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In the News
Evolution revolution plan to beat a cancer
PROFESSOR IAN DAVIS
An ambitious plan to turbocharge the immune system to beat prostate cancer will be trialled at the Royal Adelaide Hospital (RAH) along with hospitals around Australia.
The multi-site EVOLUTION project has enrolled its first patient in Melbourne and comes as prostate cancer this week overtook breast cancer to become the nations leading cancer.
It will be the first clinical trial of its kind to test the effectiveness of a new generation radiotherapy treatment with existing forms of immunotherapy, which has previously failed in treating prostate cancers.
The trial will be led by Australia and New Zealand Urogenital and Prostate (ANZUP) Cancer Trials Group, with $1.6M in funding from Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia.
ANZUP Chair Professor Ian Davis said there had been ‘tantalising hints’ some patients may be able to have their own immune system triggered to fight the cancer.
“The treatment would wake up the immune system more effectively, so it recognises there is something foreign and says, ‘ I’m going to reject this’” Professor Davis said.
The trial will be expanded to key sites across the nation, including RAH in the hope it can help prevent the deaths of more than 3100 Australian people each year from the disease.
Prostate cancer remains an “awkward” topic for some people with vague references to “trouble with the waterwork”, Professor Davis said.
He hopes the ANZUP Community Engagement Forum at the Adelaide Convention Centre will remove stigma, clear up myths and show the importance of clinical trials as well as the impact a cancer diagnosis can have on a person and their family.
The ‘A little below the belt’ forum will also discuss bladder, kidney, testicular and penile cancers.
Professor Davis said prostate cancer did not get the funding or attention it may warrant for several reasons.
“Historically, people have kept this sort of thing quiet,” he said.
“They get dragged to the doctor by their partners rather than seeking help themselves, but this is changing”, he said. “It’s a sensitive part of the body and some people don’t like to talk about it. It’s a bit awkward.”
Each year during the ANZUP Annual Scientific Meeting, a free forum is held to provide the community with information about the importance of clinical trials and how research can improve treatments and outcomes for people diagnosed with prostate, bladder, kidney, penile or testicular cancer.
If you’re interested in future forums, please register your interest via https://anzup.org.au/join-us-friends-of-anzup/