Clinical Research - Division of Radiation Oncology and Cancer Imaging
Clinical Research - Division of Radiation Oncology and Cancer Imaging - Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
| The primary purpose of research in the Division is to enhance the treatment of cancer patients, using radiotherapy, both as a single modality, and particularly, combined modality therapy using novel chemotherapy and targeted therapy agents. |
| Research overview >> |
| Research focus >> |
| Research personnel >> |
| Recent research achievements >> |
| Prizes and awards >> |
| Grants and funding >> |
| Publications and patents >> |
| Research overview |
| The Division of Radiation Oncology & Cancer Imaging comprises Radiation Oncology, Physical Sciences, Radiation Therapy Services and Diagnostic and Molecular Imaging. Our integrated research efforts range from basic science in cancer biology and physics, through translational research using molecular biological and imaging methods to clinical trials of innovative treatment strategies. Significant change and increase of complexity of radiotherapy treatment technology is enabling further refinement of brachytherapy and external beam radiotherapy methods, the development of image guided radiotherapy and patient motion management; use of novel ‘diagnostic imaging devices’ to assess the impact of organ motion on planning dosimetry; and target volume assessments. Increased integration of imaging into the radiotherapy process is a key focus. The successful program assessing the utility of molecular imaging in staging, biological characterisation and treatment and response assessment, together with the development of clinical dose escalation and body stereotactic irradiation approaches using PET/CT defined target volumes and gated acquisition of target volumes and with gated therapy delivery, are major areas of research. The research efforts across the Division continue to grow, particularly at the satellites, with increasing emphasis on multidisciplinary team programs. As well as radiation oncologists we have a very active group of radiation medical physicists and radiation therapists who are increasingly involved in collaborative projects. Much of the research is investigator-initiated and multidisciplinary, and is increasingly attracting peer-reviewed funding. The Division is also actively involved in clinical trials; we have strong links with the Trans Tasman Radiation Oncology Group (TROG) and have recently become a member of the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG), one of only three groups outside of North America. We have affiliations with Melbourne University, RMIT, Monash and Wollongong Universities and there are collaborations outside of the Division including both applied and basic research. |
| Research focus |
| • Clinical trials of innovative treatment strategies. • Gated Radiotherapy: Improving the delivery of radiotherapy to tumour volumes which move with respiration. • Adaptive Radiotherapy: Achieving better dose targeting to tumours via the application of a custom shaped beam of radiation on a daily basis with the support of 3D Image Guided Radiotherapy. • Assessing the utility of molecular imaging in staging, biological characterisation and treatment and response assessment using proven and novel tracers. |
| Research personnel |
| Director Associate Professor Trevor Leong Radiation Oncologists A/Prof Michael Mac Manus - Associate Director, Research Prof David Ball - Deputy Director, DRO Dr David Bernshaw Dr Pat Bowden - Site Director, Epworth Dr Michelle Bishop Dr Belinda Campbell Dr Sarat Chander A/Prof Boon Chua Dr Margaret Chua Dr Julie Chu A/Prof June Corry Dr Ieta D’Costa Dr Steven David Dr Roslyn Drummond Dr Vanessa Estelle Dr Farshad Foroudi Dr Tsien Fua Dr Tracie Gleisner Dr Pearly Khaw Dr Bronwyn King A/Prof Trevor Leong - Site Director, Moorabbin Dr Michael Lim-Joon Dr Chen Liu A/Prof Kailash Narayan A/Prof Sam Ngan – Head GI Unit Professor Lester Peters Dr Claire Phillips Dr Gail Ryan Dr Mark Shaw Dr Keen Hun Tai – Deputy Chair Clinical Services Dr Greg Wheeler A/Prof Scott Williams Dr Kirsty Wilshire A/Prof Andrew Wirth - Site Director, Box Hill Research Manager Deborah Howell Study Co-ordinators Deborah Cruickshank – East Melbourne Dr Jessica Faggian – Moorabbin Rachel Osborne – Moorabbin Lisa Selbie – Box Hill Catherine Anderson - Bendigo Darren Hunter - Bendigo Physicists Prof Tomas Kron – Principal Research Physicist A/Prof Annette Haworth - Clinical Research Physicist Diagnostic Imaging Dr Eddie Lau Dr Catherine Mandel Dr Nick Ferris |
| Centre for Molecular Imaging >> |
| Radiation Therapists Yolanda Aarons Therese Chesson Brent Chesson Alison Cray Sarah Everitt Robyn French Rebecca Height Felicity Height Cathy Markham Karen McGoldrick Belinda McInnes Julie Miller Richard Oates Andrea Paneghel Daniel Pham Josh Rudolph Cate Sproston Mike Sproston Ann Thompson Sylvia Van Dyk Kate Wilkinson STUDENTS PhD students Kate Wilkinson Masters Richard Oates - mPhil Felicity Height - MPhil |
| Recent research achievements |
| • The award of a Prostate Cancer Foundation of America Creativity Award to Scott Williams. • NHMRC New Investigator grant to Sarah Everitt (Radiation Therapy Services) • Grants worth $1.7 million over the next 3-5 years • PhDs were awarded to two radiation therapists, Rebecca Owen and Sarah Everitt. • MDs to A/Prof June Corry and A/Prof Andrew Wirth |
| Numerous areas of productive research are pursued by the Division of Radiation Oncology & Cancer Imaging. Many are included under the Clinical Services Groups and cancer imaging site. |
| Clinical Services Groups >> |
| Centre for Molecular Imaging >> |
| Other major areas of activity include: PET imaging & tumour response: PET imaging in the assessment of tumour volume and response to radiation in lung cancer patients, which involves staff working in all disciplines including imaging. Gated Radiotherapy: Improving the delivery of radiotherapy to tumour volumes which move with respiration. This research aims to assess and detect the range of tumour movement with respiration and delivery radiotherapy only when the tumour is present within the target zone. This approach, known as gated treatment delivery, aims to improve the dose delivered to cancerous cells whilst minimising the effect to healthy tissues. Managing organ deformation and patient compliance: This is being studied via the implementation of a structured patient preparation program for daily radiotherapy for men with localised prostate cancer. eLearning: A Victoria-wide web based electronic learning (eLearning) program has been developed for Image Guided Radiotherapy. This program brings together all Victorian Radiation Oncology departments in creating and utilising this resource. Radiation Therapy Services • Paediatric Research Team - Dave Willis and Dave Tongs: production of a book and DVD for children having radiotherapy and awarded VCA Supportive Care & Palliative Care Capacity Building Grant to evaluate the psychosocial impact on paediatric radiotherapy patients of producing a short DVD about their treatment experience. • Two PhD graduates • More than 12 publications in peer reviewed journals, including three in the Red Journal • More than 30 first author conference presentations, including the CSM Brisbane (Best oral presentation and best student presentation), Australasian Brachytherapy conference (invited speaker SVD), Paediatric Radiation Oncology Congress, TROG, World Conference on Lung Cancer, ESTRO, FROGG(Invited Speaker AR) , AIR Research Symposium Sydney (Invited speaker SJE) , ANZ Society of Nuclear Medicine, European Association of Nuclear Medicine. Associate author included ASTRO, CSM & Australasian Brachytherapy conference, RadAim (Invited Speaker AR), • Dedicated research time for five clinical RTs • In conjunction with the wider DRO, received Commonwealth Funding to conduct the 1st National Clinical Research Methods in Radiation Oncology Workshop to 50 candidates from across Australia and New Zealand in August 2010. • Submitted applications to NHRMC, VCA and the Cass Foundation to continue externally funded research. • Successfully received a Varian Grant to conduct study into Renal Cancer and Motion Management |
| Presentation highlights |
| Radiation Oncologists See Service Groups for Radiation Oncologists’ presentation highlights Physical Sciences |
| See Physical Sciences page - |
| Radiation Therapy Sarah Everitt - Biologically guided radiation therapy: quality assurance and resource implications in longitudinal PET/CT studies; ESTRO 2010: Molecular Imaging and Radiation Oncology; Brussels. Sarah Everitt - The growth kinetics of therapy naïve lung tumours according to 18F-FDG PET/CT; 13th World Conference on Lung Cancer, 2009; San Francisco. Aldo Rolfo - Integral dose in adaptive radiotherapy for bladder cancer: imaging versus field reduction; EPI2KX 2010- 11th International Workshop on Electronic Portal Imaging; Belgium June 2010; Plenary Speaker. Aldo Rolfo - National Consensus Guidelines: Impact of IGRT on a Department Workflow and Processes; Faculty of Radiation Oncology Genito-Urinary Group (FROGG) 2009; Byron Bay; Plenary Speaker. |
| Centre for Molecular Imaging |
| See CMI page |
| Prizes and awards |
| Sarah Everitt - Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre Post-Graduate Research Medal Sept 2009 Sarah Everitt - Fresh Science: Science in Public April 2009 |
| Grants and funding |
| Prostate Cancer Foundation (US) Creativity Grant: $US175, 000, ‘A correlative study of molecular imaging and biological response in the irradiated human prostate’, 2010-2011. National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Project Grant: $560, 000, ‘A multi-centre feasibility study of online adaptive radiotherapy for muscle invasive bladder cancer’, 2010-2012. Cancer Australia, DoHA & Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia: $236, 000, ‘Translation of clinical and functional imaging data to brachytherapy treatment optimisation for prostate cancer’, 2010-2012. National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Project Grant: $320,000, ‘Analysis of low radiation dose outside of the treatment field delivered to cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy’, 2010-2012. Victorian Cancer Agency Supportive Care & Palliative Care Capacity Building Grant: $80,000, ‘Evaluation of the psychosocial impact of a novel intervention that aims to reduce anxiety and aid coping in paediatric radiotherapy patients by producing a short DVD about their treatment experience’, 2010. Cancer Australia Project Grant: $440,000, ‘A randomized trial of a shorter radiation fractionation schedule for the treatment of localized prostate cancer’, 2010-2012. Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre Foundation Grant: $25,000, ‘Bladder volume surveillance using ultrasound volumetric imaging for the post-prostatectomy patient undergoing radiotherapy treatment’, 2010. CASS Foundation Project Grant: $50,000, ‘Patterns of intra-fraction prostate and seminal vesicle motion assessed using high-field 3T MRI’, 2010. Cancer Australia Priority-driven Collaborative Cancer Research Scheme: $260,000, ‘A randomised trial of stereotactic versus conventional radiotherapy for inoperable stage IA non-small cell lung cancer’, 2009-2011. Victorian Cancer Agency Platform Technology Grant: $446,000,‘A Victoria wide Web based electronic learning (eLearning) program for Image Guided Radiotherapy’, 2009-2010. National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Project Grant: $344,250, ‘High spatial resolution dosimetry for radioactive plaques used for radiotherapy of eye lesions’, 2010 -2012, with University of Wollongong. National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Project Grant: $775,000, ‘RAVES - Radiotherapy Adjuvant Versus Early Salvage following radical prostatectomy’, 2009- 2013, with University of Newcastle. National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Project Grant: $443,125, ‘PORTEC-3’, 2009-2013, with University of Sydney. National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Project Grant: $1620,000 A phase III trial comparing adjuvant versus salvage radiotherapy for high risk patients post radical prostatectomy 2008-2011. National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Project Grant: $385,000, ‘Radiotherapy vs chemotherapy for low grade gliomas stratified for genetic 1p loss: efficacy and quality of life benefits’, 2008-2012. National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Project Grant: $320,522, ‘Determination of unwanted radiation dose outside of the radiotherapy treatment field’, 2008-2010. Victorian Cancer Agency Clinical Trial Funding (Tumour Stream): $250,000, ‘A prospective study investigating the impact of serial PET/CT scans on the radiation therapy treatment of patients with lung cancer’, 2008-2010. National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Project Grant: $342,250 ‘A prospective single arm trial of involved field radiotherapy alone for stage I-II low grade non-gastric marginal zone lymphoma’. 2007-2011. National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Project Grant: $1.65 million, ‘A randomised phase III study of radiation doses and fractionation schedules in non-low risk ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast’,2007-2011. National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Project Grant: $2.3 million, ‘Value of androgen deprivation and bisphosphonate therapy in patients treated by radiotherapy for localized prostate cancer’, (2007-2011) Merck Sharpe & Dohme: $350,000, ‘A Phase I/II study of cetuximab, carboplatin and radiotherapy for patients with Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer (LAHNC). TROG 07.04’, 2007–11. National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Project Grant: $738,250, ‘TARGIT, an international randomised controlled trial to compare targeted intra-operative radiotherapy with conventional post-operative radiotherapy after conservative breast surgery for women with early stage breast cancer’, 2006-2010. |
| Publications and patents |