MPCCC brings personalised cancer medicine to people in south-eastern Victoria

Molecular profiling of solid tumours is now more accessible for people with cancer, who are being treated across south-eastern Victoria, following the establishment of the MPCCC Precision Oncology Program.

Over 80 patients with rare, therapy-resistant or advanced stage cancers have already been referred for screening through the MPCCC across a range of tumour streams, including including upper gastrointestinal, liver, pancreas, biliary, colorectal, thyroid, breast, gynaecological, lung, skin and cancers of unknown primary.

The MPCCC Precision Oncology Program co-ordinates referrals for molecular profiling from oncologists at its partner health services to an Australian research study, and provides support to interpret the results in the form of Molecular Tumour Board meetings to guide patient treatment and care.

Using next generation sequencing and comprehensive cancer gene panels, each tumour is individually profiled and matched to targeted drug therapies, off-label drugs and/or clinical trials, based on the tumours’ molecular profile.

So far, in around 35 percent of patients referred for sequencing, actionable genetic lesions have been identified. Potential actions include: a therapeutic drug-targeting the genetic lesion; an investigational drug therapy; or a relevant clinical trial.

MPCCC’ Molecular Tumour Boards (MTB’s) are multidisciplinary groups of oncology practitioners and cancer researchers, bioinformaticians, pathologists and allied health professionals. Molecular profiling reports are discussed at MTB’s to arrive at recommendations for the optimal management of individual patients.

Current MPCCC MTB’s include: pancreatic, upper gastrointestinal, prostate, and cancer of unknown primary. These groups meet regularly to apply personalised cancer medicine. New MTBs for different cancer streams will be established in future, including for breast cancer and colorectal cancer.

MPCCC Precision Oncology Seminars add an educational component to the program, presenting the latest research and clinical developments and connecting with available expertise to further support the application of personalised cancer medicine. Everyone is welcome to attend these events.

This week, MPCCC has launched a series of promotional videos to raise awareness of its Precision Oncology Program, and encourage participation from health professionals across south-eastern Victorian health services. More information about how to access sequencing can be found via this page: How to refer a patient for sequencing.

Clinical teams and researchers can sign up for further information about the MPCCC Precision Oncology Program via the MPCCC website, or contact Program Manager Ms Vikki Marshall at vikki.marshall@monash.edu.

The MPCCC Precision Oncology Program is supported by the Victorian Government and Monash University.