Download Gynaecological Cancer Research – Dr Susana Banerjee

A six month progress report prepared for
The Gynaecological Cancer Fund
January 2015
Gynaecological Cancer
Research – Dr Susana
Banerjee
Thank you
Dr Susana Banerjee and The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity would like to thank
the committee and all the supporters of the Gynaecological Cancer Fund. The
donations that you have been able to make towards Dr Banerjee’s research since
launching the Fund in June 2014 have enabled her to begin making progress
towards her research goals.
The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity will report every six months on the progress of research that
has been enabled by the Gynaecological Cancer Fund. Each report will explain the current stage
of the research project(s) made possible by your funding, key highlights from the last six
months and key outcomes expected in the next six months.
Dr Susana Banerjee
Working together: our vision
Until recently, all women with gynaecological cancers were treated very similarly.
However, a revolution in understanding the human genome means that this could
change. With the support of the Gynaecological Cancer Fund, Dr Banerjee has
been able to start preparing research that could result in a personalised approach
to cancer treatment for more women.
By analysing a tissue sample from a patient with cancer we can now identify the genetic (DNA)
and molecular profile of a woman’s cancer. This information helps identify molecular
abnormalities in the cancer that lead to -or drive- its spread. By identifying these molecular
abnormalities we can target these ‘cancer drivers’ with new drugs, therefore helping us to tailor
available drugs to patient’s individual molecular abnormalities rather than the traditional ‘one
size fits all’ approach.
The new drugs available have the potential to work a lot better than traditional chemotherapies
and have more manageable side effects, meaning that more women have a chance of receiving
treatments that work for them without being subjected to unnecessary side effects.
The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity
Gynaecological Cancer Research – Dr S Banerjee
2
Jan 2015
Key outcomes: June 2014- Dec 2014
Key expected outcome 1:
Setting up the system for the collection and storage of samples (cancer biopsies, blood) from
patients for molecular testing (estimated number 75)
Before any research can begin Dr Banerjee must have samples of gynaecological cancers and
blood samples from patients to test. Each patient must give permission for a sample of their
cancer to be taken (a biopsy) and stored for research. Similarly, with the patient’s permission
tests can also be done using blood samples.
80 samples have been collected from patients to date that will be used in Dr Banerjee’s
research.
Analysis of the biopsies and blood will take place in the laboratories collaborating with Dr
Banerjee in the Centre for Molecular Pathology (CMP) based at The Royal Marsden in Sutton
and the Institute of Cancer Research.
What is exceptional about The Royal Marsden is its integrated research approach. By having
research facilities such as the CMP on site research is more easily translated from the laboratory
into real life clinical settings and vice versa.
Key expected outcome 2:
Build the research team- identify to employ a senior clinical fellow (oncologist), project coordinator, specimen collector, scientist dedicated to the project.
Dr Banerjee will oversee the research in addition to seeing patients at The Royal Marsden and
running clinics as normal. To ensure the most effective use of resources and the timely delivery
of research, Dr Banerjee will employ dedicated research fellows who will work on the research
projects under her guidance and supervision.
A research fellow cannot be identified until enough funding has been received to secure at least
one year of employment for the fellow. It is thanks to the funding received from the
Gynaecological Cancer Fund in these first six months that Dr Banerjee has been able to begin
recruitment.
We are delighted to report that Dr Banerjee has been successful in identifying the first
Gynaecological Cancer Fund fellow at The Royal Marsden, Dr Michele Moschetta. Dr
Moschetta trained as an oncologist in Italy and is currently completing his PhD work at the
Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston. Dr Moschetta will join Dr
Banerjee’s team in May 2015. We look forward to introducing him more fully once he is
appointed.
Without the support of the Gynaecological Cancer Fund these first steps towards building a
research team would not have been able to happen. Thank you.
Additional outcomes
It can be the case that once starter funds have been secured for research, other parties also
become interested and more finances are leveraged. A European grant awarding body has
agreed to support part of the salary of the first research fellow’s clinical work. This is incredible
news; with more funds available the research can happen quicker, at a larger scale exploring
more areas. We hope that the continued support of the Gynaecological Cancer Fund will
encourage more grant awarding bodies to support this research in the future.
The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity
Gynaecological Cancer Research – Dr S Banerjee
3
Jan 2015
Key expected outcomes for the next
period: Jan 2015- June 2015
The next six months will be very exciting and we hope that the Gynaecological
Cancer Fund’s support and ambitious fundraising targets will enable the
following:
Phase 2: Jan 2015- June 2015
Key expected outcomes:
Initial projects to be commenced:
1. Analyse ovarian cancer samples for BRCA gene abnormalities and in the cancer itself so
that individual patients can access the latest treatment breakthrough- PARP inhibitors
2. Begin research into why rarer types of ovarian and endometrial cancers are so
aggressive, difficult to treat, and try to identify better, targeted therapies
Continued collection of tissue samples (cancer biopsies, blood) from patients for testing
(at least 75) at diagnosis and at relapse
Develop a clinical protocol for scientific and ethical approval for the above projects
Appointment of a full-time research clinical fellow to commence projects
Begin testing for key genes in individual patient cancer sample in up to 150 patients
initially
Begin developing a platform of genetic and molecular tests to be utilised for women
with gynaecological cancers
Identify a potential second research fellow
Identify grants and further projects and plan to apply for further funding
Turning vision into reality
There is still a long way to go but with the support of the Gynaecological Cancer
Fund Dr Banerjee’s research could provide women with personalised treatment
options for their cancer. Together, we can move towards a future where a “one
size fits all” approach is no longer the only option for the 20,000 women who are
diagnosed with gynaecological cancers in the UK every year.
Thank you so much for all your hard work, commitment and dedication to making personalised
cancer a possibility for women in the future. We are looking forward to supporting the
committee with the extraordinary events that the Gynaecological Cancer Fund has planned for
the year ahead.
Your support is truly exceptional, thank you.
The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity
Gynaecological Cancer Research – Dr S Banerjee
4
Jan 2015