blog

New iPhone App

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 17:54:31 +1100

The app will be free and based on research carried out at QCGC in collaboration with the Cleveland Clinic. It suggests that the risk and the localisation of recurrence can be predicted to some extent. We identified eight (8) factors that are routinely available to gynaecological oncologists: Patients age at diagnosis, FIGO stage, histological cell type, Grade, Lymph vascular space invasion, depth of myometrial invasion, peritoneal cytology and maximum tumour size. The app calculates the risk of local (vagina and pelvis) and distant (outside the pelvis) recurrence.

At the Queensland Centre for Gynaecological Cancer we are in the final stages of developing a new iPhone app (Uterine Cancer Recurrence Prediction Calculator) to estimate the risk of recurrence after surgery for uterine cancer.

The risk calculator is based on data collected from 2,097 patients who underwent surgery for stage 1 to 3 uterine cancer in Queensland (Australia) and on statistical support from the Cleveland Clinic, Ohio, USA.

Information for patients: Please contact your clinician to obtain the information required for the app and to discuss the clinical significance of the findings. The risk calculator does not represent or replace a medical consultation. This app was developed with the greatest scientific carefulness but the developers make no warranties regarding the accuracy or usefulness of any information provided in the risk calculator. The app may be updated from time to time as new evidence emerges.

Battle Against Ovarian Cancer

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 17:42:18 +1100

Queensland Reds vs. Firebirds Queensland - a beach volleyball competition. The Queensland Reds and the Firebirds met to play beach volleyball on 29 January 2012. The event was hosted by Natalie Cook, Olympic champion in Beach Volleyball, 2000. More than $80,000 will go to Gynaecological Cancer research and advance diagnosis and treatment of patients affected by gynaecological cancer.

For more information on the event visit the website at www.battleagainstovariancancer.org

New Ovarian Cancer Drug now available - Avastin

Sat, 16 Apr 2011 05:30:01 +1000

Avastin (Bevacizumab) is a monoclonal antibody that targets VEGF, a protein that plays a key role in the development of new blood vessels. In March 2012 it received TGA approval to be given in patients with newly diagnosed, advanced ovarian cancer (first line treatment) in Australia. Avastin is not registered to treat patients who develop a recurrence of their ovarian cancer.

Formation of new blood vessels is a prerequisite for malignant tumours to grow and to spread. VEGF is a substance produced by tumours that stimulates blood vessel growth. Avastin blocks VEGF and blood vessel formation. While Avastin has some anti-cancer activity in itself, it is more effective in combination with chemotherapy.

Two randomised trials are available on Avastin. One study is from the U.S. GOG and the other study is a European study. Both trials showed almost identical results. There was a statistically improved time to disease progression by 4 months but that improvement did not translate into an improvement in survival.

Avastin is given as an i.v. infusion at a dose of 15 mg/kg of body weight once every 3 weeks in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel for up to 6 cycles of treatment. Then it is recommended that treatment is continued as a single agent for a total of 15 months or until disease progression.

Costs: Avastin is currently not reimbursed by Medicare; for patients it is worth approaching private health funds for reimbursement as they reimburse patients in other indications such as bowel cancer. The costs will also depend on the patient’s body weight because the dose follows the body weight. For a 70 kg person, I estimate that Avastin will cost approximately $5,000 per course. Roche has introduced a capping program whereby a yearly cost limit is placed on Avastin: Paients whose dose exceeds 10,000 mg of Avastin (approximately $43,000), will receive Avastin free of charge for the remainder of the 12-motnh period.

Precautions: Avastin blocks blood vessel growth, which is needed for wound repair after surgery. Serious but rare complications of Avastin include bowel perforation and blood clots. Therefore Avastin must not be taken 4 weeks before and after planned surgery.