Unlock the secrets of the ever-evolving oncology landscape as Professor Craig Underhill, Dr Kate Clarke and Professor Christopher Jackson take us through another brilliant OJC update.
Craig reviews new sarcoma research and also looks at a mortality comparison study of six high-income Anglophone countries. Kate delves into the exciting advancements in precision oncology, particularly the impacts of on children, adolescents, and young adults. CJ looks at a groundbreaking cohort study from Christchurch, New Zealand, revealing how Faecal Immunochemical Tests (FIT) could revolutionise colonoscopy referrals and optimise healthcare resources.
Craig announces his career change, stepping away from clinical practice to a research-centric career, after many years of dedicated practice and impassioned advocacy for regional and rural patients. His passion for changing the healthcare scene in regional Australia, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, shines through as he reflects on the emotional yet rewarding transition.
With a focus on enhancing patient care, this episode of The Oncology Journal Club provides a comprehensive look at how precision medicine and innovative research are shaping the future of oncology.
About The Oncology Journal Club:
We have taken an old concept and updated it with a new format. In each episode, a team of expert contributors will review topical journal papers and interview special guests who are leaders in their fields to help keep you informed of the latest developments on the go.
We hope you enjoy listening and find this a valuable and entertaining resource.
PAPERS:
MAIN PAPERS
Kate: Subbiah V, Kurzrock R. Precision oncology across the ages: Impact on children, adolescents, and young adults. Cancer Cell. 2024 Aug 23:S1535-6108(24)00309-X. doi: 10.1016/j.ccell.2024.08.010. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39214098. Access online here.
CJ: Falvey J, Stedman CM, Dunn J, Sies C, Levin S. Faecal immunochemical test (FIT) based prioritisation of new patient symptomatic cases referred for colorectal investigation. N Z Med J. 2024 Sep 6;137(1602):102-110. doi: 10.26635/6965.6582. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39236328/
Craig: Pautier P, Italiano A, Piperno-Neumann S, et al. Doxorubicin-Trabectedin with Trabectedin Maintenance in Leiomyosarcoma. N Engl J Med. 2024 Sep 5;391(9):789-799. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2403394. PMID: 39231341. Access online here.
Benjamin RS. A Late-Arriving but Welcome Advance in Sarcoma Therapy. N Engl J Med. 2024 Sep 5;391(9):854-855. doi: 10.1056/NEJMe2407116. PMID: 39231349. Access online here.
QUICK BITES
Kate:
- Subbiah V, Gouda MA, Ryll B, et al. The evolving landscape of tissue-agnostic therapies in precision oncology. CA Cancer J Clin. 2024 Sep-Oct;74(5):433-452. doi: 10.3322/caac.21844. Epub 2024 May 30. PMID: 38814103. Access online here.
- B. Westphalen, D. Martins-Branco, J.R. Beal,et al. The ESMO Tumour-Agnostic Classifier and Screener (ETAC-S): a tool for assessing tumour-agnostic potential of molecularly guided therapies and for steering drug development. Annals of Oncology, 2024, Access online here.
Craig:
- Wilkie RZ, Ho JY. Life expectancy and geographic variation in mortality: an observational comparison study of six high-income Anglophone countries. BMJ Open. 2024 Aug 13;14(7):e079365. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-079365. PMID: 39138004. Access online here.
- Kiss N, Jongebloed H, Baguley B, Marshall S, et al. Meaningful consumer involvement in cancer care: a systematic review on co-design methods and processes. JNCI Cancer Spectr. 2024 Jul 1;8(4):pkae048. doi: 10.1093/jncics/pkae048. PMID: 38897655; PMCID: PMC11240760. Access online here.
Chris:
- Peng C, Saffo S, Oberstein PE, et al. Omission of 5-Fluorouracil Bolus From Multidrug Regimens for Advanced Gastrointestinal Cancers: A Multicenter Cohort Study. J Natl Compr Canc Netw. 2024 Sep 5:1-7. doi: 10.6004/jnccn.2024.7029. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39236754. Access online here.
PBS Updates
- Modi S, et al. Trastuzumab Deruxtecan in Previously Treated HER2-Low Advanced Breast Cancer. N Engl J Med. 2022 Jul 7;387(1):9-20. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2203690. Epub 2022 Jun 5. PMID: 35665782; PMCID: PMC10561652. Access online here.
- Public Summary Document – March 2024 PBAC Meeting: CABOZANTINIB
- Ivanova M, et al. Standardized pathology report for HER2 testing in compliance with 2023 ASCO/CAP updates and 2023 ESMO consensus statements on HER2-low breast cancer. Virchows Arch. 2024 Jan;484(1):3-14. doi: 10.1007/s00428-023-03656-w. Epub 2023 Sep 28. PMID: 37770765; PMCID: PMC10791807. Access online here.
- Pal SK, et al. A comparison of sunitinib with cabozantinib, crizotinib, and savolitinib for treatment of advanced papillary renal cell carcinoma: a randomised, open-label, phase 2 trial. Lancet. 2021 Feb 20;397(10275):695-703. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(21)00152-5. Epub 2021 Feb 13. PMID: 33592176; PMCID: PMC8687736. Access online here.
HOSTS:
Craig Underhill
Professor Craig Underhill
Professor Craig Underhill completed his Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery in 1987 at Melbourne University. He completed medical oncology training in Melbourne and worked as the Senior Clinical Research Registrar at Guy’s Hospital, London.
In 1998 arrived in Albury-Wodonga and established a medical oncology practice and clinical trials unit which has developed expertise and infrastructure to ensure the initiation of high quality trials. The research Unit lead by Dr Underhill has twice been awarded NSW Premier’s Award for Innovation in Cancer Clinical Trials, the inaugural award in 2009 and then again in 2012.
Dr Underhill is the VCCC Regional Oncology Lead and advocates for the increased access to clinical trials for regional Victorians and leads the VCCC teletrials program.
You can find Craig on X/Twitter here: @CraigUnderhill
Kate Clarke
Dr. Kate Clarke
Dr Kate Clarke (MBChB (Otago), FRACP) is a proud New Zealander with a real love for beautiful Aotearoa. Dr Clarke continues to work at being Tangata Tiriti. Much of her research and patient advocacy has an equity focus. Dr Clarke is grateful to her patients, students, whanau and colleagues for the knowledge and awhi they share. Ehara taku toa, he takitahi, he toa takitini.
Dr Clarke completed her medical training in Otago, Wellington and London. She has a holistic approach and is passionate about patient-centred care, and believes patients can and should play an active role in their healthcare. Her clinical experience covers a broad range of solid tumour malignancies with special clinical interest in colorectal cancer, upper gastrointestinal cancers and breast cancer.
Chris ‘CJ’ Jackson
Professor Christopher Jackson
Chris Jackson is Professor of Medical Oncology at the University of Otago, Dunedin, and a medical oncologist at Dunedin Hospital and Mercy Cancer Care. He specialises in GI cancers and melanoma, teaches medical students and specialists-in-training, and is heavily involved in both national and international cancer policy, leadership and research.
He was previously the medical director of the Cancer Society of NZ, and his advocacy led to the funding of new cancer drugs, to the development of a new national cancer plan, and to the birth of the national cancer agency Te Aho o Te Kahu. He currently chairs the agency’s clinical committee and serves on the advisory board. In addition, he is on the programme board of the International Cancer Benchmarking Project, and is a founding member of the Common Sense Oncology movement.
Chris is a self-confessed Radiohead tragic, and recent convert to Crossfit (even though you didn’t ask).
Connect with CJ on X/Twitter: @drkiwicj
PRODUCER:
Rachael Babin
Rachael Babin is Host of The Oncology Podcast, Editor-in-Chief of The Oncology Newsletter, and Publisher of Oncology News Australia and The Oncology Network.
With a background in oncology communications and academic publishing, Rachael is happiest sitting behind the mic chatting to interesting people about the impact their work makes in oncology.
Connect on Twitter: @OncologyNewsAus
