Driving forward haematology research

2021 saw the renewed focus on expanding Icon’s haematology clinical trials program with the appointment of a dedicated Research Portfolio Lead, Yvette James. Yvette brings in-depth experience in oncology and haematology nursing as well as knowledge of trial management. With a dedicated resource working with the Haematology Research Clinical Lead, Dr Jason Butler, and alongside a recently established Haematology Research Committee, the haematology portfolio continues to mature.

Future focus will see the strengthening of current and new commercial and non-commercial sponsors, including our ongoing relationship with the Australasian Leukaemia and Lymphoma Group (ALLG). A renewed focus on internal promotion of Icon’s haematology expertise will also contribute to increased opportunities for research and registry involvement across Australia and beyond.

DR JASON BUTLER

MBBS, M.MED Sci (CLIN EPID), FRACP, FRCPA Haematology, Chair of Icon Haematology Research Committee

Dr Butler has almost 20 years’ experience in the treatment and management of haematological disorders. He completed a fellowship at the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital and has held a research posting at the Queensland Institute of Medical Research investigating the role of bcl-2 in primary resistance in chronic myeloid leukaemia. Dr Butler holds memberships with leading haematology groups and sits on the board of Lymphoma Australia as Vice Chair and Director.

YVETTE JAMES

Research Portfolio Lead Haematology

Yvette holds a Masters of Advanced Practice Nursing with a Grad Certificate in Oncology Nursing. With over 23 years’ clinical nurse experience and 18 years specialising in oncology and haematology practice, Yvette holds long-term industry relationships and extensive understanding of haematological trial management.

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HIGHLIGHTS

Expansion of the Phase I Haematology Clinical Trials program Enrolment of first patient to PHAROS PHI001 Phase I Relapsed / Refractory AML trial Completion of a retrospective, observational study

at Icon Cancer Centre located at Wesley Hospital, Queensland, Australia. Led by dedicated and highly experienced Haematologists, Dr Robert Hensen and Dr Joseph Clarey. Principal Investigator: Dr Joseph Clarey. Co-Investigators: Dr Raymond Banh, Dr Robert Hensen, A/Prof James Morton AM. For a full list of haematology trials see Appendix here. of all adults who underwent Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation (ASCT) at Icon between 1996-2018. This paper was presented at Blood 2021 Annual Scientific Meeting and is awaiting acceptance of publication by the Internal Medicine Journal (IMJ).

OVERVIEW OF ASCT TRIAL FINDINGS

• This research undertaken by Icon Haematology

Fellow, Dr Karthik Nath, acknowledging the essential contribution of the late Noor Parker, Laboratory

Director 1996 – 2020, and the support of the Wesley

Medical Research Clinical Research Grant 2020

• Icon is the largest ASCT contributor in Queensland treating 40% of all South-East Queensland patients with excellent overall survival (OS) and Transplant

Related Mortality (TRM), demonstrating the critical role of the private sector in the administration of this highly complex, specialised therapy

• The study explored the contribution and outcomes of patients undergoing ASCT within the private sector over a 23-year period:

- The Icon ASCT program is inclusive of patients aged ≥70 years which has important implications for transplant accessibility. In Australia, age limitations are applied by some institutions in determining eligibility for ASCT

- In the last five years, 21% of Icon’s patients were ≥70 years, compared to 5% across Australasia. Low and acceptable TRM rates were demonstrated within this patient cohort - Transplant outcomes were benchmarked against the Australasian Bone Marrow Transplant Recipient

Registry (ABMTRR), which collects data on haematopoietic stem cell transplantation through transplant centres in Australasia. Icon’s ten-year OS compared favourably against the ABMTRR over the same period for all disease subtypes:

+ Multiple Myeloma: 59% vs 36%

+ Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma: 68% vs 46%

+ Follicular Lymphoma: 76% vs 53%

+ Mantle Cell Lymphoma: 62% vs 48%

+ NK Cell Lymphoma: 55% vs 40%

The outcome of this review provides support for the administration of more novel forms of cellular immunotherapy for haematologic malignancies in the private sector, including that of the rapidly expanding field of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy.