Doctors and Scientists Together

Beaumont RCSI Cancer Centre is committed to researchers and clinicians working together in an environment that provides education for all.

Beaumont RCSI Cancer Centre is at the heart of the network of OECI-accredited cancer centres in Europe and works closely with national collaborative organisations including All-Island Cancer Research Institute. These centres are vital hubs where the traditional gaps between research and clinical care are bridged. Key to an effective cancer centre is the partnership model of teaching hospital and university research. At Beaumont RCSI Cancer Centre, there is integration of university research and innovation into hospital cancer care. As everyone knows, achieving excellent ‘bench to bedside’ processes is essential for producing quality outcomes for patients and this lies in close collaborations between research and clinical teams.

Here, we look at three such partnerships in action:

Professor Leonie Young, Scientific Director, Beaumont RCSI Cancer Centre and Head of RCSI Endocrine Oncology Research Group, and Professor Arnold Hill, Dean of Medical Programmes at RCSI and General Breast and Endocrine Surgeon, Beaumont RCSI Cancer Centre

DOCTOR Professor Arnold Hill

SCIENTIST Professor Leonie Young

Advanced breast cancer remains a significant challenge. Metastasis to distant organs is difficult to treat, in particular brain metastasis which has currently no targeted therapeutic strategies.

A collaboration between breast cancer surgeon Professor Arnold Hill and scientist Professor Leonie Young involves using data and tissue samples collected from an ongoing clinical study they established in 2006 to research new druggable targets. This national clinical study is supported by Breast Cancer Ireland.

The Proteomics and Molecular Heterogeneity study, which is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and sponsored by Cancer Trials Ireland, has recruited more than 4,000 patients to date and involves all eight designated national cancer hospitals with dedicated research nurses resourced in four sites.

This biobank holds patient tissue and blood and corresponding clinical data on 7,454 cases from each of the designated cancer hospitals. The inventory is monitored with a sample tracking software system. This represents a significant resource, not just for Professors Hill and Young at Beaumont RCSI Cancer Centre, but for national and international research collaborators. Studies using this resource have already contributed to clinical management changes and is enabling the detection of new drug targets, which may be less susceptible to resistance.

Professor Siobhán Glavey, Consultant Haematologist, Beaumont RCSI Cancer Centre, and Head of Department of Pathology, RCSI, and Dr Tríona Ní Chonghaile, Senior Lecturer, Department of Physiology and Medical Physics, RCSI

DOCTOR Professor Siobhán Glavey

SCIENTIST Dr Tríona Ní Chonghaile

Multiple myeloma is the second most common blood cancer in Ireland and despite advances in treatments in recent years, it remains incurable. In order to advance treatments for this cancer, a greater number of clinical trials are needed.

In order to advance treatments for this cancer, a greater number of clinical trials are needed.

Dr Tríona Ní Chonghaile, leading scientist at Beaumont RCSI Cancer Centre and Professor Siobhán Glavey, Consultant Haematologist, Beaumont RCSI Cancer Centre and Head of Department of Pathology, RCSI, have formed a partnership to develop new therapeutic strategies. Their research focuses on novel therapeutics for treatment-resistant cancers. Using cutting-edge technologies such as BH3 profiling, epigenetic analysis and high-content imaging of patient tumours, this partnership between clinician and scientist has identified new personalised treatment options for patients with multiple myeloma.

Following on from this, new clinical trials are in development with the aim of offering personalised therapies to patients at the optimal time for them.

Professor Bryan Hennessy, Consultant Medical Oncologist, Beaumont RCSI Cancer Centre, Professor in the Department of Medicine, RCSI, and Honorary Senior Lecturer, RCSI, and Dr Sinéad Toomey, Lecturer in Molecular Medicine, RCSI

DOCTOR Professor Bryan Hennessy

SCIENTIST Dr Sinéad Toomey

Clinician Professor Bryan Hennessy and scientist Dr Sinéad Toomey work together to understand the needs of patients, address these issues in the lab and make discoveries that lead to improved treatments through clinical trials. Their joint research previously led to the initiation of two clinical trials of the PI3K inhibitor copanlisib in Irish patients with advanced HER2-positive breast cancer. Other research from Professor Hennessy and Dr Toomey identified a biomarker that can be used to identify breast cancer patients most likely to respond to treatment. This will be used in a clinical trial of a new drug called trastuzumab deruxtecan, to identify breast cancer patients who can be spared treatment with cytotoxic chemotherapy which has significant side-effects.

Our collaborative work spans laboratory bench to hospital bedside, and back again

Professor Hennessy and Dr Toomey are also interested in using liquid biopsies to direct treatment, in particular the use of exhaled breath condensate (EBC) in lung cancer. Collection of EBC is completely non-invasive and it can be used to identify lung cancer patients who can receive particular targeted therapies and monitor how the patient’s tumour responds to treatment.

“Our collaborative work spans laboratory bench to hospital bedside, and back again, and helps advances from research to reach patients quickly. This ultimately ensures that patients with cancer receive the most effective targeted treatments, offering more promising outcomes,” says Professor Hennessy. ■