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Information for Health Professionals

About the CCG || Research ||Tumour Tissue Bank || Quality of Life Studies || Clinical Trials

About the Cancer Collaborative Group

The Cancer Collaborative Group was formed to foster internal and external research collaborations and to capitalise on the unique resources of the campus for the benefit of people with cancer. The Princes Alexandra Hospital has a large, highly developed cancer service operating in a sophisticated modern hospital with expert staff. There is a strong tradition of basic and clinical research with a record of success in research translation. The Cancer Collaborative Group was formed to foster and further enhance the research capability, foster internal and external research collaborations and to capitalise on the unique resources of the campus for the benefit of people with cancer.

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Research

Examples of clinical research that have given rise to improved patient care include:

• Professor Russell Strong is a world leader in techniques of liver resection for cancer. The study resulted in a unique series of liver resections for primary and secondary liver cancers.
• Professor Gotley and Associate Professor Smithers study minimally invasive techniques of oesophagectomy.
• Induction with oral chemotherapy (Cyclophosphamide Idarubicin and Dexamethasone) followed by autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) for de novo multiple myeloma patients. It has now been used in all patients at the Princess Alexandra Hospital and some interstate and overseas centres, as initial therapy prior to autologous stem cell transplant in myeloma patients. This oral chemotherapy regimen replaced the in-patient intravenous regimens with benefits including chemotherapy delivered with minimal myelotoxicity on an out-patient basis and dramatically reduced complications requiring hospital admissions; no invasive central line was required in the Induction Phase thus avoiding the 30% catheter-related infections.
• Quantitation by real time PCR in subset Acute Myeloid Lukaemia has resulted in earlier detection of relapses. This may lead to earlier treatment including bone marrow transplants and anticipated to result in better outcomes.
• Determining the value of pre-operative therapy for gastro-oesophageal cancer.
• Comparison of two standard chemotherapy regimens for good prognosis in germ-cell tumours.
• A crucial element of research undertaken on a hospital campus is the capacity to translate basic and clinical research into clinical outcomes. Examples of basic research undertaken at the Princess Alexandra Hospital which has been followed by translational research includes:
• Professor Frazer’s cervical cancer vaccine development.
• Professor Nicol’s work on developing cell lines as a basis for vaccines against urological cancers.
• Professor Gotley’s work in targeting CD44v6 to treat colorectal and hepatocellular cancers.
• A collaboration through the Trivett Senior Research Fellowship with Professor Brandon Wainwright into the molecular pathology of primary brain tumours.

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Tumour Tissue Bank

The ALLG Leukaemia and Lymphoma Tissue Bank is a joint initiative of the ALLG and the Leukaemia Foundation. The Leukaemia Foundation of Australia has sourced funding from major sponsor Price Waterhouse Coopers. The Tissue Bank is located at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane.

The Tissue Bank collects and stores specimens from patients enrolled on ALLG clinical trials. The aim is to facilitate the conduct of laboratory based research thereby augmenting the benefits of the ALLG's clinical research into the haematologic malignancies. Samples from off-trial patients are also being collected, but these are less formally clinically characterized.

The Tissue Bank will provide samples from patients with these diseases for use in approved research projects thereby facilitating a wide range of research activities. All Australian researchers are eligible to apply for access to the samples. The ultimate goal of facilitating such research is to improve our understanding of the processes leading to the development of haematologic malignancy, factors which govern the variable response to current treatments and ultimately the development of more effective therapies for patients suffering from haematologic malignancy.

Facilitating basic research from fully characterized clinical samples will nurture closer ties between Australia’s internationally renowned basic researchers and ALLG’s internationally recognized clinical research in the field of haematology. Together we can anticipate better understanding of the events leading to the development of haematologic malignancy and of factors contributing to patient’s outcome, which will ultimately lead to better therapies and outcomes for our patients.

A Policy and Procedures Manual approved by the Tissue Bank Management Committee documents governance of the Bank.

For further information contact Dr Paula Marlton, Tissue Bank Director through the ALLG website.

To apply for access to samples held in the Tissue Bank download from the Website the document "Process for obtaining samples from the Tissue Bank" and follow the instructions provided. All other documents required are also available for download.

Website: http://www.petermac.unimelb.edu.au/allg/ (go to Tissue Bank on menu)

Contact details:
ALLG Tissue Bank, C/- Haematology Laboratory (QHPS), Princess Alexandra Hospital
Ipswich Rd, Woolloongabba, Brisbane 4102
Email: Allg_tissue_bank@health.qld.gov.au

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Quality of Life Studies

At the Princess Alexandra Hospital campus, there are a number of studies which aim to examine the Quality of Life of patients with various cancerous diseases. Therefore it remains a significant part of the Research Activity overseen by the Cancer Collaborative Group. Please note the following for further information on the topic:

Websites

International Society of Quality of Life Research
http://www.isoqol.org

Patient-reported Outcome and Quality of Life Instrument Database
http://www.proqolid.org

Book/Journal References

1. Mccurry, SM, Vitiello, MV, Gibbons, LE, et al., Factors Associated With Caregiver Reports of Sleep Disturbances in Persons With Dementia 10.1097/01.JGP.0000192499.25940.da. Am. J. Geriatr. Psychiatry, 2006. 14(2): 112-120.
2. Baumeister, H, Balke, K, Harter, M, Psychiatric and somatic comorbidities are negatively associated with quality of life in physically ill patients. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 2005. 58(11): 1090-1100.
3. Byles, JE, D'este, C, Parkinson, L, et al., Single index of multimorbidity did not predict multiple outcomes. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 2005. 58(10): 997-1005.
4. Danieli, E, Airo, P, Bettoni, L, et al., Health-related quality of life measured by the Short Form 36 (SF-36) in systemic sclerosis: correlations with indexes of disease activity and severity, disability, and depressive symptoms. Clinical rheumatology, 2005. 24(1): 48-54.
5. De Oliveira, MA, Barbiere, A, Santos, LA, et al., Validation of a simplified quality-of-life questionnaire for socioeconomically deprived asthma patients. Journal of asthma official journal of the Association for the Care of Asthma, 2005. 42(1): 41-44.
6. De Vet, H, Adér, HJ, Terwee, CB, et al., Response. Quality of Life Research, 2005. 14(5): 1223-1224.
7. Fegg, MJ, Wasner, M, Neudert, C, et al., Personal Values and Individual Quality of Life in Palliative Care Patients. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 2005. 30(2): 154-159.
8. Fisher, WP, Commentary. Quality of Life Research, 2005. 14(5): 1219-1221.
9. Fisher, WA, Rosen, RC, Mollen, M, et al., Improving the Sexual Quality of Life of Couples Affected by Erectile Dysfunction: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Vardenafil. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 2005. 2(5): 699-708.
10. Hart, HE, Redekop, WK, Berg, M, et al., Factors that predicted change in health-related quality of life were identified in a cohort of diabetes mellitus type 1 patients. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 2005. 58(11): 1158-1164.
11. Hsiung, PC, Fang, CT, Chang, YY, et al., Comparison of WHOQOL-bREF and SF-36 in patients with HIV infection. Quality of life research an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation, 2005. 14(1): 141-150.
12. Jones, MP, Sharp, LK, Crowell, MD, Psychosocial correlates of symptoms in functional dyspepsia. Clinical gastroenterology and hepatology the official clinical practice journal of the American Gastroenterological Association, 2005. 3(6): 521-528.
13. Kalpaklioglu, AF, Kara, T, Kurtipek, E, et al., Evaluation and impact of chronic cough: comparison of specific vs generic quality-of-life questionnaires. Annals of allergy, asthma and immunology official publication of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, 2005. 94(5): 581-585.
14. Khanna, D, Clements, PJ, Furst, DE, et al., Correlation of the degree of dyspnea with health-related quality of life, functional abilities, and diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide in patients with systemic sclerosis and active alveolitis: results from the Scleroderma Lung Study. Arthritis and rheumatism, 2005. 52(2): 592-600.
15. Marques, AP, Ferreira, EAG, Matsutani, LA, et al., Quantifying pain threshold and quality of life of fibromyalgia patients. Clinical rheumatology., 2005. 24(3): 266-271.
16. Perez, IR, Baã±O, Jr, Ruz, Mal, et al., Health-related quality of life of patients with HIV: Impact of sociodemographic, clinical and psychosocial factors. Quality of Life Research, 2005. 14(5): 1301-1310.
17. Pezzilli, R, Morselli Labate, AM, Ceciliato, R, et al., Quality of life in patients with chronic pancreatitis. Digestive and Liver Disease, 2005. 37(3): 181-189.
18. Silveira, E, Taft, C, Sundh, V, et al., Performance of the SF-36 Health Survey in screening for depressive and anxiety disorders in an elderly female Swedish population. Quality of Life Research, 2005. 14(5): 1263-1274.
19. Skevington, SM, Day, R, Chisholm, A, et al., How much do doctors use quality of life information in primary care? Testing the Trans-Theoretical Model of behaviour change. Quality of Life Research, 2005. 14(4): 911-922.
20. Spiegel, Bmr, Younossi, Zm, Hays, Rd, et al., Impact of Hepatitis C on Health Related Quality of Life:A Systematic Review and Quantitative Assessment. Hepatology, 2005. 41(4): 790-800.
21. Steel, Jl, Geller, DaCarr, BI, Proxy ratings of health related quality of life in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Quality of Life Research, 2005. 14(4): 1025-1033.
22. Van Aken, MO, Pereira, AM, Biermasz, NR, et al., Quality of life in patients after long-term biochemical cure of Cushing's disease. The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism., 2005. 90(6): 3279-3286.
23. Van Diest, I, De Peuter, S, Eertmans, A, et al., Negative affectivity and enhanced symptom reports: Differentiating between symptoms in men and women. Social Science & Medicine, 2005. 61(8): 1835-1845.
24. Vet, HCWD, Adér, HR, Terwee, CB, et al., Are factor analytical techniques used appropriately in the validation of health status questionnaires? A systematic review on the quality of factor analysis of the SF-36. Quality of Life Research, 2005. 14(5): 1203-1218.
25. Vidrine, DJ, Amick, BC, Gritz, ER, et al., Assessing a conceptual framework of health-related quality of life in a HIV/AIDS population. Quality of Life Research, 2005. 14(4): 923-933.
26. Yost, KJ, Haan, MN, Levine, RA, et al., Comparing SF-36 scores across three groups of women with different health profiles. Quality of Life Research, 2005. 14(5): 1251-1261.
27. Coeytaux, RR, Kaufman, JS, Chao, R, et al., Four methods of estimating the minimal important difference score were compared to establish a clinically significant change in Headache Impact Test. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 2006. 59(4): 374-380.
28. Jones, WessingerCrowell, Coping Strategies and Interpersonal Support in Patients With Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 2006. 4(4): 474-481.
29. Lang, CA, Conrad, S, Garrett, L, et al., Symptom Prevalence and Clustering of Symptoms in People Living with Chronic Hepatitis C Infection. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 2006. 31(4): 335-344.
30. Mallis, D, Moisidis, K, Kirana, P-S, et al., Moderate and Severe Erectile Dysfunction Equally Affects Life Satisfaction. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 2006. 3(3): 442-449.
    

If you have any questions regarding Quality of Life, please contact Carolyn Lang at clang@cder.soms.uq.edu.au.

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Clinical Trials

Clinical Trials are research studies which test new and better ways of improving health in patients. The Cancer Collaborative Group members are involved in a number of Cancer Clinical Trials which form a significant part of their research basis. In Cancer, trials look to:

• Aid in preventing a disease
• Develop new treatments for a disease
• Screen for people who are at a high risk of developing the disease
• Diagnose the disease
• Control the symptoms of the disease

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Cochrane Reviews

Cochrane Reviews investigate the effects of interventions for prevention, treatment and rehabilitation in a healthcare setting. They are designed to facilitate the choices that doctors, patients, policy makers and others face in health care. Most Cochrane Reviews are based on randomized controlled trials, but other types of evidence may also be taken into account, if appropriate.  For additional information please visit the Cochrane Collaboration.

 

 

 

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