In recent news, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has selected OUTBACK, an ANZGOG cervical cancer study, to be presented during the Plenary Session at their upcoming 2021 Annual Meeting.
OUTBACK is an international trial led by ANZGOG and the NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre (CTC). It is a phase III trial of adjuvant chemotherapy following chemoradiation as primary treatment for locally advanced cervical cancer compared with chemoradiation alone. With the recruitment of 165 women recruited from Australia and New Zealand, and a total of 926 women worldwide, it is fitting that the trial is being recognised by ASCO and presented at their 2021 Annual Meeting.
“This is exciting news that ANZGOG’s OUTBACK study has been selected to be presented at ASCO’s Plenary Session. This is arguably the premier session of ASCO, where the most important trials are presented, discussed, and reviewed. It is a great honour and a true reflection of the nature of the trial – the robustness of the question and how it has been answered within the trial. All credit to all senior groups involved in OUTBACK, including Principal Investigator Prof Linda Mileshkin and everyone else associated with the management of the study.” Assoc Prof Philip Beale, Chair – ANZGOG.
Abstract Title: ‘Adjuvant chemotherapy following chemoradiation as primary treatment for locally advanced cervical cancer compared to chemoradiation alone: The randomized phase III OUTBACK Trial (ANZGOG 0902, RTOG 1174, NRG 0274).’
ANZGOG’s OUTBACK trial originated from an observational study showing that while standard chemoradiation for women with cervical cancer was working well, some women were dying of metastatic disease. The trial aims to show whether survival can be improved by the addition of adjuvant chemotherapy.
The focus of the trial involves women being randomised to either a standard cisplatin-based chemoradiation or standard cisplatin-based chemoradiation followed by four cycles of adjuvant carboplatin and paclitaxel chemotherapy.
“OUTBACK has been a huge amount of work. It’s been an amazing journey and we have learned a great deal about the value of collaboration. Contractual agreements across different countries take time and negotiation. We have also learned about patience. It took three grant applications to the NHMRC to get the funding – a great lesson in perseverance.” Professor Linda Mileshkin, Principal Investigator – OUTBACK.
PHAEDRA to be presented at the Poster Session
Another ANZGOG study has also been included in the ASCO program. An abstract from the endometrial cancer study PHAEDRA has been accepted to be part of the Poster Session – Gynecologic Cancer.
Abstract Title: ‘Tumor-associated immune cells and progression-free survival in advanced endometrial cancer (EC), results from the PHAEDRA trial (ANZGOG 1601).’
Both ANZGOG studies, along with other highly notable studies, will be presented at ASCO’s 2021 Annual Meeting which begins on June 4, 2021 (AEST).
To learn more about ANZGOG’s trials, click here.
