Researchers are making significant progress in the development of a method to predict the most effective treatment for patients battling Australia’s second-biggest cancer killer. By utilizing tumour samples from advanced bowel cancer patients, they have been able to grow 3D models in a lab to test various therapies.
Medical oncologist and WEHI researcher, Professor Peter Gibbs, explained that the 3D organoids allow for testing different drugs and doses, providing a more personalized approach to treatment. These tiny organoids, comparable in size to a grain of sand, are screened using a special robot to determine which treatment is most effective in killing off the tumour.
This advancement aims to reduce the guesswork involved in treating advanced bowel cancer, a condition known for its difficulty to overcome. According to Gibbs, ineffective treatments can result in the loss of two to three months on something that won’t work, emphasizing the urgent need for accurate prediction methods.
A world-first study published in Cell Reports Medicine has demonstrated that this technology can identify the most effective treatment for individual patients with an impressive 90 per cent accuracy. This development brings hope for more targeted and successful cancer treatments.
In the coming months, a clinical trial will be initiated at several hospitals in Melbourne to assess how pre-testing information can assist doctors and patients in the clinic. This trial holds promise for improving treatment outcomes and reducing the anxiety experienced by cancer patients.
Meri Dimovska, a 44-year-old patient diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer, expressed her optimism about the technology, emphasizing the relief it could bring to cancer patients. Having undergone successful chemotherapy, Dimovska highlighted the challenges faced by other patients in finding effective treatments, underscoring the potential impact of this innovative approach.
This groundbreaking development in cancer treatment prediction is a significant step forward in personalized medicine and offers hope for improved outcomes for patients battling this devastating disease.
