Our research
We pursue meaningful and targeted research, working to put our strategy into practice.
We’re continuing to conduct research across all GI cancers – we’ve been actively implementing our five-year research strategy, which we developed in 2022. While we’ve focussed primarily on treatment and translation, there are other areas of research where we see potential for more growth and collaboration. Twenty studies were open to patient recruitment in 2023, including translational studies.
How we conduct research
Our research strategy
In 2023, we worked on strengthening the reach, relevance and impact of our research through six strategic activities:
- Proactively focussing on equity, diversity and inclusion to enhance equitable cancer care.
- Broadening and diversifying the membership and committee representation.
- Expanding access to and involvement in our research across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.
- Fostering an innovative culture that encourages use of new trial designs and technology.
- Actively involving and supporting early and mid-career researchers in the planning, design, development and conduct of our research.
- Driving collaboration and partnership opportunities with funders, patient support groups, and pharmaceutical companies to access investigational product and devices.
We see potential for more growth and collaboration in the research areas of prevention/screening, diagnosis and survivorship.
Evolving research in 2023
Hear from Professor Chris Karapetis, Chair of the Scientific Advisory Committee.
Our research priorities
Our research priorities drive our decisions around our research focus and our methods. Based on these priorities, we can make pragmatic and considered decisions on current gaps in GI cancer research with what is feasible.
Cancer types of focus
HCC
(primary liver cancer
and liver SBRT)
Rectal cancer
Late-stage disease (especially colorectal cancer)
Global collaboration for cancers
Research types of interest
Pragmatic trial designs
Basket studies
Overarching considerations within research activity
“Outside of the box”
thinking
Patient reported outcomes
Partnerships & collaborations
Our research process
In 2022, we devised the AGITG Research Development and Prioritisation Framework, which detailed a formal and collaborative process that streamlined how we assess and prioritise research concepts. Now, when a concept is reviewed, it is evaluated based on:
- scientific merit
- feasibility
- alignment with AGITG strategy
- likelihood of funding
- organisational risk, and
- financial risk.
When research is progressed through the Framework, it is refined at every stage. Study Chairs are given multidisciplinary and community feedback to integrate into their research proposal, adding value.
What we’re researching
What is a clinical trial?
Cancer clinical trials are carefully designed research studies that investigate new practice or treatment options. Trials may look at whether a new treatment is better than standard available treatments, or whether a specific intervention can manage cancer symptoms or treatment side effects. Trials can also look at the quality-of-life aspects of cancer treatment, addressing the effects that cancer and cancer treatment can have on the wellbeing of the patient, their families, and carers.
While clinical trials offer the opportunity to help researchers study better diagnostic or treatment options for people with cancer, they also offer people hope for a brighter future. Additionally, patients on clinical trials may be better informed about treatment options, be more closely monitored by health professionals, and have greater access to new treatments.
The AGITG has studies that we sponsor, and studies we endorse. Endorsed AGITG studies are pilot studies which are sponsored and conducted by other institutions. By endorsing these studies, we can give scientific input when they are in development and, once these studies are active, support awareness and recruitment through promotional activities. The data gathered through pilot studies can then be used to inform and lead n turn helps them develop data that we could use to support and lead AGITG-sponsored, large-scale studies in the future.
Sites are medical centres that offer the trial treatment as part of the study. Patients attend appointments at these sites for the trial treatment. Excitingly, some AGITG studies are now incorporating a teletrial component, which means that patients can have elements of their trial treatment closer to where they live.
Our research achievements
In 2023, the DYNAMIC-III colorectal cancer clinical trial enrolled the largest number of Australian patients in our history. In total, 1,040 people from Australia and Canada joined the study. Reaching this milestone means that this clinical trial can benefit the maximum number of people possible and ensure the robustness of the study results.
The ASCEND clinical trial also achieved its patient enrolment target, enrolling 158 Australian and New Zealand participants with pancreatic cancer. In a significant milestone for all involved, ASCEND was the first cross-jurisdictional teletrial for the South Australia and the Northern Territory Australian Teletrial Program, as well as for the AGITG. The trial opened at Royal Darwin Hospital as a satellite site to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Adelaide.
Thank you to all the generous patients and their families who participated in these studies, and to the sites and members involved for their commitment to the studies.
We opened three new trials for people with GI cancer in 2023.
- VADER is exploring the effectiveness of a new combination of treatments for metastatic colorectal cancer. The study includes both a clinical trial and a translational research component. VADER is funded from a GI Cancer Institute-funded Innovation Grant, and also received additional funding from the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF).
- ACME ABC is evaluating the potential benefits of routine, comprehensive molecular profiling for patients with advanced biliary cancer. This trial concept was developed at our 2021 Cholangiocarcinoma Idea Generation Workshop and is funded thanks to a combined AGITG and Pancare Grant, created from generous GI cancer community donors.
- iLSTA is a single-blind study determining the safety and tolerability of a new combination of treatments for locally advanced pancreatic cancer. iLSTA is an endorsed AGITG study.
“We are grateful to all the generous donors who made the Innovation Grant possible. The VADER trial is important, and if it shows a positive result, it will potentially lead to a larger Phase III AGITG-led study which could define a new treatment option for patients with advanced colorectal cancer.”
Dr Fiona Chionh,
Study Co-Chair of VADER
We were thrilled to receive grant funding in 2023 for two new studies.
- The STOPNET neuroendocrine tumour clinical trial received a sizeable grant from the Medical Research Future Fund. This, along with prior grant and philanthropic funding, will enable the trial to open in 2024.
- The PemOla pancreatic cancer trial is now in development, thanks to receiving grants from Tour de Cure, Epworth Medical Foundation and PanKind, The Australian Pancreatic Cancer Foundation. This study has also garnered philanthropic support from the GI cancer community and is over halfway towards its funding target.
Studies open to patients in 2023
The following table lists all AGITG studies that eligible patients in 2023 could participate in.
Our Translational Research Program
The AGITG Translational Research (TR) Program aims to add value to important clinical trials in GI cancer by supporting the collection and use of biospecimens for future research.
Translational research is a feature of many of our trials – more than 90% of our ongoing trials involve the collection of patient samples for future GI cancer research.
Our TR Program assists us to develop translational research in GI cancers by providing access to these stored biological specimens acquired from AGITG trials. The Program is directed by the AGITG Translational Research Committee, comprised of experts whose specialties include biological research, medical oncology, surgery and pathology, and consumer representation.
We want to sincerely thank all the participants across our trials who have donated their precious samples to help us build our biobank. These samples, given freely and possessing such personal, spiritual and cultural importance, are the foundation of our future GI cancer research. We are very grateful and privileged to be the custodians of these invaluable samples, with our research only possible due to the generosity of those patients.
Our translational research in 2023
Hear from Dr Sarah Hayes, our Translational Research Lead.
What is translational research?
Translational research is often referred to as ‘bench to bedside’. It aims to take what is learned at the lab bench into results that can directly benefit patients. For example, tumour samples provided by patients during a clinical trial can be used by researchers to find biological characteristics of that tumour that are associated with good response to the drugs used in AGITG trials. If the response to the drug used in the trial is not as good as expected, they can also use these samples to try and find out why.
Our publications and presentations
In 2023, we published our clinical trial results in leading medical journals and presented research at the world’s largest forums for clinical cancer research.
The clinical trials ASCEND, ASCOLT, INTEGRATE IIa and PALEO featured at meetings held by the American Society of Clinical Oncology and European Society for Medical Oncology, drawing the attention of clinicians from all over the globe.
Congratulations to Louise Christophersen, our Clinical Development Lead, who was named as an author on the PALEO trial’s in-progress abstract in recognition of her extensive project management support for the trial’s development and conduct.
Results from the phase III INTEGRATE IIa trial were presented at the 2023 ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium. Analysis from the study demonstrated regorafenib significantly improved overall survival in patients with refractory advanced gastro-oesophageal carcinoma (AGOC).
