Collaborative Centre for Genomic Cancer Medicine shared on LinkedIn:
“Patients with neuroendocrine cancer wait a median of 9.2 years for diagnosis. A new $3 million national research platform aims to change that.
Therese Townsend, who lives with a neuroendocrine tumour.
‘Those of us with rare cancers don’t hope for better treatments from large, traditional clinical trials. PLANETARI will ultimately give us access to new, innovative treatments.’
A/Prof Richard Tothill from the Collaborative Centre for Genomic Cancer Medicine.
‘This is a cancer that is under-recognised and has been historically underfunded for research. There is a big need.’
Funded by the Australian Government’s Medical Research Future Fund, PLANETARI will bring together researchers, clinicians and patient advocates to address unmet needs across the neuroendocrine cancer journey:
- Understanding genetic risk and cancer prevention
- Making an early and accurate diagnosis
- Predicting cancer aggressiveness and directing personalised treatments
Dr Emma Boehm, an endocrinologist at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.
‘They have stories of where they were diagnosed with things like irritable bowel disease, or anxiety, or menopause, but what they had was a cancer that’s been growing for years.’
Spearheaded by A/Prof Richard Tothill from the Collaborative Centre and Dr Emma Boehm from the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, the initiative brings together Prof Michael Michael and A/Prof Grace Kong (co-chairs of Peter Mac’s Neuroendocrine Tumour Centre of Excellence), and researchers at universities and hospitals across six states. The project was co-designed with NeuroEndocrine Cancer Australia, led by CEO Meredith Cummins.
Meredith Cummins
‘This is vital research for a neglected cancer. PLANETARI will change outcomes for our patients – in Australia and ultimately internationally.’
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre shared a post by Collaborative Centre for Genomic Cancer Medicine, adding:
“We’re so proud to be working with the Collaborative Centre for Genomic Cancer Medicine on the new PLANETARI research platform to help change the future for people living with neuroendocrine cancer.
This national initiative aims to improve earlier diagnosis, better understand disease biology, and deliver more personalised treatment for patients with this rare and often overlooked cancer.
By bringing together researchers, clinicians and consumers from across the country, PLANETARI will help accelerate discoveries that lead to earlier diagnoses, more precise treatments and better outcomes for patients.”
Other articles about neuroendocrine cancer on OncoDaily.