PrOSPeCT helping sarcoma patients by opening up new treatment paths

The Precision Oncology Screening Platform Enabling Clinical Trials (PrOSPeCT) initiative will help sarcoma patients by opening up new treatment paths. 

PrOSPeCT will use genomic medicine to help uncover the genetic drivers of the cancer and treat the cancer based on this information, rather than treating the cancer according to its location.

The project is led by the Australian Genomic Cancer Medicine Centre (Omico) and involves well known cancer research centres, such as the Garvan Institute and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. 

Peter Mac's Executive Director Cancer Research, Professor Ricky Johnstone commented that "This announcement is exciting because it's going to expand our ability to provide personalised cancer treatment to those patients who are in the most need.

"It will be able to provide the genomic profiling so that we understand at the genetic level what has happened with those patients and their cancers, and then importantly, link them with new clinical trials from across Australia."

Professor David Thomas, head of Genomic Cancer Medicine at the Garvan Institute and CEO Omico noted that "Through PrOSPeCT, we will fast-track the development, manufacturing and use of precision, personalised cancer treatments, changing lives, creating jobs and building Australia's sovereign capability in drug development."

Professor Thomas was the founding Chair and board member of the Australasian Sarcoma Study Group, now known as ANZSA. 

This is an exciting time as more clinical trials and treatment options open up for the more difficult to treat cancers.

More information on PrOSPeCT can be accessed here