Media Release 10 June 2021
Scientists sit-up for world-first clinical trial into prostate cancer The nation’s leading prostate cancer researchers have announced a ground-breaking Phase II clinical trial which could help prevent the deaths of more than 3,100 Australian men every year. The trial will be led by the Australian and New Zealand Urogenital and Prostate Cancer Trials Group (ANZUP) with co-funding from Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (PCFA). Known as EVOLUTION, it will be the first clinical trial of its kind to test the effectiveness of a new generation of radiotherapy treatment with existing forms of immunotherapy, which has previously failed in treating prostate cancers. PCFA CEO Professor Jeff Dunn AO said the project was leading the world in prostate cancer research. “The Phase II EVOLUTION Clinical Trial could lead to major advances in the treatment of advanced prostate cancer around the world, helping to prevent the deaths of more than 3,100 Australian men each year from this disease,” Prof Dunn said. “ANZUP’s world-leading team of researchers, working with treatment centres to recruit patients around the country, will investigate whether immunotherapy, when partnered with Lutetium-177-PSMA (Lu-PSMA), can deliver life-saving results for men.
“Right now, we have no way of defeating aggressive forms of prostate cancer, which impose an incredibly heavy burden on men and their families, who commonly have to endure the fear and distress of not knowing how quickly the cancer will spread. “The EVOLUTION Clinical Trial will help us to evaluate whether radiotherapy and immunotherapy combined can create a new pathway for combatting prostate cancer once and for all. “Around 17,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year in Australia, and more than 3,100 men will die – it is a disease that takes a tragic toll on our lives. “We are committed to funding ground-breaking projects that save lives.” Next week is PCFA’s Sit-Up 45 Challenge, calling on Aussies to do 45 sit-ups a day during Men’s Health Week (June 14-20) to raise vital funds for PCFA and the EVOLUTION Clinical Trial. ANZUP Chair Professor Ian Davis urged Australians to support prostate cancer research. “The Phase II EVOLUTION Clinical Trial simply wouldn’t be possible without funding from organisations such as PCFA,” Prof Davis said.
“I would urge all Australian men and women who want to make a difference in our fight against prostate cancer to support our work by registering for the Sit-Up 45 Challenge via situp45.org.au. “The challenge calls on people to do 45 daily sit-ups during the week in solidarity with the 45 Australian men who are diagnosed with prostate cancer every day. “Sit-up to prostate cancer and help us fund the EVOLUTION Clinical Trial to eliminate a silent killer in our community.” Aussies can still get involved in Sit-Up 45 by registering at www.situp45.org.au. The EVOLUTION Clinical Trial sites and patient eligibility guidelines will be announced later this year. The project will monitor and compare PSA levels for 12 months in response to the clinical trial treatment, capturing tissue samples to analyse patient responses. With one Australian man diagnosed every 30 minutes, there are estimated to be 230,000 Australian men alive today who have been impacted by prostate cancer. For more information about PCFA, visit www.pcfa.org.au or call 1800 22 00 99.
“We are proud to see PCFA launch the Sit-Up 45 Challenge, to help continue this work.
The EVOLUTION clinical trial sites and patient eligibility guidelines will be announced later this year. The project will monitor and compare PSA levels for 12 months in response to the clinical trial treatment, capturing tissue samples to analyse patient responses. With one Australian man diagnosed every 30 minutes, there are estimated to be 230,000 Australian men alive today who have been impacted by prostate cancer.
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