Řádek: 1. – 4. - Royal Hospital for Women, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia Gynaecologic Oncology Centre X Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, General University
Hospital and First Faculty of Medicine , Charles University in Prague
1. Relevance of the strategy
The proposed project is designed to facilitate a long term research collaboration between two
renown gynaecological oncology centres in Prague and Sydney
1) Gynaecologic Oncology Centre, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, General University
Hospital and First Faculty of Medicine , Charles University , Prague, Czech Republic.
The centre provides complex treatment for women with gynaecological cancer with about 600 new
cases per year. The biggest centre in the Czech republic and also one of the well - known centres
in Europe with three major fields of expertise - radical surgery, ultrasound in gynaecological oncology,
hereditary syndromes.
2) Royal Hospital for Women, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia,
The unit treats 350 new invasive cancers per year, perform 330 major operations per year and
undertakes over 1000 cycles of chemotherapy per year. Clinical research covers surgical management
of vulvar, cervical and ovarian cancer, nutrition, lymphoedema and the laboratory is developing a
screening test for ovarian cancer. The Gynaecological Cancer Centre is actively involved in the training
of fellows in gynaecologic oncology.
Both institutions belong among the largest gynaecologic oncology services in their respected
countries and their research is focused on ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer is the deadliest
gynaecological malignancy world-wide. More than 75% of patients are diagnosed in advanced stages
of the disease and high morbidity of the disease remains one of the biggest challenges of current
oncology. Both institutions possess a large number of cases of ovarian cancer and several ongoing
research projects in both clinical and translational research.
Relevance of the project is based on the following factors:
Large case volume in both institutions which, if combined, provides a unique series
of patients will enable the continuation of PhD project of fellows at both institutions. PhD project at
the Charles University is focused on the personalized treatment for ovarian cancer. Retrospective
part of this research is based on large population of 600 patients with ovarian cancer radically treated
in Prague Centre. Prospective part will benefit from Central and Eastern European Gynaecologic
Oncology collaborative Group. Objectives are to identify an optimal pre-treatment work-up for the
clinical staging of the disease, especially the evaluation of up-front operability, with a special
emphasis on the role of ultrasound and ultrasound guided invasive procedures. Nowadays only a few
papers have been published in this field. Further topic is to analyse relevance of surgical radicality
and influence on the localization of the first ovarian cancer relapse and first treatment free interval.
Excellent scientific facilities available at the University of New South Wales together with the
Lowy Cancer Research Centre provide high-quality research and unique learning opportunities
for PhD students in the area of ovarian cancer treatment.
Gynaecologic Oncology Centre in Prague delivers advanced clinical research possesses the
leading role worldwide nowadays. There is a number of ongoing projects in clinical staging of ovarian
cancer, ultrasound implementation into early diagnosis, differential diagnosis and management
of ovarian cancer and also ultrasound guided procedures in advanced ovarian cancer patients.
The use of diagnostic ultrasound in women’s malignancies in Gynaecologic Oncology Centre
in Prague has worldwide reputation and its implementation in Australia could be beneficial both
for clinical management of the patients and for clinical research.
2. Quality of the cooperation arrangements
Following previous excellent collaboration established in clinical research projects focused
on clinical staging, early diagnosis and management of ovarian cancer.
Despite no previous PhD students exchange between these two institutions, there has been
a long term collaboration on higher academic level bringing significant benefits to both sides such as
radical surgery development, ultrasound diagnostics and common publications .
- Roles and Responsibilities:
Charles University in Prague - selection of one PhD student and one experienced researcher,
implementation of new technology in ovarian cancer clinical staging at the partner institution;
analysis of common clinical database of patients; collaboration on prospective trial
on individualization of radical surgical treatment of advanced ovarian cancer patients; development
of the laboratory on molecular genetics of ovarian cancer; contribution to the research project
on molecular genetics signature of ovarian cancer according to histological type, stage of disease,
and biological behaviour.
University of New South Wales - selection of one PhD student and one experienced researcher;
contribution to the retrospective database of patients and ongoing clinical trial on clinical staging
of patients with advanced ovarian cancer; collaboration on prospective trial on individualization
of radical surgical treatment of advanced ovarian cancer patients; facilitation of the development of
the laboratory on molecular genetics of ovarian cancer at the partner institution; collaboration on
the ongoing research project on molecular genetics signature of ovarian cancer according to
histological type, stage of disease, and biological behaviour.
3. Quality of project design and implementation
A PhD student with previous experience in gynaecological oncology will initiate collaboration
in Translational Research Program as well as ultrasound implementation strategy and will
assemble common clinical database of ovarian cancer patients. Academic support from both
institutions will result in research papers and presentations in European and world congresses.
The participants will be selected among PhD student with previous in-depth knowledge in the field of
gynaecologic oncology, both clinical skills and research work.
The participants will receive full academic support to carry out their research. They will be able to
benefit from the presence and assistance of an accomplished mentor.
Phase 1
-
To initiate collaboration in Translational Research Program with the Lowy Cancer Research
Centre in Australia in field of study microsatellite instability and CpG island methylation
in ovarian cancer. Translational projects explore cellular and molecular signalling pathways
leading to personalized therapies.
-
To set up common patient population with advanced ovarian cancer in both institutions.
-
To create common cases database containing patients treated with advanced ovarian cancer
in both institutions.
-
To create and fill common ovarian cancer biobank, tissue bank and biorepositories in both
institutions and collect specimens of solid tissue such as tumour and biopsy materials.
Phase 2
-
Development of an implementation strategy for ultrasound and ultrasound guided procedures
in ovarian cancer patients in The University of New South Wales.
-
To assemble clinical database including common patients treated with ovarian cancer in both
centres and focus on parameters such as different overall survival , progression free survival,
quality of life handling different management in both institutions.
Phase 3
-
Publish common research papers in journals with impact factor (at least 5 papers).
-
Apply for grant opportunities in the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians
and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG).
-
Present results in international scientific meetings of European Society of Gynaecological
Oncology (ESGO) and International Gynaecological Cancer Society (IGCS).
-
To establish long term platform for collaboration in the field of gynaecological oncology
science.
4. Impact and dissemination
Transcontinental cooperation bringing together top gynaecological oncology centres will produce
innovative strategy in early detection of ovarian cancer using translational research.
Short term impacts:
-
Publications at high-ranking journals in the field of gynaecological oncology and oncology (a
minimum of 4 articles in peer reviewed journals with IF).
-
Implementation of new methods in early diagnosis, clinical staging and management of ovarian
cancer at The New South Wales University.
-
Development of translational research in the field of epigenetic and genetic of ovarian cancer at
the Charles University.
Long term impacts:
-
Establishment of long term platform for collaboration in both clinical and translational
research.