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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