Lung cancer patients to benefit from clinical trials at Monash Health Translation Precinct

CTC Manager Ms Cheryl Coleman, Professor Eva Segelov
and oncology patient Ms Marnie Dalton

Monash Health lung cancer patients are set to benefit from the relocation of clinical trials to the state-of-the-art Clinical Trials Centre at the Monash Health Translation Precinct (MHTP) in Clayton.

Lung cancer is the fifth most common cancer in Australia but the leading cause of cancer related deaths.  Monash Health receives over 250 new referrals of lung cancer each year, one of the highest patient loads in Victoria, as our area serves a population equivalent to the size of the Adelaide.

“All lung cancer clinical trials are being moved from the Monash Cancer Centre, Moorabbin to the MHTP Clinical Trials Centre, the ‘home base’ for Monash Health and Monash University clinician-scientists to conduct early, mid and late phase clinical trials,” said Dr Muhammad Alamgeer, medical oncologist and lung trials clinical lead at MHTP.

“Currently there are eight clinical trials are being conducted in various subtypes of lung cancer—of these, two trials are phase 2 and the rest are phase 3.  

A number of other patients with lung cancer are also participating in phase 1 clinical trials, which are already running at MHTP.

Dr Alamgeer said the Monash team of motivated and world-class clinicians and researchers strive to ensure patients have access to the latest and most effective treatments, and that further early and late phase clinical trials are planned to start in the coming months.

 “Participation in clinical trials gives our patients the opportunity to receive novel and cutting-edge treatment options,” said Monash University’s Associate Professor Arun Azad, oncologist and Head of Oncology Clinical Trials at MHTP.

“Every cancer patient at Monash Health who is either newly diagnosed or is requiring a change in their treatment is considered for participation in a clinical trial,” said Associate Professor Azad.

Associate Professor Azad said that due to stringent entry criteria, not all patients are eligible to participate in a clinical trial.

Director of Oncology at Monash Health, Professor Eva Segelov said recent advances in medical research have led to the discovery of novel and more effective treatments, resulting in improvements in overall survival and quality of life for lung cancer patients.

“We are very fortunate to have the Clinical Trials Centre, a purpose-built facility supported by dedicated staff with expertise in clinical trials, ranging from pharmacy to nursing, data management and medical care, to our translational scientists who work alongside us to better understand cancer biology,” said Professor Segelov from the Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health.

“Collaborative initiatives at the MHTP bring together information and leading opinion from clinicians and scientists on cancer treatment, prevention, diagnosis and cure.”

“We have planned to move all cancer clinical trials to the MHTP, optimising translational research opportunities, which will result in better outcomes for our patients,” said Professor Segelov.