Western Health Cancer Research

Research Overview

Western Health is one of Victoria’s largest health care services and provides services to a population of over 1 million people and rapidly growing. The West of Melbourne has one of the most culturally diverse communities in the country with 38% speaking over 110 different languages at home.

Western Health’s Cancer research unit conducts adult oncology medical, surgical and radiation trials, as well as haematology and palliative care trials. The unit was established over 30 years ago and has a wealth of experience from conducting over 400 clinical trials. The oncology service overall reviewed approximately 2403 new medical oncology/ haematology patients for the 2022-2023 financial year.

Western Health haematology and oncology patients are cared for across four Western Health campuses – Sunshine, Footscray, Sunbury and Melton – these incorporate inpatient, outpatient, HITH and community palliative care services. Clinical trial treatment is provided in the purpose-built ambulatory cancer care centre at Sunshine Hospital, and in the Sunshine Hospital Radiation Therapy Centre, which is run in partnership with Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.

The Oncology Services team consists of more than 40 medical specialists and many more surgeons. Most major streams are treated at Western Health with the largest being Haematology, Breast, Lung, Genitourinary, Colorectal and Upper GI. Clinical trials are conducted across all phases 1 to 4 with pharmaceutical companies, cooperative groups, investigator driven and other non-pharmaceutical organisations. Current new trials include immunotherapy trials, bucket trials, registry trials and Circulating Tumour DNA studies.

Recent successful trials:

  • Phase 2 breast trial – accrued first patient within 4 weeks of SIV; was first patient globally.
  • Phase 1b trial - accrued first patient within 5 weeks of SIV; was first patient in Australia
  • Namisol Study – Phase 2b study investigating oral Cannabis for anorexia in people with advanced cancer. Accrued 1st patient in for trial, in Australia; accrued 3 patients in total in 3 months prior to study hold.
  • Cachexia Study – Phase 2 trial for patients with cachexia and NSCLC/Pancreatic/Colon cancer investigating Ponsegromab. Recruited 2 patients within 4 months of opening.

Staff

  • Dr Dishan Herath
  • Dr Maria Coperchini
  • Dr Phillip Tran
  • Prof Peter Gibbs
  • Dr Michael Gilbertson
  • Dr Keri-Lee Geneser
  • Dr Fiona Hegi-Johnson
  • Dr Mir AbdolAzim Jalati
  • Dr Suzanne Kosmider
  • Dr Michael Lam
  • Dr Margaret Lee
  • Dr Hye Suk (Sophie) Lee
  • Dr Chris Leow
  • A/Prof Lara Lipton
  • Dr Ruwandi Mendis
  • Dr Shehara Mendis
  • Dr Tristan Molden-Hauer
  • Dr Caitlin Murphy
  • Dr Christine Muttiah
  • Dr Catherine Oakman
  • Dr William Renwick
  • Dr Shirley Wong

Collaborators

  • Australian Gastrointestinal trials Group (AGITG)
  • Breast Cancer Trials (Australia)
  • Australia New Zealand Gynaecological Oncology Group (AZGOG)
  • Australian and New Zealand Urogenital and Prostate Cancer Trials Group
  • Australasian Leukaemia & Lymphoma Study Group (ALLG)
  • Walter Eliza hall Institute (WEHI)
  • Cancer Trials Australia (CTA)
  • Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre Alliance (VCCC Alliance)

Funding

1) NHMRC Project grant
Dr Lara Lipton
Application ID:  APP1102018
Type:Project
Application Title:NABNEC: A Randomised Phase II Study Of Nab-paclitaxel In Combination With Carboplatin As First Line
Treatment Of Gastrointestinal Neuroendocrine Carcinomas
Funding:                              $1,393,082.86  
Funding period:                5 years
Role CIB

2 )WCMICS 2014/15 Funding Program
Dr Sally Greenberg
Improving the pathway to cancer diagnosis and specialist review by analysing patient presentation to the Emergency Department
Western and Central Melbourne Integrated Cancer Services (WCMICS)
$89,380

3) 2015
WCMICS 2015/16 Funding Program
Ms Meron Pitcher
Integrating Primary Care Practitioners in Multidisciplinary Cancer Care
WCMICS
$113,483

4) 2015
WCMICS 2015/16 Funding Program
Dr Adrian Dabscheck
Determining the feasibility of a multi-disciplinary Psycho-Oncology Team at Western Health using a partnership model.
WCMICS $70,682
2015

5)WCMICS 2015/16 Funding Program
Dr Suzanne Kosmider
Management of Male Sexual Dysfunction following treatment for Colorectal and Prostate Cancer Survivors at Western Health
WCMICS
$93,044

6) 2015
Grants in Aid of VCCC Scientific Meetings
Prof Jon Emery
Primary Care Across the Cancer Continuum
Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre
$5,000

7)2015
WCMICS
Ms Ilana Hornung
“What did you say?” PHASE 1: Background and Literature Review
WCMICS
$94,435

Research Publications

Livingston PM, Russell L, Orellana L, Winter N, Jefford M, Girgis A, Austin D, O E, Mihalopoulos C, Ugalde A, Chambers R, Phipps-Nelson J, Herath D, Botti M, Rasmussen B, Whitfield K, Ftanou M, Smith AB, Pilatti K, Sara S, Wootten A, Gillan K, Singh M, Campbell D, Pillay B, White V. (2022). Efficacy and cost-effectiveness of an online mindfulness program (MindOnLine) to reduce fear of recurrence among people with cancer: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open, 12, e057212.

Alexander, M., Solomon, B., Ball, D. L., Sheerin, M., Dankwa-Mullan, I., Preininger, A. M., Jackson, G. P., & Herath, D. M. (2020). Evaluation of an artificial intelligence clinical trial matching system in Australian lung cancer patients. JAMIA Open, 3(2), 209–215.

To Y, Shapiro J, Gibbs P, Shapiro J, Lee B. Treatment and outcomes of unresectable and metastatic pancreatic cancer treated in public and private Australian hospitals.  Asia Pac J Clin Oncology 18;448-55:2022

Min S, Roohullah A, Tognela A, Jalali A, Lee M, Wong R, Shapiro J, Burge M, Yip D, Nott L, Zimet A, Lee B, Dean A, Steel S, Wong H, Gibbs P, Lim S. Patient demographics and management landscape of metastatic colorectal cancer in the third-line setting: real-world data in an Australian population. Asia Pac J Clin Oncol. E56-e63:2022

Body A, Wong R, Shapiro J, Jalali A, McLachlan S, Ananda S, Lipton L, Cooray P, Gibbs P, Lee B, Lee M. Use and outcomes of chemotherapy for metastatic pancreatic cancer in Australia. Intern Med J. 52;49-56:2022

Chong C, Jalal A, Wong A, Loft M,Wong R, Lee M, Gately L, Shapiro J, Kosmider S, Tie J, Ananda S, Yeung J, Ma B, Burge B, Jennens R, Tran B, Lee B, Lim L, Dean A,Nott L, Gibbs P.   Impact of the evolution in RAS mutation analysis in Australian patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. Asia Pac J Clin Oncol. 18;3363-8:2022

Chazan G, Anton A, Wong S, Shapiro J, Weickhardt A, Azad A, Kwan E, Spain L, Gunjur A, Torres J, Parente P, Parnis F, Goh J, Gibbs P, Tran B. Beyond Cabazitaxel: Late Line Treatments in Metastatic Castration Resistant Prostate Cancer (mCRPC): A Retrospective Multi-Centre Analysis. Asia Pac J Clin Oncol 18;642-9:2022

Mendis S, Hong W, Ananda S, Faragher I, Jones I, Croxford M, Steel M, Jalali A, Gard G, To Y, Lee M, Kosmider S, Wong R, Tie J, Gibbs P. Biology and clinical implications of fecal occult blood test (FOBT) screen detected colorectal cancer. JNCI Cancer Spectrum 6;pkab100:2022

Tie J, Cohen J, Lahouel K, Lo S, Wang Y, Kosmider S, Wong R, Shapiro J, Lee M, Harris S, Khattak A, Burge M, Harris M, Lynam J, Nott L, Day F, Hayes T, McLachlan S, Lee B, Ptak J, Silliman N, Dobbyn L, Popoli M, Hruban R, O’Broin-Lennon A, Papadopoulos N, Tomasetti C, Kinzler K, Vogelstein B, Gibbs P. Chemotherapy Directed By Circulating Tumor DNA Analysis in Stage II Colorectal Cancer. N Engl J Med 386:2261-72:2022

Diaz L, Shiu K, Kim T, Jensen B, Jensen L, Punt C, Smith D, Garcia-Carbonero R,
Benavides M, Gibbs P, de la Fouchardiere C, Rivera F, Elez E, Le D, Yoshino T, Zhong W, Fogelman D, Marinello P, André T, on behalf of the KEYNOTE-177 Investigators. Pembrolizumab versus chemotherapy for metastatic dMMR/MSI-H colorectal cancer (KEYNOTE-177):  final analysis of the randomized, open-label phase 3 study. Lancet Oncol 2022 23;659-79:2022

Hayes I, Milanzi E, Gibbs P, Faragher I, Reece J. Is increasing nodal count associated with improved recurrence‐free and overall survival following standard right hemicolectomy for cancer? J Surg Oncol. 126;523-34:2022

Hayes I, Milanzi E, Pelly R, Gibbs P, Reece J. T-stage downstaging of locally advanced rectal cancer after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy is not associated with reduced recurrence after adjusting for tumor characteristics. Journal of Surgical Oncology 126;728-39:2022

Loft M, Shapiro J, Lee M, Wong R, Tie J, Kosmider S, Wong V, Jalali A, Lee B, Ananda S, Gibbs P. "Compliance with TGA prescribing information - Weekly or second weekly cetuximab for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer". Intern Med J. 53;1610-7:2023

Walpole I, Lee B, Shapiro J, Thomson B, Lipton L, Ananda S, Usatoff V, Mclachlan S,  Knowles B, Fox A, Wong R, Cooray P, Burge B, Clarke K, Pattison S, Nikfarjam M, Tebbutt N, Harris M, Nagrial A, Zielinski R, Chee C, Gibbs P. Use and Outcomes from Neoadjuvant chemotherapy in Borderline Resectable Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma in an Australasian Population. Asia Pac J Clin Oncol 19;214-25:2023

Tung I, Moldovan C, Wong V, De Boer R, Yeo B, Malik L, Greenberg S, Anton A, Nott L, Barnett F, Collins I, Lombard J, Nottage M, Sahu A, Torres J, Gibbs P, Lok S. Real-world outcomes in patients with brain metastases secondary to HER2-positive breast cancer: An Australian multi-centre registry-based study. Clinical Breast Cancer 22;e764-e72:2022

Santucci J, Tacey M, Thomson B, Michael M, Wong R, Shapiro J, Jennens R, Clarke K, Pattison S, Burge M, Zielinski R, Nikfarjam M, Ananda S, Lipton L, Gibbs P, Lee B. Impact of first-line FOLFIRINOX versus Gemcitabine/Nab-Paclitaxel chemotherapy on survival in advanced pancreatic cancer: evidence from the prospective international multicentre PURPLE pancreatic cancer registry. Eur J Cancer 174;102-112:2022

Walker R, Georgeson P, Mahmood K, Joo J, Makalic E, Clendenning M, Como J, Preston S, Joseland S, Pope BJ, Hutchinson R, Kasem K, Walsh M, Macrae F, Win A, Hopper J, Mouradov D, Gibbs P, Sieber O, O'Sullivan D, Brenner D, Gallinger S, Jenkins M, Rosty C, Winship I, Buchanan D. Evaluating multiple next-generation sequencing derived tumour features to accurately predict DNA mismatch repair status. J Mol Diagn. 25;94-109:2023

Arafat Y, Cao D, Reid F, Loft M, Faragher I, Lee M, Gibbs P, Kosmider S, Yeung J. Current colorectal cancer chemotherapy dosing limitations and novel assessments to personalise treatments. ANZJS 92;2784-5:2022

Jenkins L, Luk I, Fairlie W, Lee E, Palmieri M, Schoffer K, Tan T, Ng I, Vukelic N, Tran S, Tse J, Nightinglae R, Alam Z, Chionh F, Iatropoulos G, Ernst M, Afshar-Sterle S, Desai J, Gibbs P, Sieber O, Dhillon A, Tebbut N. Genotype-tailored ERK/MAPK pathway and HDAC inhibition rewires the apoptotic rheostat to trigger colorectal cancer cell death. Molecular Cancer Therapeutics 22;52-62:2023.

Yoshino T, Kim T, Yong W, Shiu K, Vittrup B, Jensen L, Smith D, Garcia-Carbonero R, Alcaide-Garcia J, Gibbs P, de la Fouchardiere C, Rivera F, Elez E, Bendell J, Le D, Yang P, Farooqui M, Marinello P, Diaz L, Andre T. Pembrolizumab in Asian patients with microsatellite-instability–high/mismatch-repair–deficient colorectal cancer. Cancer Sci. 114;1026-26:2023

To R, Degeling K, McCoy M, Wong R, Jones I, Dunn C, Hong W, Loft M, Gibbs P, Tie J. Real-world adjuvant chemotherapy treatment patterns and outcomes in resected stage II and III colorectal cancer. Asia Pac J Clin Oncol. 19;392-402:2023

Kelly R, Jensen A, Karunaratna N, Wong S, Shapiro J, Weickhardt A, Parente P, Azad A, Uccellini A, Torres J, Parnis F, Goh J, Kwan E, Brown S, Steer C, Warren M, Gibbs P, Tran B, Anton A. PSMA PET-CT use prior to systemic therapy in metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer. BJU Int. 131;179-82:2023

Pereira-Salgado A, Anton A, Franchini F, Mahar R, Kwan E, Wong S, Shapiro J, Weickhardt A, Azad A, Spain L, Gunjur A, Torres J, Parente P, Parnis F, Goh J, Steer S, Brown S, Gibbs P, Tran B, IJzerman M. Real-world clinical outcomes and cost estimates of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer treatment: does sequencing of taxanes and androgen receptor targeted agents matter?  Expert Review of Pharmacoeconomics & Outcomes Research 23;231-9:2023

Loft M, Lok S, De Boer R, Malik L, Greenberg S, Yeo B, Anton A, Nottage M, Wong V, Nott L, Collins I, Torres J, Barnett F, Lombard J, Gibbs P, Gately L. Addition of endocrine therapy to dual anti-HER2 targeted therapy in initial treatment of HER2+/HR+ metastatic breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat.198;67-74:2023

Palmieri M, Catimel B, Mouradov D, Sakthianandeswaren A, Kapp E, Ang C, Williamons N, Nowell C, Christie M, Desai J, Gibbs P, Burgess A, Sieber O. Spatial rewiring of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase signalling via nuclear translocation of PI3K alpha in colorectal cancer. Mol Cell Proteomics 22;100529:2023

Wei M, Arafat Y, Lee M, Kosmider S, Loft M, Faragher I, Gibbs P, Yeung J. Emerging trends in the prediction of pathological tumour response in rectal cancer following neoadjuvant therapy. ANZJS. 2023 doi: 10.1111/ans.18303.

Mouradov D, Greenfield P, Li S, In E, Storey C, Sakthianandeswaren A, Georgeson P, Buchanan D, Ward R, Hawkins N, Skinner I, Jones I, Gibbs P, Ma C, Liew Y, Fung K, Sieber O. Onco-microbial community subtypes are associated with disease biology and prognosis of colorectal cancer. Gastroenterology 165;104-20:2023

Conduit C, Lewin J, Weickhardt A, Lynam J, Wong S, Grimison P, Sengupta S, Pranavan G, Parnis F, Bastick P, Campbell D, Hansen A, Leonard M, Zawa P, McJannett M, Stockler M, Gibbs P, Toner G, Davis I, Tran B, Kuchel A. Patterns of Relapse in Stage 1 Testicular Cancer – Utility of the ANZUP Surveillance Recommendations. J Oncol Pract. doi: 10.1200/OP.23.00191.

Mattox A, Douville C, Popoli M, Ptak J, Silliman N, Dobbyn L, Schaefer J, Lu S, Pearlman A, Cohen J, Tie J, Gibbs P, Lahouel K, Bettegowda C, Hruban R, Tomasetti C, Jiang P, Chan K, Lo Y, Papadopoulos N, Kinzler K, Vogelstein B. The origin of highly elevated cell-free DNA in healthy individuals and patients with pancreatic, colorectal, lung, or ovarian cancer. Cancer Discoverydoi: 10.1158/2159-8290.CD-21-1252.

Fernando M, Anton A, Weickhardt A, Azad A, Uccelini A, Brown S, Wong S, Parente P, Shapiro J, Liow E, Torres J, Goh J, Parnis F, Steer C, Warren M, Gibbs P, Tran B.  Treatment Patterns and Outcomes in Older Adults with Metastatic Prostate Cancer: A Retrospective Analysis of an Australian Real-World Cohort. J Geriatric Oncology doi.org/10.1016/j.jgo.2023.101621

Research Projects

For project inquiries, contact our research group head.



Faculty Research Themes

Cancer

School Research Themes

Cancer in Medicine



Key Contact

For further information about this research, please contact Group Leader Dr Dishan Herath

Department / Centre

Medicine

Unit / Centre

Western Health Cancer Research

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