Health Services > Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital

The Centre for Gynaeoncological Cancer Research is an investigator initiated centre located in the State of the Art Teaching and Learning facilities at RBWH. The Centre has been developed to investigate various treatment modalities for the improvement of management of gynaecological cancer.

Developed in 2002, the Centre is comprised of staff from various backgrounds, including medical, nursing and research workers. The Centre has several major research investigations under trial, most notably the LACE (Laparoscopic Approach to Carcinoma of the Endometrium) and SIS (Skin Incision Study) trials.

The mission of the Research Centre is to achieve best practice in health care and improve outcomes in Australia and Internationally through the use of clinical trials research.

LACE (Laparoscopic Approach to Carcinoma of the Endometrium).

Endometrial cancer is the most common gynaecological malignancy in countries of the developed world. In 2000, 1,564 new cases of endometrial cancer were diagnosed in Australia and the incidence is steadily rising.

For patients with Stage 1 endometrial cancer, removal of the uterus, tubes and ovaries is considered the current standard treatment. Traditionally this surgery is performed via laparotomy in health care facilities throughout the world. More recently, however, advances in laparoscopic techniques have allowed the completion of a hysterectomy to be performed entirely laparoscopically with the aid of the McCartney Tube, which facilitates the removal of the uterus through the vagina.

The LACE Trial is an international multi-centre randomised phase three clinical trial investigating the differences in the quality of life of patients with Stage 1 Endometrial Adenocarcinoma post Total Abdominal Hysterectomy versus Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy. The primary hypothesis is that Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy (TLH) is associated with equivalent or improved quality of life at six months post surgery when compared to the standard treatment of Total Abdominal Hysterectomy.

Centre for Gynaeoncological Cancer Research Telephone: (07) 3636 8111  Email: RBWH-Feedback@ health.qld.gov.au    (with the subject "Women's Health")

Last Updated: 04 March 2008
Last Reviewed: 04 March 2008