Clinical Trials Update
Hello members, Our BCNA Senior Policy Officer has provided the below information regarding clinical trials that may be of interest to our members. These are also being shared in our Health Professionals Network News and the Metastatic Advisory Group (I shall post in the mets private group re EMBRACE Phase II trial). Nivolumab neoadjuvant/adjuvant clinical trial The CA209-7FL neoadjuvant/adjuvant breast cancer trial continues to be open to recruitment, running in South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria for patients with estrogen receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative early-stage breast cancer. Bristol Myers Squibb will be implementing a digital advertising campaign expected to launch in October/November 2021. This will target both health professionals and patients. More information on the trial can be found here. EMBRACE Phase II Olaparib clinical trial EMBRACE is a Phase II clinical trial of the PARP inhibitor, Olaparib, in HR-deficient metastatic breast and relapsed ovarian cancer in patients without germline mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2. Patients with metastatic triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) or relapsed platinum-sensitive high grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) after first line/adjuvant therapy who have an eligible tumour molecular analysis result are suitable for the trial. There are 11 sites open in Australia in NSW, QLD, VIC, SA and WA. More information on the trial can be found here or by emailing embrace.study@sydney.edu.au We encourage members to talk with their treatment team in the first instance about any clinical trials.
Q&A – TRIPLE NEGATIVE BREAST CANCER on Tuesday 24th October from 4:30-6pm (AEDT).
Register for the Q&A on Triple Negative Breast Cancer (Submit a question.) https://www.breastcancertrials.org.au/news/qa-events/qa-triple-negative-breast-cancer/ Triple negative breast cancer accounts for approximately 15% of all breast cancers. As the name suggests, triple negative breast cancer does not have any of the three receptors that are commonly found on breast cancer cells – oestrogen, progesterone and HER2 receptors. Anyone can be diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer but it occurs more often in younger patients who are pre-menopausal or under 50 years of age. People with a BRCA1 gene mutation also have a higher risk of this type of breast cancer. Triple negative breast cancer is a more aggressive type of tumour, with a faster growth rate, a higher risk of spreading to other parts of the body (metastasis) and of recurrence either in the breast or elsewhere. Because it does not have any of the more common receptors that can be targeted by medications, such as hormone and HER2-blocking drugs, it has fewer treatment options available. Standard treatment of early stage triple negative breast cancer typically includes chemotherapy, surgery and in many cases a course of radiotherapy. Often chemotherapy treatment is given prior to breast surgery (neoadjuvant chemotherapy), as it can effectively reduce the size of the breast cancer while providing useful information about the effectiveness of the treatment being given. Breast Cancer Trials has been researching new and better treatments for triple negative breast cancer. The CHARIOT clinical trial examined the addition of dual immunotherapy to standard chemotherapy and showed promising results in patients with treatment resistant, early-stage triple negative breast cancer. The Neo-N clinical trial is investigating whether using an immunotherapy drug together with chemotherapy, is safe and effective in treating breast cancer before surgery. Results of this study are expected later this year. Join our panel of experts as we explore triple negative breast cancer. We’ll hear firsthand from women who have a history of this type of cancer, and from world-leading researchers on the latest in research and clinical trials to improve treatments and patient outcomes
Dr Liz O'Riordan talks about her surgeries & aftermath - A UK Breast Surgeon with Breast Cancer
Dr Liz O'Riordan was diagnosed with breast cancer some years after qualifying as a breast cancer surgeon & realised that whilst she knew some of the physical effects of Breast Cancer surgery - she really was not prepared for the psychological (and indeed actual physical limitations) that she experienced, once she'd had her own surgery, chemo, rads etc - she also suffered from extreme cording that restricted her arm movement. Eventually, after a recurrence and more surgery, it prevented her from continuing as a Breast Surgeon. This is a more recent write up : https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/dr-liz-oriordan-im-a-breast-cancer-surgeon-this-is-what-surviving-cancer-myself-taught-me/GWGO5EWTRNFAHB7MLHU5SGPTIM/ In her own 'blog' - she writes candidly - from her own diagnosis, surgery, chemo, tabs & treatment overall with all the same fears and side effects that many of us have experienced .... Read her personal story here (then click on her 'blog': http://liz.oriordan.co.uk/ You can follow her on Instagram too https://www.instagram.com/oriordanliz - work your way thru her videos ..... they are authentic & helpful She has announced a New trial in the UK, attempting to identify younger women with higher risk of breast cancer BEFORE diagnosis - particularly those with dense breast tissue .... leading to earlier intensive testing before the 'normal age' of 40 https://www.instagram.com ; /p/Ct_-RRUINgJ/. (copy & join these 2 parts of the link, to see it as it won't load here.) Nina Lopez (who Liz interviews in one of the videos - add 'this link' after the '.instagram.com bit ... p/Ct2ESwoIkwn/) who talks about HER triple Negative BC here: https://www.the-c-list.com/stories/nina-lopez-39-shares-her-story-of-motherhood-treatment-and-resilience-as-she-lives-with-secondary-breast-cancer And below, are some of the subjects that she covers on Instagram ..Targeted clinical trial for patients with lymphoedema related to breast cancer surgery
Hi members, The below clinical trial conducted by LeapCure may be of interest to some of you. If you have breast cancer surgery related lymphoedema following a dissection or biopsy procedure, you could be eligible to join a clinical trial that is enrolling nearby. Initial eligibility includes lymphoedema patients who have had surgery for their breast cancer at least 6 months ago and diagnosed with lymphoedema within the past 4 years. The following pre-screener will help you determine your suitability, match you to a nearby trial site, and enter you on to a list for the LeapCure team to give you a call back. To help you determine if you are eligible for the study, LeapCure, who are administering the recruitment of this study in Australia, have developed a survey found at the link below. By taking this survey, you are providing your consent (agreement) for LeapCure to collect and store your survey answers on an overseas server (large computer) that is compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (USA). Here is the pre-screening link: https://research.leapcure.com/studies/bclymph?locale=en-AU&utm_source=BCNA&utm_medium=mixed&utm_campaign=060921Pv22&utm_cat=PAGNWAU&utm_study=bclymphGenomic Testing should be the FIRST test, not the LAST!
When we had our first meeting with Hubby's Onc, she was very keen for us to have Next Generation Sequencing done (in the USA) to see if there are any mutations within his tumours that may respond to specific medications (that may or may not be available in Australia.) In the USA, it is done pretty well routinely in a lot of the cancer centres - but many of the drugs used over there, have not been approved for use in Australia, so are not even allowed to be imported, even if you WANTED to try them as an option! She said that eventually, getting this test done FIRST will be 'the norm' ..... but as of now - it is not 'readily available' to everyone, with out paying a fairly high price, in our case, it was $3000. In the Sunday Telegraph this weekend, there was a 3 page article on women with metastatic breast cancers who are NOT able to access some life saving (or life prolonging) immunotherapy drugs on PBS, as they've not been approved for Breast Cancer - but have been for Lung cancer and Melanomas (eg Keytruda.). If you know anyone with a copy of the paper - it is well worth a read too. There was a separate article on the Garvan Institute in Sydney who DO do genomic testing - and is an interesting read. (Sorry it is a bit fuzzy ..... but I hope you can read it.) They were conducting trials last year whereby they made the testing available either free or a nominal $350, which enabled a lot of patients to be tested, who otherwise would not have been able to afford it. The trial ended earlier this year. Our Onc had submitted some of her patients for it. My husband's genomic tests came back showing 2 drugs may be helpful with his treatment that are currently in use in the USA - but sadly they are not approved in Australia, so we are unable to access them for his treatment. :( IF the Gov comes to the party and makes this testing more available to cancer patients - it will be fantastic, as new Clinical Trials that should include BC patients - should spring up everywhere! You can contact him on: d.thomas@garvan.org.au I contacted him and this is part of his reply: Omico has enabled more than 3,000 Australians with incurable cancers, and no other standard options, to access genomic screening, and about one in five of those to access matched therapy. We know from our data, and that being produced internationally, that this translates into clinical benefits, including longer life. But we have resources currently only for 2-4% of those who could benefit from screening. We know we have to change that. We are trying to develop a private-public partnership between government and the pharmaceutical sector. We ask the government to provide genomic screening for all cancer patients with incurable disease, and we ask industry to bring more cancer trials of new drugs to Australia. In this way, we solve the major problem, which is not screening, it is treatment. This is no doubt something very clear to you. If we can bring not only the tests but also matched treatments, without causing people out of pocket expenses, we have a sustainable model for precision oncology for Australians today. Despite being non-profit, Omico has worked very hard at developing industry relationships, primarily so we can develop new trials for our patients. Our experience has been overwhelmingly positive. This leads us to believe that we can create the PPP described above. We have developed and submitted a business proposal to the Federal government, based on economic modelling and discussions with industry. We hope that they will see that the PPP will allow the commonwealth to take the bold step to provide all Australians with genomic testing and matched therapy, without breaking the bank. Health and the economy are seen as polar opposites—but that isn’t necessarily the case. Our modelling indicates that we not only screen 80,000 Australians, and save almost 3,000 years of life for cancer patients, but we create 3,000 new jobs in the high tech sector, and inject $2.8B of value into the economy from foreign direct investment or saved health care costs. https://www.omico.com.au/Triple Negative Vaccine hopes to eliminate the disease - we need these trials in Australia NOW!
This is in the UK newspaper today - hopefully these trials will be in Australia SOON .... Maybe Ask your Onc about this ..... the sooner it starts here, the better. Triple Negative Breast cancer vaccine 'could eliminate disease by 2030' : 15 women who survived aggressive tumours are still in remission up to five years later after receiving experimental shot — now doctors believe a cure is in sight https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-12140391/Breast-cancer-vaccine-eliminate-form-disease-seven-YEARS.html and another report from Dec 2022 https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-11400715/Three-cancer-patients-cured-experimental-vaccine-100x-cheaper-rival-shots.html
