Ramsay Newsroom

Medical oncologist and principal investigator on the trial, Dr Nick Zdenkowski, said this was an important trial with potentially life-changing results for current participants and patients with breast cancer around the world.

“We need better treatments to stop breast cancer recurrence and death,” Dr Zdenkowski said.

“I hope this trial will show that the new drug is both more effective, and has fewer side effects, than the current standard of care, and will translate into reductions in breast cancer recurrences and deaths worldwide.”

Dr Zdenkowski said medical research was vital to improving health outcomes on a larger scale.

“The ability to create new knowledge through scientific rigour and collaboration is an exciting process,” he said.

“CAMBRIA-2 brings hope to participants that they can contribute to improved outcomes for all current and future patients, and potentially for themselves.”

Dr Zdenkowski said he was appreciative of the teams at Lake Macquarie Private Hospital, Ramsay Health Care and at Breast Cancer Trials.

“I am very proud that Lake Macquarie Private Hospital was the first site activated and had the first patient recruited to the study in Australia. It shows the dedication of all the people involved, and the effective processes that are in place to allow trials to start up in as short a timeframe as possible to bring this sought-after option to the patients who we look after,” he said.

“We now have the opportunity to contribute to practice change and potentially improve patient outcomes worldwide.”

Manager of Lake Macquarie Private Hospital’s Clinical Trials and Research Unit, Hollie Ritchie said she was also proud to be working at the first Australian site activated in such an important trial.

“We have already recruited seven participants which shows how important it is to have clinical trial options available to our patients,” Ms Ritchie said.

“At Lake Macquarie Private Hospital we’re committed to offering patients the best available treatments close to home, whether that be the best standard of care or a new treatment that has the potential to be more effective.

“For our people and our patients, its wonderful knowing we are helping to better standardise practice and contribute to improved treatments and outcomes for future patients worldwide.”

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month in Australia. According to The National Breast Cancer Foundation, breast cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia, with nine people losing their lives to the disease every day.

About the CAMBRIA-2 clinical trial

CAMBRIA-2 is for men or women who have ER-positive, HER2-negative early breast cancer that has an intermediate or high risk of recurrence. This is a Phase III open-label study and aims to recruit 5,500 patients at approximately 700 sites across 40 countries.

The treatment being trialled as part of CAMBRIA-2 is a type of endocrine treatment called a ‘selective oestrogen receptor degrader’ which works by breaking down the oestrogen receptors in cells and blocks oestrogen receptors from being triggered by oestrogen. This prevents ER-positive cancer cells receiving messages to grow and multiply and may help to reduce the chance of cancer coming back.