Professor Niall Corcoran is leading a trial using genomic testing and predictive disease modelling to guide therapy and reduce the burden of prostate cancer diagnosis, which evidence suggests is over-diagnosed and over-treated in early disease.
Lead: Professor Niall Corcoran, Department of Surgery – RMH, University of Melbourne Centre for Cancer Research
Key partners: Professor Christopher Hovens, University of Melbourne Centre for Cancer Research and WEHI
National rates of prostate cancer are rising. It’s predicted that 372,000 Australian men will be living with the disease by 2040.
Many of these diagnoses will be classified as having a favourable intermediate risk (FIR), meaning they are unlikely to experience metastasis or death from their disease, even without treatment.
Despite this, more than 80% of prostate cancer patients in Australia with lower risk of disease progression are still subjected to radical treatment with either surgery or radiation. These methods are expensive and have significant concomitant risks of long-term morbidity.
Professor Niall Corcoran and Professor Christopher Hovens from the University of Melbourne are developing the world’s first prospective, randomised clinical trial using genomic testing and predictive disease modelling to reduce the burden of prostate cancer, which evidence suggests is over-diagnosed and over-treated in early disease.
"Our trial will test and inform patients whether they carry mutations that may be associated with a high risk of prostate cancer progression, and allow them to make a more informed decision about proceeding to active radical treatment."
Professor Niall Corcoran
The study will determine whether genomic testing can be used to identify men at lower risk of disease progression, and track and manage their prostate cancer without the need to resort to heavy treatment.
Patients will be monitored to determine if they experience similar rates of metastasis to those undertaking the current treatment model, while also tracking their anxiety levels and quality of life.
The hope is that by using genomic testing at the time of diagnosis to identify men with a lower risk of disease progression, we can reduce the number of men receiving extensive treatment without compromising their long-term health outcomes.
This project utilises the TAGC Genomics Platform to perform targeted sequencing on a bespoke germline capture panel analysed by the Bioinformatics Platform. The Health Economics Platform is also engaged in evaluating the cost-effectiveness of utilising genomic tests to determine risk level and aid in the active surveillance of prostate cancer patients.