Inherited Cancer risk research and trials

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Research Projects

Communicating Cancer Risk with Family Members – a qualitative co-design study

This research study is to review and develop information resources to support people with identified hereditary (genetic) cancer risk variants. Researchers at the University of Washington in the United States have developed a website (www.connectmyvariant.org) of information resources to assist patients start a conversation with relatives to tell them about their potential hereditary cancer risk. These resources provide information on how to spread awareness among families about inherited cancer risk and include instructions about communication with family members following a diagnosis with a hereditary cancer risk variant.

The study aims to review the existing ConnectMyVariant resources and adapt resources to improve and facilitate family communication regarding inherited risk of cancer in an Australian population.

This study is looking for feedback to help make sure that the words, phrases and examples used in the University of Washington ConnectMyVariant resources are suitable and understandable for Australians who have an identified hereditary cancer risk variant(s) and their family members. The content of the resources will then be changed to make it suitable for an Australian population, the changes made will also be reviewed to make sure the changes are understandable and acceptable. The study will also explore if people feel there are any information resources missing that they think would be helpful related to having conversations with family about inherited genetic risk.

Eligibility criteria

  • Aged over 18 years,
  • Informed of genetic risk (either yourself or a family member) within last 10 years, i.e. since 2014.
  • have an identified risk of hereditary cancer due to the detection of a clinically significant gene mutation (variant) OR you are a family member of someone with an identified risk of hereditary cancer due to the detection of a clinically significant gene mutation (variant)
  • Speaks English,
  • With access to an internet connection for a Zoom interview.

Location
This study is conducted online via survey and videoconferencing. 

Contact

Associate Professor Joanne Shaw
Luna Rodriguez Grieve
Kirsty Galpin

To take part in this study, please click the following link which will take you to the study information sheet, consent form, and survey questions: https://redcap.sydney.edu.au/surveys/?s=YEDCPK7KXKXJHJ4M

Out of Pocket Costs Survey: Cancer Council Australia

The survey aims to gather data on the out-of-pocket costs that people have incurred during their care, including the direct and indirect costs, including the cost associated with their changing financial circumstances. It is designed to be brief and should take no more than 30 minutes to complete. The outputs of this research will be used by Cancer Council Australia in our policy and advocacy work to reduce the impact of the financial cost of cancer in Australia.  

Location
This study is conducted online via survey.

Contact
Drew Meehan 

Here is the link to the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FinancialCostsOfCancer

EmCOG Study

This study is investigating whether the removal of ovaries before natural menopause is associated with changes to concentration and memory.

Eligibility criteria
This study is for women in Australia who are under 45 years old and are at high risk for ovarian cancer. You might be eligible if you are planning to have a bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO) within the next 12 months, or if you have already had a BSO in the past 12 months.

Location
This study is conducted online via videoconferencing. 

Contact
tumaprc-earlymenopauseandcognition@manas.edu
(03) 9076 5034

Elevated Risk of Ovarian Cancer (EROC) Biobank Project

This study (for Sydney based participants only) is developing a blood and clinical database from people with increased risk of developing ovarian cancer. People who are considering removing their ovaries because they have a gene mutation associated with breast or ovarian cancer or they have a family history of breast or ovarian cancer, can participate. Participants will be provided with detailed information and if consent is given, the clinical team will organise a time to collect a 45mL blood sample. This blood can be used by researchers to search for new biomarkers that might be useful for improving diagnostics (eg to support development of an early detection test for ovarian cancer). The blood and data will be used for future research.

Eligibility criteria

Participants must meet the follow criteria to participate:

  • Considering risk-reducing gynaecological surgery; and have
  • Family history of hereditary breast or ovarian cancer; or
  • Germline mutations in genes associated with breast or ovarian cancer

Location
You can only participate in this research if your surgery is taking place in Sydney.

Website
https://www.gyncancerresearch.org/the-eroc-biobank

Contact
earlydetection@unsw.edu.au

Shaping the Future of Menopause Research Survey

The Menopause Priority Setting Partnership (MAPS) has been created to find out what questions about menopause need more research. By listening to both people who have experienced menopause and healthcare professionals, MAPS will determine the Top 10 most important research priorities for the future.

Eligibility criteria

Participants must meet the follow criteria to participate:

  • Lived experience of menopause
  • Healthcare professionals that work with menopause patients

Location
This is a global study, survey is online. 

The full day face-to-face workshop details:
Where: Melbourne CBD
When: 18th October 2024

Website
https://uchicago.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0Tyg9DgkzkGi8oC

Contact
MAPS-UOM@unimelb.edu.au

Medicines Access Programs

Medicines Access Programs are offered by pharmaceutical companies to facilitate access to medicines for hospital patients before relevant funding arrangements are implemented for a medication. In some circumstances, patients can access medicines for deferred cost, cost-free or subsidised. These programs include, but are not limited to, compassionate use, expanded access, produce familiarisation and cost-share programs. Only doctors can request access to a medicine via a program, on behalf of a patient so speak to your medical team about your options. Your healthcare team will be able to access an online portal with the latest information about MAPs.

Clinical Trials

Clinical trials play a crucial role in advancing cancer research and treatment. Clinical trials are research studies that test new treatments or interventions to advance further and improve cancer care. These treatments may include targeted therapies, immunotherapies, or combination approaches that aim to slow the spread of cancer or even shrink metastatic lesions.

Before participating in a clinical trial, it's essential to consider any potential risks and discuss these and your participation in any trial with your medical team. You will need to provide informed consent, which means you fully understand the trial's purpose, procedures, and potential risks.

Please see below list of current open trials:

The BRCA-P Clinical Trials

The BRCA-P study will explore whether the drug Denosumab is a safe and effective method for preventing breast cancer in women with a BRCA1 mutation.

Eligibility criteria
If you are a woman aged 25 to 55 with a confirmed BRCA1 mutation, no current or past breast cancer diagnosis, and you are not planning to have or have not yet undergone surgery to remove both breasts, you may be eligible for this trial.

Location
The trial is open at 15 hospitals around Australia. Please see below website to find out exact locations and more information. 

Website
https://www.breastcancertrials.org.au/trials/brca-p/

Contact
Phone: 1800 777 253

Primo Trials

PRiMo is a trial focused on using polygenic risk scores in clinical practice to determine the best way to identify high-risk women and personalise breast cancer risk management. A polygenic risk score represents the total number of genetic variants an individual has, which helps to assess their risk of developing a particular disease. This trial includes national recruitment through the network of Australian Familial Cancer Centres.

Eligibility criteria
The trial will be available to women who, having been referred to a participating Familial Cancer Clinic in Australia, are seeking predictive testing for a pathogenic variant in a high or moderate risk breast (and/or ovarian) cancer-associated gene (such as BRCA1, BRCA2, PALB2, CHEK2, ATM, RAD51C, RAD51D) that was previously identified in a genetic relative.

Location
The trial is located nationwide. Please see below website for exact locations that are included. 

Website
https://www.petermac.org/research/clinical-research/clinical-research-by-centre/familial-cancer-research-centre/primo-trial

Contact
primo@petermac.org
(03) 8559 6190

Tuba WISP Trials

The TUBA-WISP II study is investigating if having a salpingectomy (removal of the fallopian tubes) followed by a delayed oophorectomy (removal of the ovaries) is a safe alternative to the standard risk-reducing surgery (both salpingectomy and oophorectomy) for women with a high inherited risk of ovarian cancer.

Eligibility criteria

To participate in this study, you need to meet the following criteria:

  • Be a woman with a genetic mutation in one of these genes: BRCA1, BRCA2, BRIP1, RAD51C, RAD51D, or PALB2.
  • Be within the specific age ranges: 24-40 for BRCA1, 25-45 for BRCA2, and 25-50 for BRIP1, RAD51C, or PALB2.
  • Have completed childbearing.
  • Be premenopausal and have at least one fallopian tube.
  • You may have had non-ovarian cancer before, but you should not have it currently and must have completed any treatment.
  • Be willing to sign an informed consent form.
  • If you have had a salpingectomy, you should plan to wait at least two years before having an oophorectomy.

Location
This is a worldwide trial, please see below website for more information on this and the locations participating. 

Website
https://www.tuba-wisp.org/

Contact
tuba-wisp@radboudumc.nl 

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