IMPROVING THE LIVES OF THOSE WITH CANCER

The devastating impact of cancer on individuals, families and communities is all too well known. SAHMRI's Precision Cancer Medicine Theme is at the cutting edge of technologies and procedures that have a discernible impact on improving the lives of those with cancer.

Dr Maggie Centenera is a dedicated member of the Prostate Cancer Research Group. Her research focuses on enhancing treatments for men with prostate cancer, which involves understanding and targeting the androgen receptor in prostate cancer cells and identifying more accurate markers for monitoring patient responses to current and emerging therapeutics.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in Australian men (apart from common skin cancers), with approximately 18,000 new cases diagnosed annually. About one in ten men will develop prostate cancer before age 75.

More broadly, Precision Cancer Medicine investigates why people respond differently to diseases and therapies, aiming to deliver the most effective and targeted treatment options.

Cancer research at SAHMRI has evolved into various specialty programs focused on solid tumours, blood cancers, computational and systems biology and paediatric neuro-oncology.

The Blood Cancer Program is a globally renowned leukaemia research group concentrating on acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML).

The Solid Tumour Program looks at better ways to diagnose and treat multiple myeloma and cancers of the gut and prostate and support people undergoing cancer treatment.

The Paediatric Neuro-Oncology Program plays a significant role in establishing Australia's first proton therapy unit, currently under construction next to the cheesegrater, which will begin treating patients in 2025. The highly-precise nature of proton therapy means less irradiation of healthy tissue surrounding tumours, leading to fewer short and long-term side effects and reduced chance of secondary cancers.

To develop research that translates to clinical practice, SAHMRI cancer researchers collaborate in relationships with Royal Adelaide and Women's and Children's Hospitals.