifecycle of two new renal cell trials led by Chief Investigator Dr Craig Gedye.

The UNISoN trial, in collaboration with the Centre for Biostatistics and Clinical Trials (BaCT), will test if checkpoint immunotherapy can work in non-clear cell kidney cancer. There are no reimbursed treatments currently available in Australia for patients with these rarer forms of kidney cancer. As part of the trial, the Hunter Cancer Biobank will assemble patients’ tumour blocks and blood tests, which will act as a valuable resource to look in depth at each person’s cancer to see why the treatment did or didn’t work. This correlative data will contribute to our understanding of the treatment of nonclear cell kidney cancer, and support further research and inform future trial development and grant applications.

The KEYPAD trial, in collaboration with NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre (CTC), will test the idea of repurposing the anti-RANK-ligand antibody denosumab as a co-immune checkpoint inhibitor when combined with the PD1 antibody pembrolizumab. This novel trial will improve understanding of the tolerability and effectiveness of this drug combination in the management of clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

The launch of both of these trials is testament to ANZUP’s concept development process. For more details about the process see page 25.

Full details are available via ANZCTR, clinicaltrials.gov, anzup.org.au and the ANZUP ClinTrial Refer app. Regular trial updates are emailed to members and tweeted via @ANZUPtrials.

See also the Renal Cell Subcommittee report on page 17.

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Focus on Dr Craig Gedye, Medical Oncologist at Calvary Mater Newcastle How did the concepts for KEYPAD and UNISoN come about?

Seeing the benefit of immune therapy in some cancers, we decided to test different ways to extend this benefit for renal cell carcinoma, going in two directions. Firstly, we worked to bring together denosumab, with the newer immune treatment pembrolizumab to see if the former helps the latter to work better. Secondly, while we know that immune therapy helps some people with clear cell kidney cancer, we don’t yet know if it will help people with non-clear cell renal cell cancer.

What would you say to any ANZUP members who have ideas / concepts which could potentially lead to a clinical trial but are not sure what to do?

Join the subcommittee teleconferences. Come to a Concept Development Workshop. Pick up the phone and give someone a call. We are all learning how to design better research and the exchange of ideas we have through these processes is highly effective and a great way to learn.

What drives you to put in all the hard work to turn a concept into a trial?

The extraordinary opportunity to be part of the scientific process in such an amazing way – all science is a step into the unknown, usually a small step, occasionally a giant leap. You might be right.

You might be wrong. If you are wrong, you have learned something important that helps you and other scientists. If you are right you have learned something important that helps you and people with cancer. Win-win!

...all science is a step into the unknown, usually a small step, occasionally a giant leap.

Trial News Focus on Laura Galletta, Clinical Trial Manager, Centre for Biostatistics and Clinical Trials (BaCT) What is your role in the UNISoN trial?

I am the Clinical Trial Manager for the UNISoN study based at the Centre for Biostatistics and Clinical Trials (BaCT) at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. ANZUP has contracted the services of BaCT to manage the study from the protocol development stage, through to study development, study conduct, follow-up and study close-out.

ANZUP and BaCT work collaboratively with the Chief Investigator to deliver the UNISoN study across 20 centres throughout Australia.

What do you hope the trial will achieve?

I hope the trial is successful in identifying a treatment option for patients who currently have no effective treatments available to treat their rare cancer type. Ultimately I hope it leads to better overall survival in this cohort of patients.

What would you say to any ANZUP members who have ideas / concepts which could potentially lead to a clinical trial but are not sure what to do?

Discuss and talk your ideas and concepts through with your colleagues/peers/mentors and others who have had experience in taking their ideas though the ANZUP concept development process. And of course, contact ANZUP, who are more than happy to provide direction and guidance in this process.

What do you love most about your job?

The variety of the role: from protocol/study development and project management through to data management, data analysis and report writing.

Each day is varied and provides new challenges.

Ultimately, it’s about closing out a study that has been running for 5+ years and knowing that it has had a positive outcome, led to change in clinical practice and has benefited the patients involved.

TheraP On 30 October, 45 people representing 10 cancer centres with nuclear expertise, plus representatives from the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) and ARTnet, came together in Melbourne for the Lu-PSMA TheraP advanced prostate cancer trial Investigator Meeting.

With close collaboration from medical oncology and nuclear medicine research teams integral to the success of this study, the meeting provided a forum for excellent clinician engagement.

Lu-PSMA is a targeted radiopharmaceutical with promising activity and tolerability in single arm studies of men with metastatic prostate cancer progressing after multiple lines of chemotherapy and endocrine therapy. The TheraP trial will compare Lu-PSMA against cabazitaxel, the best current treatment.

Men with metastatic prostate cancer who have previously been treated with chemotherapy and are considering cabazitaxel as the next treatment option will be randomised to receive either Lu-PSMA every six weeks or cabazitaxel every three weeks. Study endpoints include response, progression free survival, safety, pain and quality of life, as well as overall survival.

Chief Investigator A/Prof Michael Hofman will lead this phase 2 trial which aims to recruit 200 patients at 10 sites nationally.

The study is a partnership between ANZUP and the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia in collaboration with the NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre. It is supported by ANSTO and Endocyte.

Full details are available via ANZCTR, clinicaltrials.gov, anzup.org.au and the ClinTrial Refer app. See also the Prostate Cancer Subcommittee report on page 18.

See nuclear medicine physician A/Prof Michael Hofman discussing the TheraP trial with Prof Ian Davis at the 2017 ANZUP Annual Scientific Meeting. https://youtu.be/11VTzCzIryw ANZUP UPdate Summer 2017

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Preceptorship PRECEPTORSHIP CONSISTENTLY ‘ABOVE AND BEYOND’ EXPECTATIONS

On 4 and 5 November, 36 trainees came together for a day and a half of intense learning under the guidance of five ANZUP preceptors and convenor Professor Eva Segelov.

Consistently rated ‘above and beyond’ expectations, the 2017 Prostate Cancer Preceptorship in collaboration with the Monash Institute for Health and Clinical Education (MIHCE) didn’t disappoint. With most attendees citing career development as their motivation for taking part, the pathways small group discussions, seminal papers, quiz the expert sessions and interactive multidisciplinary nature of the course provided excellent take home value.

Participants prepared papers in advance with awards for the best presentations during the Preceptorship given to medical oncology fellow Madeleine Strach and registrar Tran Quan.

Thank you to Eva Segelov, preceptors Arun Azad, Howard Gurney, George Hruby, Jarad Martin and Declan Murphy who gave up their time to ensure another fantastic workshop. Thanks also to our 2017 sponsors Astellas, Ipsen, Janssen and Tolmar without their support we couldn’t support our members attendance.

To stay up to date with future learning and development opportunities, visit www.anzup.org.au and follow us on Twitter @ANZUPtrials.

10 | ANZUP UPdate Summer 2017

“Very clinically appropriate with good, short, sharp consultant input.”

“The interaction level is a lot higher and much more discussion [than other preceptorships]. This in conjunction with the pre-reading and presentations leads to a much more productive meeting and I learnt a lot more this way. Also, lots of practical questions answered that effect day to day practice rather than theory of things that may or may not be useful in the future.”

“Thank you for your time in putting together the prostate cancer preceptorship. It was really useful, particularly the first day with all the trials around radiation oncology and surgery that I wouldn’t otherwise have come across. The preceptors were great, fantastic to have a surgeon and two radiation oncologists as well and the med oncs were great as well.”

Best of GU QUINTESSENTIAL SYDNEY EVENING FOR ESSENTIAL GU LEARNING On Wednesday 8 November, more than 60 medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, urologists, trial coordinators, nurses and trainees gathered in Darling Harbour to hear from some of the best minds in GU oncology.

Attendees were treated to a beautiful Sydney backdrop for the 2017 Best of GU Oncology Evening Symposium as Chair Henry Woo introduced an impressive line-up including Shankar Siva, Ian Davis, Haryana Dhillon, Peter Croucher, Daniel Heng and Venu Chalasani.

Hot topics included Shankar Siva talking timing immunotherapy and radiotherapy to maximize the abscopal effect, Ian Davis discussing expert consensus in prostate cancer care, Haryana Dhillon’s ground up view of cancer survival and survivorship, Peter Croucher’s exploration of bone metastasis in prostate cancer and Venu Chalasani’s entertaining use of Star Wars to map the bladder cancer landscape.

“The ANZUP Best of GU was very good – a select audience, but great presenters, and lots of engagement.”

A highlight for many attendees was international renal cell expert Daniel Heng sharing the perspective of the International mRCC Database Consortium – a group which has grown from just 69 patients on his laptop to 8,000 patients across 35 institutions.

Thank you to all this year’s speakers and the 2017 sponsors Astellas, AstraZeneca, Janssen, Novartis and Tolmar.

ANZUP UPdate Summer 2017 | 11

Pedalthon Sydney ONE MAN’S IDEA TO A MILLION DOLLARS On Tuesday 19 September, ANZUP reached an incredible milestone as nearly 250 riders took to the track at Sydney Motorsport Park for the fourth annual Below the Belt Pedalthon. The Pedalthon had everything riders and supporters have come to expect, but this year there was an added buzz as the fundraising topped $1 million raised in just four years.

As the sun rose on a beautiful clear day at Eastern Creek, riders from 48 teams took up their positions in the pit lane garages where they fine-tuned bikes, secured timing chips, adjusted lycra and fuelled up on fresh fruit and lollies. Pedalthon Founder Simon Clarke and ambassador Olympic track cyclist Kaarle McCulloch officially started the race as captains from the 30 teams who have attended every Pedalthon released balloons into the air.

For the next three hours, the serious formed a tight peloton while the not so serious enjoyed the opportunity for a leisurely cycle on a world class race track. Live results allowed riders to track their lap count while massages and a mobile bike mechanic were on hand for sore muscles and clunky gears. After the main event, each team’s speed demons were invited to compete in the furious fastest lap challenge.

With the pedalling over, Simon took the opportunity to speak about his journey and was thrilled to announce that the million dollar target had been achieved – with donations still rolling in. Medals and prizes were presented over lunch and, for the first time this year, four Below the Belt Research Fund recipients participated in a Q&A. Ben Smith, Ben Tran, Haryana Dhillon and Lisa Horvath gave an overview of their studies being funded by the Pedalthon and answered questions in what was considered by many as a highlight of the day.

Thank you to everyone who played a part in the 2017 event and to sponsors Gresham, Pfizer Oncology and Astellas.

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Congratulations to all the winners Below the Belt Champions: NSW Police Force (164 laps)

Community Team Winner: NSW Police Force

Individual Best Dressed: Tandem bike riders

Diversified Team Winner: Designcycle

Best Dressed Team: Skid Marks

Industrial Team Winner: Origin Peak Power Racers

Fastest Lap - Male: William Fraser

Professional Services Team Winner: Norton Rose Fulbright Racers

Fastest Lap - Female: Belinda Diprose King of the Mountain: Mitchell Dixon Queen of the Mountain: Belinda Diprose Most Laps - Male: Jason Smith Most Laps - Female: Belinda Diprose

Medical and Pharma Team Winner: Pfizer Oncology Team Racers Winner 2 Fastest Laps: William Fraser Fundraising Team Champions: Clayton Utz Women Individual Fundraising Champion: Lawrie Tremaine

Fundraising and research “The biggest impact often comes from the smallest act” Do you have an idea that could help support ANZUP and our clinical trials program? If Simon Clarke had dismissed his initial idea, or didn’t talk to his treating doctor Peter Grimison about what he wanted to do, the Pedalthon wouldn’t exist. From his own experience, Simon now says that “the biggest impact often comes from the smallest act”.

Below the Belt Research Fund Thanks to the Pedalthon, in 2017 the Below the Belt Research Fund provided much needed seed funding to support seven ANZUP members to progress new trial ideas to the point of becoming full scale studies. This year’s incredible fundraising efforts mean $255,000 will be available for research grants in 2018.

A call for applications will open in February 2018.

Follow @ANZUPtrials on Twitter for the latest news.

Although there have been many people involved over the past four years, it was Simon who sowed the first seeds and Peter who connected him with ANZUP to grow them into a hugely successful event raising awareness for ANZUP and supporting innovative research. If you have an idea, or you have a patient who has an idea, talk to us at anzup@anzup.org.au. The journey to thae next clinical trial could be in your hands.

Melbourne here we come!

Following on from the success of the Sydney Pedalthon, ANZUP is delighted to be taking the race to Melbourne on Sunday 18 March 2018. .

ANZUP UPdate Summer 2017 | 13

UPDATES FROM SAC & SUBCOMMITTEES Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) The ANZUP Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) is appointed by the Board on the recommendations of the various professional groups represented on the SAC, with yearly review of the membership. The subcommittee chairs are also members of the SAC. The SAC steers the scientific direction of ANZUP. We rely on SAC members to provide insight and advice as to key issues in the areas relevant to us, and to provide expertise as we assess various trial proposals. This becomes particularly important when we have several trials competing for similar resources, such as concepts in the same clinical setting, or multiple proposals from one subcommittee. The SAC works in the context of the ANZUP strategic plan and allows us to prioritise those questions. We also rely on SAC members to provide expertise in assessment of various ANZUP grant disbursement processes such as the Below the Belt Research Fund.

The SAC holds an annual face-to-face meeting at the ASM to which all ANZUP members are invited. This allows the broader membership to see how the SAC operates.

The SAC agenda is broadly divided into two sections: oversight of and reporting against current clinical trials, including those that are advanced in development; and a more strategic component. This allows the SAC to provide advice to members and subcommittees (the “engine rooms” of our ANZUP ship) and also recommendations to the Board (which will help set up mechanisms including funding processes and agreements wherever possible, to support the work).

14 | ANZUP UPdate Summer 2017

In 2018, the SAC’s face-to-face strategic meeting will look back at the considerable progress ANZUP has made over the last 10 years and discuss where the next 10 years might take us.

I’m delighted that two of our international SAC members have agreed to join us at the 2018 ASM as keynote speakers. Chris Sweeney (prostate cancer guru from Dana Farber and international man of mystery) and Bertrand Tombal (Belgian urologist, Chair of EORTC, and singlehandedly increasing the world’s average IQ) will be part of our outstanding international faculty.

The SAC has been very responsive to requests made of it with short notice, such as when important but timeconstrained opportunities occur. The SAC decided at its strategic planning meeting in November that it would establish an executive to allow more streamlined and timely responses to such events. Some models for the executive have been proposed and are being considered by the Board.

Many thanks to all members of the SAC and to those who contribute to its work through the subcommittees and in other ways, through extraordinarily generous donations of time and expertise. We are very grateful for your support.

IAN DAVIS Chair, ANZUP Scientific Advisory Committee

Bladder Cancer Below the Belt Fund supports two bladder cancer projects Two ANZUP bladder subcommittee projects received funding through the Below the Belt Research Fund this year. Dennis Taaffe received support for an innovative concept trialling peri-operative exercise physiotherapy in patients undergoing cystectomy for bladder cancer. It’s hoped this preliminary feasibility and efficacy trial will lead to a future ANZUP led multi-centre randomised trial.

Funding was also received to support the ANZUP co-operative multi-centre cystectomy database.

This essential data collection project aims to inform clinicians, patients and trials groups of contemporaneous surgical outcomes in Australia and New Zealand and will support planning, administration and delivery of future clinical trials in this area.

Currently recruiting trials BCGMM: A randomised phase III trial adding mitomycin C to BCG as adjuvant intravesical therapy for high-risk, non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer BCGMM has reached the planned accrual for stage 1! Congratulations to all those who have helped us overcome the many obstacles to reach this significant and important milestone. There are currently 149 patients on study and we await the outcome of the NHMRC funding application for the second stage of the trial. As many will be aware this study was conceived in two stages but has been planned and budgeted to allow seamless recruitment between funding cycles. We currently have fantastic momentum with accrual edging ahead of projections, so please do keep up the good work.

PCR MIB: Pembrolizumab with Chemoradiotherapy as treatment for muscle invasive bladder cancer This MSD-supported Phase 1 study is open at 5 sites across Australia with 4 out of the planned 30 patients recruited so far. Recruitment has been challenging largely related to Australasian patterns of care for patients with muscle invasive bladder cancer.

I encourage all clinicians to remember this novel and innovative ANZUP trial when discussing patients at your various MDTs and please consider referring to one of the recruiting centres if you have a suitable patient.

Patient Reported Symptom Index in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer This University of Sydney study, formally co-badged with ANZUP involves developing NMIBC cancer specific quality of life tools which can be used to assess patient experience and compare outcomes in the context of clinical trials. Field testing continues with 170 patients recruited across 9 sites thus far.

RAIDER-B RAIDER-B an international multi-centre phase II study in muscle invasive bladder cancer examining adaptive radiotherapy techniques that has now opened in 9 UK sites. Currently 11 sites in Australia and New Zealand are open with 6 patients recruited.

DICKON HAYNE Chair Bladder Cancer Subcommittee

Dennis Taaffe received support for an innovative concept trialling perioperative exercise physiotherapy in patients undergoing cystectomy for bladder cancer. It’s hoped this preliminary feasibility and efficacy trial will lead to a future ANZUP led multi-centre randomised trial.

ANZUP UPdate Summer 2017 | 15

Germ Cell Phase III RCT of Accelerated BEP (plus translational sub study) This randomised trial of chemotherapy with accelerated BEP versus standard BEP for patients with intermediate or poor-risk advanced germ cell tumours is supported by Cancer Council Australia and Cancer Australia, and is currently open at 25 ANZ sites. 43 patients have been recruited.

Studies in ongoing development TIGER: Movember is generously supporting ANZUP’s participation in the TIGER study. This very important international randomised trial for refractory and relapsed germ cell tumours, of high-dose chemotherapy with TICE versus conventional dose chemotherapy with TIP, is led by Alliance. ANZUP continues to work with the CTC and Alliance to open the study at up to seven ANZ sites. iTestis: iTestis is a detailed database with a user-friendly web-based interface that will facilitate prospective collection of high quality clinical data. Additionally, it will record tissue location data from germ cell tumour (GCT) patients treated in Australia.

We continue to work with collaborators from Cambridge Clinical Trials Unit (with 1 site open) and Children’s Oncology Group (with recent full approval on 29 September, now working on contracts) to open the The vision is for study in additional sites in the UK and USA. Version 3.0 of the protocol, 70% of Australia’s which allows recruitment germ cell tumour of paediatric patients aged 11 years patient population to and over, and female patients, has have data collected been approved at most ANZ sites.

If you have any questions in relation within iTestis, and then to this study, please email to consider rolling p3bep@ctc.usyd.edu.au.

ANZUP Stage I Testicular Cancer Follow-up Recommendations

out to interested international parties.

Evidence-based recommendations for the follow-up of stage I testicular cancer continue to be available on the ANZUP website. They include a clinician guideline, patient handout, and excel calculator (which generates a personalised schedule).

The germ cell tumour subcommittee is now working on a survey to assess how the recommendations might have impacted clinical practice. e-TC 2.0: a prospective study of an eHealth intervention for TC survivors led by Drs Ben Smith and Louise Heniger in collaboration with PoCoG, building on the successful e-TC study. The website is now available and the pilot study continues to recruit patients with significant anxiety and/or depression. Please contact Ben Smith ben.smith@unsw.edu.au for more information, see page 23 for more details.

16 | ANZUP UPdate Summer 2017

In doing so, iTestis will add to the academic milieu by: • d escribing the current practice patterns of Australian clinicians • f acilitating both local and multinational retrospective research projects • facilitating translational research • p roviding a platform from which a series of registry based clinical trials can be conducted.

iTestis has received Below the Belt funding and is now in database development. Once the database is developed, and piloted, iTestis will be rolled out to selected high volume centres with interested and engaged investigators. The vision is for 70% of Australia’s germ cell tumour patient population to have data collected within iTestis, and then to consider rolling out to interested international parties.

Hypogonadism in Germ Cell Tumour patients: At the last Concept Development Workshop brainstorming session, there was a lot of enthusiasm to explore the role of testosterone replacement in mild hypogonadal GCT patients. Subsequently, a meeting at the ANZUP ASM following the Germ Cell Masterclass was held, where medical oncologists, urologists and endocrinologists discussed the pros and cons of testosterone replacement.

Currently, a concept is being developed to assess the potential benefits of testosterone replacement in selected patients. It is still early days, so we will keep you posted.

Germ Cell International collaborations Translational Research Projects (Movember GAP5) As Deputy Chair of the Germ Cell Subcommittee, I am pleased to be leading ANZUP’s involvement in two important translational research projects. The first is the GAP5 Translational Research Project, funded by Movember, which aims to identifying the biological drivers of platinum resistance in this cohort of men.

The study will start very soon, with some ANZUP sites contributing tissue to this collaboration. It is hoped that ANZUP and its Australian collaborators will have the opportunity to participate in these projects.

IGCCCG 2.0 Prof Guy Toner, ANZUP co-chair, together with ANZUP fellow Dr Nicola Lawrence and ANZUP statistician Dr Andrew Martin are coordinating the provision of data to an EORTC-led international collaboration to update clinical prognostication in metastatic germ cell tumours, ‘IGCCCG 2.0’. Data from the ANZ Germ Cell Trials Group “Good prognosis” study and the ANZUP Phase II study of accelerated BEP are being provided.

Call for new members The Germ Cell Subcommittee always welcomes new members including trainees who will contribute to research activity. Please encourage your interested colleagues and trainees to join the subcommittee.

We are a multi-disciplinary group, and we encourage participation of members not only from medical oncology, but also from surgery, radiation oncology, nursing, psycho-oncology, and basic science. Again, I thank the efforts of investigators, staff from ANZUP and the CTC, and patients for these achievements.

BEN TRAN Deputy Chair, Germ Cell Subcommittee

Renal Cell The Renal Cell Subcommittee has been extremely active in the last quarter, with the final stages of development of both the KEYPAD and UNISoN clinical trials culminating in the Investigator Meetings for these trials held back-to-back in Sydney on 4 October. These were well attended and we are extremely excited that sites across Australia (and in future hopefully also New Zealand) are now opening these trials. At the time of writing, UNISoN has opened at 6 sites and KEYPAD at 3 sites.

The KEYPAD trial will test the idea of repurposing the anti-RANK-ligand antibody denosumab as a coimmune checkpoint inhibitor when combined with the PD1 antibody pembrolizumab. We hypothesize that denosumab can inhibit macrophage activity in clear cell renal cell carcinoma and improve the effectiveness of PD1 blockage by up to 15%. 70 patients will be recruited across up to 15 sites in the next year, and patients’ tumour and blood samples will form a rich resource for detailed translational substudies. We are grateful to MSD and Amgen for supporting the study, and NHMRC CTC who will coordinate the study.

The UNISON study tests another set of ideas; does checkpoint immunotherapy work in non-clear cell kidney cancer? Who will benefit from single agent anti-PD1 immunotherapy, and who might need more toxic double agent immunotherapy? Will these drugs be as effective as common clear cell kidney cancer? We are grateful to BMS who are supporting this trial, and BaCT who will coordinate the study.

With new angiogenesis inhibitors looking for their place in RCC management, and data showing the benefit of immunotherapy as a first-line therapy there are many questions we need to examine in the management of kidney cancer, so the Renal Cell Subcommittee looks forward to another busy year. Join us!

CRAIG GEDYE Chair, Renal Cell Subcommittee

ANZUP UPdate Summer 2017 | 17

Prostate We continue to have no slowing down in the Prostate Subcommittee, with both current trial activity and new concepts being equally busy. Our enzalutamide studies continue to have high recognition on the international stage. ENZAMET, having fully enrolled its 1,125 participants more than six months ago, is now the focus of much behind the scenes work in data preparation and finalisation of the analysis plan.

The presentation of the primary endpoint data (overall survival) is keenly awaited early next year. There is now considerable focus on management and investigation of the large translational resource of this study.

ENZARAD has now enrolled 667 of the planned 800 participants, with current estimates suggesting full accrual around mid-2018. Our first EORTC site has recently activated, making this very much a global protocol now. TROG continues to support the radiation QA components of the study superbly, and thanks go out to the numerous members of the QA committee who volunteer their time to review all the incoming work there. We look forward to the study remaining high in the minds of our large team of investigators and a prompt completion.

The proPSMA trial is the randomised trial of first-line 67 Ga-PSMA imaging compared to conventional CT and bone scan imaging, led by ARTnet and co-badged with ANZUP. This study is accruing strongly, with over 70 of the 200 patients aimed for already enrolled.

Several proposals to help develop international trial concepts or join protocols in an intergroup fashion have also been discussed recently.

Many of these are of high interest to the membership...

The ANZUP-led Pain-Free TRUS-B study is now randomising patients at seven centres.

This trial is investigating whether the addition of inhaled methoxyflurane to local anaesthesia improves the pain, discomfort and experience of TRUS biopsy.

At the time of writing, 161 men have been randomised (of 420) at a relatively steady rate.

Our newest study is TheraP, the multicentre randomised phase II comparing lutetium-177 PSMA radionuclide therapy to cabazitaxel chemotherapy following progression after first-line chemotherapy, co-badged with ARTnet. With considerable support from industry, 18 | ANZUP UPdate Summer 2017

we have the ability to enrol 200 men to what will be the first definitive randomised trial of this exciting novel therapy. Having been awarded the inaugural ANZUPPCFA Partnership Grant at the Concept Development Workshop last year, the study has now passed ethical review and only awaiting some multicentre governance review issues prior to activation. An Investigator Meeting was held recently for all the sites participating, and the first patient is expected to be enrolled any day now.

In other business, another ANZUP Prostate Cancer Preceptorship was recently run in Melbourne. Participants representing many disciplines worked over the day and a half to ensure another very successful venture, and thanks go out to all the mentors who provided their time and expertise, as well as our terrific moderator, Eva Segelov.

Several proposals to help develop international trial concepts or join protocols in an intergroup fashion have also been discussed recently. Many of these are of high interest to the membership, and we will work through the issues related to implementing these. As always, new concepts can be submitted through the subcommittee at any time, along with identification of opportunities for ANZUP to join established studies.

SCOTT WILLIAMS Chair, Prostate Cancer Subcommittee

Translational Research The Translational Research Subcommittee remains highly active and many exciting projects are looming, mainly tied in with the array of clinical trials ANZUP is conducting.

Translational specimen collection is ongoing in several ANZUP trials including ENZAMET, ENZARAD, P3BEP, BCGMM and BL12. Thank you to all the participating sites for their hard work in collecting these samples. I might be biased but in my opinion the only thing better than conducting these great clinical trials is also collecting precious patient biological samples for future correlative studies.

finessing these proposals to specific funding schemes will be critical to success and as part of that process we will be reaching out to national and international collaborators with specific scientific expertise in relevant areas. These proposals will also be adaptable to the correlative studies for ENZARAD.

Translational specimen collection is ongoing in several ANZUP trials including ENZAMET, ENZARAD, P3BEP, BCGMM and BL12.

Having said that, the future is now (or on the horizon) for ENZAMET. A working group comprising myself, Lisa Horvath, Chris Sweeney, Ian Davis and Martin Stockler, has begun putting together project proposals that encompass the breadth of potential studies submitted by ANZUP members. Clearly,

Translational studies are also planned for the recently opened UNISoN and KEYPAD trials. Craig Gedye has put together a wide range of potential translational work for KEYPAD. I am working with him to develop a similar suite of translational studies for UNISoN. It is very gratifying to see the Translational Research Subcommittee gradually integrating into the core business of ANZUP i.e. conducting high-quality and impactful clinical trials for urological cancers. I look forward to further engagement with ANZUP-led clinical trials and will bring you updates on our progress in the next newsletter.

A/PROF ARUN AZAD Chair Translational Research Subcomittee

Free ClinTrial Refer ANZUP App The ClinTrial Refer ANZUP app provides a current list of clinical research trials conducted in cancer centres in Australia and New Zealand.

Designed for oncologists, general practitioners, research unit staff and patients, ClinTrial Refer ANZUP has searchable clinical research trial details, hospital locations and contacts, and inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Available for download from

Apple iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/clintrial-refer-anzup/id894317413?mt=8 Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lps.anzup&hl=en

ANZUP UPdate Summer 2017 | 19

Quality of Life and Supportive Care Delivering tailored exercise support to men with metastatic prostate cancer via the internet

Exercise Medicine Prior to Open Radical Cystectomy: Feasibility and Preliminary Efficacy

A second study has also been funded by the Below the Belt Research Fund. Radical cystectomy is an aggressive therapy for those with muscle-invasive Our Below the Belt funded or recurrent bladder cancer that is associated with project, which aims to develop substantial morbidity, complication and readmission and pilot test an online rates, and mortality. This study will examine if a shortexercise application for men with metastatic prostate term program of exercise (combining resistance and cancer, is underway. Exercise is known to be beneficial aerobic training for up to 4 weeks) prior to surgery for improving quality of life among men with metastatic is feasible to undertake in these patients and can disease but few men have access to specialised enhance physical function prior to surgery, and guidance needed to optimise benefits and ensure reduce length of hospital stay and complications safety. While there are some face-to-face programs following surgery. The study has available, many men live too far been approved by the Edith away, are too unwell or lack funds Cowan University Human Research to attend face-to-face sessions, Ethics Committee and has been especially on an ongoing basis.

Exercise is known submitted for approval to the The project aims to develop an Southern Metropolitan Health to be beneficial for online system capable of providing Service Ethics Committee in WA. improving quality of automated evidence-based advice For information about the study based on the extent and location life among men with please contact Dennis Taaffe at of metastases and other common metastatic disease d.taaffe@ecu.edu.au. health issues. The program will also but few men have incorporate aspects of exercise Supportive care access to specialised psychology, designed to help men intervention adopt and maintain exercise habits. guidance needed to

optimise benefits and ensure safety.

To inform the development of the online program the research team are currently seeking men diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer to participate in a telephone interview. The interview will last for 25-30 minutes, and explore daily activities, attitudes towards exercise and preferences for online services. Participants can reside anywhere in Australia. Once developed, the website will be pilot-tested in a lab-based setting to ensure the safety and accuracy of advice before commencing the randomised controlled trial of the website in 2018 to establish impact on exercise and quality of life. For more information please contact the lead researcher Dr Camille Short on camille.short@adelaide.edu.au.

20 | ANZUP UPdate Summer 2017

for advanced prostate cancer

A new project has commenced to develop a supportive care intervention for men with advanced prostate cancer. In depth interviews have been completed with 28 men facing this health challenge and a manuscript describing men’s key concerns and preferences for care is under review.

Health professional interviews have commenced with a national multidisciplinary sample with the intervention under development.

Contact for this project is Suzanne Chambers at suzanne.chambers@griffith.edu.au.

SUZANNE CHAMBERS Chair, Quality of Life and Supportive Care Subcommittee

Consumer Advisory Panel (CAP) Is it really only a week until the Christmas break? Another year has now flown by, which is what happens when you are busy and have lots to achieve. Time becomes the challenge but on reflection I think the CAP, which is a very collaborative team, has once again supported ANZUP’s research portfolio in a very positive way.

We have had one meeting since the ASM and the second half of the year is always quieter with the trials we have commented on earlier in the year being finalised to start recruitment.

We have of course been attending the disease subcommittee meetings and some of the CAP sit on various Trial Management Committees (TMCs). With three new trials opening there will be further opportunities to be involved through the subcommittees and TMCs.

Our aim is for trials to be considered as part of an initial diagnosis and treatment discussions, not as a last resort.

The CAP is also working on a project in conjunction with the ANZUP management team to further promote and educate people about the benefits of participating in a clinical trial. Our aim is for trials to be considered as part of an initial diagnosis and treatment discussions, not as a last resort. Obviously the ANZUP membership is well versed in clinical trials, however many patients are treated

FREE to Join!

outside of the bigger institutions and not in an MDT setting so are not exposed to the benefits of trials.

We hope our short and sharp video will better inform the community and empower patients to ask their treating team about ALL options available so a well-informed decision can be made about the best treatment plan.

It is still early days but draft outlines are starting to take shape. We have an approval process to ensure the information is sending the right message and a few of us are working together to consider potential funding options. We will keep you posted on our progress.

A couple of CAP members attended the 2017 Pedalthon which was once again a huge success. We congratulate the ANZUP team and all the volunteers on the smooth organisation of this event.

We are looking forward to the 2018 Melbourne Pedalthon on Sunday 18 March – it would be great to see many of you there to support what will be another fantastic event.

I would particularly like to thank the CAP for stepping up and offering very helpful feedback as requested. We look forward to supporting ANZUP’s many activities again during 2018. Until then we wish everyone a happy and healthy festive season with your family and friends.

BELINDA JAGO Chair, Consumer Advisory Panel

“Friends of ANZUP” is a new initiative connecting people whose lives have been impacted by prostate, kidney, bladder or testicular cancers.

Friends of ANZUP provides: • Information about the benefits of clinical trials and how to access them • Support from people who understand the challenges • Biannual community magazine, ‘A little below the belt’ • Invitation to Community Engagement Forums Please refer consumers to “Friends of ANZUP” and help us achieve our mission to improve the outcomes and treatment for those living with prostate, kidney, bladder and testicular cancers. Find out more at: http://www.anzup.org.au/friendsofanzup.aspx

ANZUP UPdate Summer 2017 | 21

OTHER NEWS 2017 ASTELLAS YOUNG INVESTIGATOR AT ASTRO

By Associate Professor Shankar Siva I am very grateful for the opportunity afforded to me

by Astellas and ANZUP through the Young Investigator Award to attend the American Society of Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Annual Scientific Meeting from 23–27 September. ASTRO is the peak international radiation oncology meeting and was held in San Diego, California.

The award supported my capacity to present my submitted abstract, entitled: “An Individual Patient Data Meta-analysis of SBRT Kidney: A Report from the International Radiosurgery Oncology Consortium for Kidney (IROCK)”, abstract 330.

It was selected in the top 5 GU abstracts at ASTRO and highlighted in the GU scientific highlights session on 25 September. It was also featured in the subsequent Best of ASTRO meeting in Miami, Florida on 10 November 2017.

Attendance at an international scientific meeting of this magnitude was extremely beneficial for my career development and provided an opportunity to network with experts in the GU oncology space, and I am again very appreciative of the support provided by this joint initiative from ANZUP and Astellas.

AWARDS AND FELLOWSHIPS ANZUP supports and develops urogenital cancer research with a number of awards, fellowships and grants. Where possible we secure funding to support clinical research training positions and provide learning and development opportunities for the next generation of clinical researchers. As well as securing funding for trials and pilot studies, ANZUP supports members and trainees to attend the Annual Scientific Meeting in July to share ideas and maximise networking opportunities.

ANZUP currently offers around 50 fellowships, scholarships and awards thanks to the ongoing support of our sponsors. For further information, including eligibility criteria and 2018 application dates, see www.anzup.org.au.

Current awards and fellowships: Janssen ANZUP Nursing/ Allied Health Scholarship Award (up to $10,000) ANZUP Nursing/ Allied Health Scholarship Award (up to $10,000)

ANZUP Tolmar Fellowship ($60,000) Astellas Young Investigator of the Year Award (up to $10,000) ASM ANZUP/ Bayer Travel Scholarships (approx. 30 scholarships)

ASM Trial Coordinator Scholarships (approx. 12 scholarships) ANZUP/ Astellas Best of the Best Awards (4 awards)

2018 CANCER INSTITUTE NSW GRANTS A number of Cancer Institute NSW competitive grants are now open to individuals and organisations that implement relevant programs, resources and research that align to the goals and objectives of the NSW Cancer Plan. Grants which may be of interest to ANZUP members include research equipment, early career fellowships and career development fellowships. For more information, visit https://www.cancerinstitute.org.au/data-research/grants/open-grants.

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OTHER NEWS 2016 TOLMAR FELLOWSHIP – PERSONALISED MEDICINE FOR PATIENTS WITH ADVANCED PROSTATE CANCER By A/Prof Arun Azad Personalised cancer medicine is centred on matching a drug (or drugs) to an individual patient depending on the molecular or genomic profile of their cancer.

Although this approach is delivering tangible benefits in many cancers including non-small cell lung cancer and melanoma among others, personalised medicine has proven elusive for men with advanced prostate cancer. One of the key reasons for this is that obtaining metastatic tissue from men with advanced prostate cancer is very challenging. This has underpinned efforts to use other biological samples for molecular and genomic profiling.

During my fellowship in Vancouver and after returning to Monash University, I have been heavily involved in the development of circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) assays for advanced prostate cancer patients. With the generous support of multiple funding partners including Tolmar,

we have developed a cutting-edge ctDNA assay for genomic profiling of advanced prostate cancer using 4-8ml plasma. During the past 12 months, my laboratory has made significant progress in the wet-lab development of our ctDNA assay with the ability to detect gene mutations at frequencies of under 1%. We are currently working with collaborators at Monash University to optimise sophisticated bioinformatic algorithms for rapidly analysing the huge amounts of sequencing data we are getting from ctDNA. I am very grateful to all of our funding partners and in particular Tolmar and ANZUP for their support.

e-TC – THE ROAD TO 40 PATIENTS I recently received some great feedback from an e-TC participant, who has written a blog about his experience of using e-TC (visit ‘A ballsy sense of tumor’). e-TC is an online psychological intervention aimed at reducing anxiety, depression and fear of cancer recurrence in testicular cancer survivors. The feedback highlights what a fantastic resource has been created by everybody on the team.

Although it’s very gratifying, one person’s feedback is not enough to scientifically demonstrate the value of e-TC, so it’s important that we keep pushing towards our target of 40 participants to effectively evaluate its feasibility and acceptability. Currently

By Dr Ben Smith

we have 25/40 participants signed up, so keep up the good work everybody! If anybody has ideas or needs help with recruitment please get in touch.

I want to thank ANZUP for their support of the e-TC project through the Below the Belt Research Fund. In September, I took part in the 2017 Pedalthon as a way of expressing my appreciation for the support and to give something back.

Congrats to the ANZUP team for putting on such a fantastic event, which has been very successful in raising both awareness and money for below the belt cancer research.

ANZUP UPdate Summer 2017 | 23

OTHER NEWS

TALKING UROLOGY CAPTURES ASM INSIGHTS Almost 40 interviews took place at the Talking Urology booth at the ASM in July. While most are podcasts, a number were also made into videos featuring experts giving highlights of their meeting presentations. The Talking Urology ASM video series features international speakers Alex Kutikov, Peter Black and Silke Gillessen, alongside national experts Ada Cheung, David Quinn, Dennis Taaffe,

Lisa Horvath and Matthew Roberts. The series is now available to view on the ANZUP Trials YouTube channel and in the 2017 ASM resources section of the ANZUP website.

For more short, sharp and interesting podcasts that you can listen to in your car while driving to work follow @Talking_Urology or visit www.talkingurology.com.au.

HELPING US MAKE A BETTER ANZUP In early 2017 we conducted a member survey to find out what you thought of ANZUP communications. We learnt you enjoy our newsletters and consumer magazine; you highly rate our meetings and workshops and would overwhelmingly recommend membership to others. We also learnt we could do more to make our website more user-friendly and we need to work harder to communicate information about resources that are available to you including the ANZUP ClinTrial Refer app. We take all your feedback on board and work to improve our communication and website is ongoing.

As ANZUP approaches its 10th anniversary in 2018, we’d like to again ask you what you value about ANZUP and what we can do to support your research endeavours. Please help us by completing our short survey. If you choose to add your email address you will go into the draw to win a $200 David Jones voucher.

Thank you for your time!

Have a Safe and Happy Holiday 24 | ANZUP UPdate Summer 2017

CLICK HERE TO PARTICIPATE

EVENTS USANZ NZ SECTION MEETING In October, ANZUP Chair Ian Davis and CEO Marg McJannett attended the USANZ New Zealand Section Meeting and NZ Urological Nurses Society Conference in Tauranga to provide an update on ANZUP’s trials, activities and performance against the 2016–18 Strategic Plan. The Genito Urinary Meeting, chaired by ANZUP Board member Nick Buchan, took place on the first day of the conference with Ian presenting to a packed audience.

2018 CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS Face to face Concept Development Workshops (CDW) for each of the cancers ANZUP focuses on will be held in the second quarter of 2018.

Any ANZUP member is welcome to submit concepts to the multidisciplinary Concept Development Working Groups to review and receive feedback from medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, surgeons, nurses, statisticians, allied health, psycho oncologists and health economists.

Although concepts can be brought to the disease-specific subcommittees at any time, CDWs are an increasingly important part of ANZUP’s core business and most new concepts are discussed at one in the first instance. The workshops provide a platform to give and receive invaluable feedback, enabling research to be further developed into high quality proposals.

2018 CDW dates:

The ANZUP concept development process:

IDEA

CDW

SAC

WORKING GROUP

• New idea or concept • Complete concept outline

• Reviewed by MDT • Written feedback

• S AC endorsement based on subcommittee recommendations

• W orking group for development, mentoring and support

Kidney 11 April (Sydney) Bladder 20 April (Sydney) Germ Cell 30 April (Sydney) Prostate 15 May (Melbourne)

ANZUP UPdate Summer 2017 | 25

EVENT CALENDAR Upcoming 2018 events 8 - 10 FEBRUARY

ASCO GU, San Francisco

FRI 23 FEBRUARY ANZUP Asia-Pacific Advanced Prostate Cancer Consensus Conference (APCCC) Satellite Meeting, Melbourne

24 - 27 FEBRUARY

USANZ ASM, Melbourne

SUN 18 MARCH

ANZUP Below the Belt Pedalthon, Melbourne

19 - 22 MARCH

TROG ASM, Hobart

4 - 7 APRIL

ANZGOG ASM, Brisbane

26 - 27 APRIL

WFNMB Congress meeting, Cairns (ANZUP co-badged)

1-5 JUNE

ASCO Annual Meeting, Chicago

8-10 JULY

ANZUP ASM, Sydney

IN MEMORIAM VALE PAUL KATRIS ANZUP was shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the sudden death of Paul Katris, a highly respected and much-loved member of the cancer community, on Saturday 18 November 2017.

In his key roles as Executive Officer of the Western Australian Clinical Oncology Group (WACOG) and editor of WACOG’s newsletter Cancer Matters, he was a tireless advocate for health professional education and the wellbeing of people with cancer.

Paul was also the registrar for the WA Cancer Clinical Trials Registry, Chair of the Complementary and Integrative Therapies Group of the Clinical Oncology Society of Australia (COSA), a committed member of the COSA Council, Psycho-Oncology Co-operative Research Group (PoCoG) and an ANZUP member since 2011.

His dedication and professionalism gained him lasting respect in his home state and across Australia and he will be very sadly missed by all. ANZUP extends our sincere condolences to all Paul’s family, friends and colleagues.

26 | ANZUP UPdate Summer 2017

OUR THANKS Thank you to our 2017 Corporate Partners and Supporters We are very grateful for the infrastructure support we receive from Cancer Australia; however the funds are not sufficient to support ANZUP’s increasing research activities. In 2017 many of our events, grants and activities required significant help. Fortunately our Corporate Supporter program has continued to grow. For an extraordinary year of partnerships we thank Active Display Group, The Saturday Paper and Bloke as well as our fantastic corporate partners:

REGISTRATIONS & ABSTRACTS OPEN 5 FEB EARLYBIRD REGISTRATIONS CLOSE 9 MAY ABSTRACTS & CONCEPTS CLOSE 3 APRIL

ANNUAL SCIENTIFIC MEETING

8-10 JULY 2018

HYATT REGENCY SYDNEY

#ANZUP18

Putting People First Program highlights include:

Our outstanding international faculty includes:

• Leading international and Australian experts

Tamim Niazi – Radiation Oncologist at the Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Canada

• U p-to-date management and research for prostate and other genitourinary cancers • PCFA ANZUP Nurses Symposium • Translational Research Symposium • Clinical trial Concept Development Workshop • Overviews of current and planned ANZUP trials • ANZUP MDT Masterclasses with expert panels • Community Engagement Forum: A little below the belt • Travel fellowships available for ANZUP members!

Angie Smith – Assistant Professor of Urology at the UNC Department of Urology, North Carolina, US Laurence Albiges – Medical Oncologist and Head of Genitourinary Unit of the Department of Cancer Medicine, Gustave Roussy, France Bertrand Tombal – Chair the Division of Urology and Professor of Urology at the Université catholique de Louvain (UCL), Brussels, Belgium Chris Sweeney – Medical Oncologist at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, US Sumanta (Monty) Kumar Pal – Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Medical Oncology & Therapeutics Research, City of Hope, California, US

CELEBRATING ANZUP’S 10TH ANNIVERSARY

www.anzup.org.au