Best of care: The clinical trial co-ordinator team members at GV Health’s Peter Copulos Cancer and Wellness Centre aim to provide cancer treatment for all their patients.
Photo by
Nicola Ceccato
Saturday, September 24 is World Cancer Research Day and Peter Copulos Cancer and Wellness Centre at GV Health is paving the way for regional cancer research by improving access to high-quality cancer clinical trials for regional patients.
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Clinical trials combine the latest scientific discoveries with clinical practice to benefit patients living with cancer. Victoria is globally recognised for research and clinical trials in Australia.
Sponsored by pharmaceutical companies and collaborative oncology clinicians, oncology clinical trials provide alternative treatments for patients, as director of medical oncology Javier Torres explains.
“All trials are heavily regulated by the Australian Government, overseen by a panel of experts and conducted through the clinical trials team,” Dr Torres said.
“We are a part of international studies; these trials aren’t from just Australia. Everyone studies the same medications, same type of cancers, but in different countries to see if the trial medication is better than the available standard of care.”
‘Standard of care’ is cancer treatment that is currently available for public access.
Cancer patients living in regional or rural Victoria experience much poorer outcomes compared to patients living in Melbourne due to barriers such as access to clinical trials.
This highlights the importance of GV Health conducting clinical trials to reduce the burden of travel and associated costs, ensuring cancer patients in regional Victoria can access the latest research and cancer trials available.
The clinical trials team is made up of specialist doctors, researchers, nurses and study co-ordinators. The study co-ordinators are the main point of contact between the sponsor, doctors and the patient and are responsible for all aspects of the day-to-day management of trial conduct.
The cancer centre also acts as a satellite site for tele-trials, allowing patients further access to trials conducted at other hospitals. For example, a regional patient who was receiving treatment at a Melbourne hospital can now access the same treatment at GV Health, reducing the need to travel.
GV Health clinical trials co-ordinators Ainsley Robinson, Carole Mott and Anna Withanage are part of the clinical trials team, and said trials offer options best suited to each patient and their type of cancer.
“Having oncology clinical trials here in Shepparton means we’re giving these patients the opportunity to have access to new medicines they wouldn't usually have any access to unless they travelled,” Dr Robinson said.
“The trial process is heavily monitored and regulated and has had rigorous testing before it gets to the trial stage,” Ms Mott said.
“A clinical trial offers our patients another treatment option to maximise their cancer outcome.”
“For cancer patients, quality of life is really important,” Ms Withanage said.
“For example, a trial drug that is a tablet taken at home with less side effects, can be a better alternative than what’s currently available. It’s not necessarily a cure, but offers the patients a better quality of life.”
This is the case for Allan Howard, who has been participating in the ENZAMET prostate cancer trial since 2016 after receiving a diagnosis.
‘Great service’: GV Health Peter Copulos Cancer and Wellness Centre patient Allan Howard is participating in a trial to treat his prostate cancer.
Photo by
Nicola Ceccato
ENZAMET won’t get rid of the cancer in Mr Howard’s body, but it will prevent further spreading, which he saw as his best option.
“I was 66 and chemo would have been very hard on my body at that stage,” Mr Howard said.
“My body's in better condition now because I didn't have to go through chemo but the good thing is that chemo is still on the shelf for me if this drug starts to cease working.
“I could have had chemo or seeding or there was the opportunity to participate in a trial. I had a friend that had leukaemia who went on a trial and it was very beneficial for him. I also felt that if we can help educate or if someone else can learn from it, then I'd like to do that as well.”
Mr Howard comes into GV Health Oncology as part of the ENZAMET trial every three months for his treatment to help prevent the growth of his prostate cancer.
“It’s just terrific to be able to travel only 40 minutes in from Rushworth and get all of this great service,” Mr Howard said.
“I’m pleased with the results, and I couldn't be more grateful for the services we get from the team here.”
For more information about cancer trials, visit the Victorian clinical trials and research website or email the GV Health clinical oncology trials team at clinicaltrials@gvhealth.org.au
