Sydney Breast Cancer FoundationSydney Breast Cancer FoundationThe Sydney Breast Cancer Institute has developed a multi-disciplinary breast cancer database that can be used for both quality assurance and research purposes. The data collection of patient information such as demographic information, basis of diagnosis, surgical management and adjuvant management allows the Institute to benchmark it practices with those published in the national and international literature.
Through funding provided by the Sydney Breast Cancer Foundation and the pharmaceutical industry the Institute has established the Translational Breast Cancer Research Fellowship, Dr Ramya Venkateswaran, is the current recipient of this fellowship.
The Sydney Breast Cancer Institute has an active research program and is committed to research trials that involve the latest surgical and pharmaceutical treatments for the management of breast cancer.
The Institute is involved in a number of national and international research projects covering prevention, surgical management, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, radiotherapy, sexuality and rehabilitation.
A clinical trial is an investigative study used to test new ways of improving health and new treatment methods. A clinical trial may be done to test new drugs or treatment regimes to enable to find the best and the safest methods for treatment. There are 3 kinds of clinical trials, the Treatment, Prevention and Screening trials.
Treatment trials are the most common kind of trials conducted by the Sydney Breast Cancer Institute, testing new treatment methods of treatment such as surgical methods, radiation methods, chemotherapy, hormones and new drugs. The Institute works together with other organizations such as The Australia and New Zealand Breast Cancer Trials Group (ANZBCTG), the National Health and Medical research Council (NHMRC) and the Sydney Cancer Center (SCC).
Prevention Trials looks at testing new methods looks at reducing the risk of cancer for people who had never had cancer or to prevent a second recurrence of a previous cancer. The Institute conducts some trials in this category.
A randomized clinical trial is an investigative study which participants are randomly allocated to either a control group which uses the current standard treatment or a study group, which uses the treatment under investigation. This is done to compare which method or medications are better for the treatment of breast cancer. This method is the current gold standard used for clinical trials.
Clinical trials have quite stringent entry criteria and are not always suitable for all patients. It is therefore important that the appropriate doctor and research team assess the suitability of all patients before they enter a trial. Please note that not all trials are included in this website, for all Medical Oncology trials; please go to the Cancer Institute NSW for further information.
If you would like to find out more information about the clinical trials that the Institute is running, please phone our Research Nurse on (02) 9515 7494.Type of Trial: Treatment, Surgical
Status: Active
In collaboration with: Australia and New Zealand Breast Cancer Trials Group (ANZBCTG)
IBCSG 23-01 is a randomised trial of axillary dissection versus no axillary dissection for patients with clinically node negative breast cancer and micro-metastases in the sentinel node.
Breast cancer usually spreads first to lymph nodes in the axilla (armpit). Sentinel node biopsy is a way of finding and removing the lymph nodes most likely to contain cancer. Women found to have cancer in their sentinel nodes usually undergo an axillary clearance. This involves removal of most lymph nodes in the armpit but can cause side effects such as lymphoedema (arm swelling) and other problems.
This international trial will determine if an axillary clearance is warranted for women who have only small clumps of cancer cells, called micro-metastases, found in the sentinel lymph nodes.
Type of Trial: Treatment, Surgical
Status: Active
In collaboration with: NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre
SNAC-2 is a national trial comparing two operations for detecting cancer cells in the lymph nodes of women with early breast cancer. The two operations are: 1) axillary clearance and 2) sentinel node biopsy.
The standard of treatment for early stage breast cancer is axillary clearance which is the removal of most of the lymph nodes under the armpit (axilla). The new treatment is sentinel node biopsy where only the first few lymph nodes most closely related to the cancer are removed.
We know that removing only the sentinel nodes may cause fewer side effects than doing an axillary clearance. The goal of SNAC2 is to establish the risk of local recurrence and long term safety of sentinel node biopsy, especially for women with larger or multiple tumours
Type of Trial: Treatment, Radiation Oncology
Status: Pending
In collaboration with: Trans-Tasman Radiation Oncology Group (TROG)
TROG 07.01 is a clinical trial studying the radiation doses and fractionation treatment schedules in non-low risk women with Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS) of the breast.
DCIS is an abnormality in the breast which has a high predisposition to develop into breast cancer. Treatment of DCIS usually involves surgical removal of the affected area and this is typically followed by approximately 5-6 weeks of daily radiotherapy treatment. The radiotherapy treatment is proven to reduce the recurrence of DCIS and the development of invasive breast cancer.
The aim of this trial is twofold: to compare the effectiveness of a shorter regimen of radiotherapy treatment (4 weeks) to the current standard of 5-6 weeks; and to test the effectiveness of a "boost" treatment to the surgical cavity site..
Type of Trial: Treatment, Radiation Oncology, Hormonal Therapy
Status: In Development
This is a clinical trial for patients who have been diagnosed with a breast cancer and who have undergone surgery for this. The trial is designed to investigate the use and benefits of hormonal therapy (Anastrazole) commencing before and continuing during radiotherapy treatment and comparing this with the conventional practice of commencing the hormonal therapy after completion of radiotherapy treatment. It aims to investigate if earlier hormonal therapy will reduce the risks of cancer recurrence.
Type of Trial: Treatment, Rehabilitation
Status: Active
In collaboration with: University of Sydney's Breast Cancer Research Group (USYD BCRG), Sydney Cancer Centre (SCC)
The aim of the study is to investigate whether an exercise program for the shoulder reduces the incidence of Lymphoedema (Swelling of the arm), shoulder muscle weakness and shoulder stiffness compared with usual management. Participants to the study would be randomly allocated to a group with either the usual care or the exercise group.
Type of Trial: Treatment, Hormonal Therapy
Status: Active
In collaboration with: University of Sydney's Breast Cancer Research Group (USYD BCRG), Sydney Cancer Centre (SCC)
This clinical trial is investigating the incidents of, and risk factors muscle and skeletal symptoms such as pain, in women with breast cancer who taking hormonal treatments, mainly Tamoxifen and Aromatase �inhibitors. This is done using a number of questionaries regarding the participant�s activity levels, symptoms and quality of life.
Type of Trial: Treatment, Hormonal Therapy
Status: Active
In collaboration with: University of Sydney's Breast Cancer Research Group (USYD BCRG), Sydney Cancer Centre (SCC)
Aromatase inhibitors such as Arimidex are used in the treatment of breast cancer have an effect of reducing the density of bone causing osteoporosis. Osteoporosis in post menopausal women is a common side effect of hormonal therapy for breast cancer survivors. This clinical trial investigates if bone density could be maintained and even improved with regular exercise, thus perhaps preventing or slowing down the effects of osteoporosis for ladies having hormonal treatment.
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