Publications by authors named "Antill Y"

Background: Chemo-immunotherapy is standard of care for women with recurrent or advanced mismatch repair deficient endometrial carcinoma. However, it is uncertain whether patients with mismatch repair deficient advanced or recurrent endometrial carcinoma derive less benefit from chemotherapy than those with mismatch repair proficient endometrial carcinoma.

Methods: We performed a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in advanced or recurrent endometrial carcinoma to determine the difference in the benefit of chemotherapy in mismatch repair deficient vs mismatch repair proficient endometrial carcinoma.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: At the time of AtTEnd trial design, standard treatment for advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer included carboplatin and paclitaxel chemotherapy. This trial assessed whether combining atezolizumab with chemotherapy might improve outcomes in this population.

Methods: AtTEnd was a multicentre, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial done in 89 hospitals in 11 countries across Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Asia.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Patients with advanced/recurrent endometrial cancer have a poor prognosis and limited treatment options. Biomarkers such as tumor protein 53 () in endometrial cancer can integrate novel strategies for improved and individualized treatment that could impact patient outcomes. In an exploratory analysis of the phase III ENGOT-EN5/GOG-3055/SIENDO study of selinexor maintenance monotherapy 80 mg in advanced/recurrent endometrial cancer, a pre-specified subgroup of patients with wild type (wt) endometrial cancer showed preliminary activity at long-term follow-up with a generally manageable safety profile (median progression-free survival 27.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Capture of cancer stage at diagnosis is important yet poorly reported by health services to population-based cancer registries. In this paper we describe current completeness of stage information for endometrial cancer available in Australian cancer registries; and develop and validate a set of rules to enable cancer registry medical coders to calculate stage using data available to them (registry-derived stage or 'RD-Stage').

Methodology: Rules for deriving RD-stage (Endometrial carcinoma) were developed using the American Joint Commission on Cancer (AJCC) TNM (tumour, nodes, metastasis) Staging System (8 Edition).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: MLH1 epimutation is characterised by constitutional monoallelic MLH1 promoter hypermethylation, which can cause colorectal cancer (CRC). Tumour molecular profiles of MLH1 epimutation CRCs were used to classify germline MLH1 promoter variants of uncertain significance and MLH1 methylated early-onset CRCs (EOCRCs). Genome-wide DNA methylation and somatic mutational profiles of tumours from two germline MLH1: c.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Routine screening for DNA mismatch repair (MMR) deficiency in certain tumors often results in unresolved cases labeled as suspected Lynch syndrome (SLS), with a study involving 135 such cases across Australia and New Zealand.
  • Targeted sequencing of tumors and matched blood samples revealed that 86.9% of these SLS cases could be classified into specific subtypes, primarily through the detection of double somatic MMR mutations.
  • The research indicates that implementing tumor-focused testing and MLH1 methylation assays in clinical settings can effectively clarify SLS diagnoses, leading to better surveillance and screening for patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Aim: To catalogue and compare the pattern of metastatic disease in germline BRCA1/2 pathogenic mutation carriers and non-carriers with breast, ovarian and prostate cancer from a rapid autopsy programme.

Methods And Results: The number of metastases in the major body systems and the proportion of participants with metastases were documented in 50 participants (19 germline mutation carriers). Analysis was conducted on the participants' pattern of disease for the different cancers and mutation subgroups.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Routine screening for DNA mismatch repair deficiency in colorectal, endometrial, and sebaceous skin tumors has led to many unresolved cases suspected of Lynch syndrome, affecting 135 patients across Australia and New Zealand.
  • Targeted panel sequencing of tumors and matched blood DNA helped resolve 86.9% of these suspected cases by identifying various factors, including epimutations and germline MMR variants, with double somatic mutations being the most common cause.
  • The study suggests that incorporating tumor sequencing and methylation assays into clinical diagnostics could reduce unresolved cases and improve patient surveillance and screening strategies.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

High-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSC) is frequently characterized by homologous recombination (HR) DNA repair deficiency and, while most such tumors are sensitive to initial treatment, acquired resistance is common. We undertook a multiomics approach to interrogate molecular diversity in end-stage disease, using multiple autopsy samples collected from 15 women with HR-deficient HGSC. Patients had polyclonal disease, and several resistance mechanisms were identified within most patients, including reversion mutations and HR restoration by other means.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Multidisciplinary meetings (MDMs) significantly influence decision-making in breast cancer patient care, with a study showing that 66% of cases had changes in their management plans after MDM discussions.
  • The research involved comparing pre-MDM management predictions with MDM recommendations across various treatment domains and assessing the implementation rates of these recommendations three months later.
  • Results indicated that 83.7% of MDM recommendations were successfully put into practice, underscoring the importance of MDMs while also suggesting a need to address barriers to implementing these recommendations.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Women with advanced endometrial carcinoma (EC) with mismatch repair (MMR) deficiency have improved outcomes when treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors; however, additional biomarkers are needed to identify women most likely to respond. Scores for programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1), immunohistochemical staining of tumor (TC+), immune cells (IC+) and presence of tumor-associated immune cells (ICP) on MMR deficient (n = 34) and proficient (n = 33) EC from women treated with durvalumab in the PHAEDRA trial (ANZGOG1601/CTC0144) (trial registration number ACTRN12617000106336, prospectively registered 19 January 2017) are reported and correlated with outcome. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses and area under the ROC curve were used to determine optimal cutpoints.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy is an emerging option for advanced endometrial cancer (EC). Mismatch repair (MMR) status is widely regarded as a biomarker predictive of response to ICIs. The predictive value of MMR based on small, single-arm trials, however, is conflicting.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Breast cancer survivors treated with anthracycline-based chemotherapy (AC) have increased risk of functional limitation and cardiac dysfunction. We conducted a 12-month randomized controlled trial in 104 patients with early-stage breast cancer scheduled for AC to determine whether 12 months of exercise training (ExT) could attenuate functional disability (primary end point), improve cardiorespiratory fitness (VOpeak), and prevent cardiac dysfunction.

Methods: Women 40 to 75 years of age with stage I to III breast cancer scheduled for AC were randomized to 3 to 4 days per week aerobic and resistance ExT for 12 months (n=52) or usual care (UC; n=52).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Endometrial cancer is common, and a subset recurs and requires additional treatment. Some of these are recognized as being susceptible to immune therapies and are said to have mismatch repair deficiency (dMMR). However, this clinical trial highlights which cases are more likely to respond well: those containing mutations in genes known as Lynch genes and also some with mutations in POLE/POLD1 ("ultra-hypermutation" genes).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: Identifying modifiable factors affecting work ability among cancer survivors is important. The primary aim of the present study was to examine the effects of depression and related psychological factors on work ability among breast cancer survivors in Australia.

Methods: In this cross-sectional electronic and postal survey, Australian breast cancer survivors were investigated.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: To prospectively assess patient reported outcomes and risk management behavior of women choosing to receive (receivers) or decline (decliners) their breast cancer polygenic risk score (PRS).

Methods: Women either unaffected or affected by breast cancer and from families with no identified pathogenic variant in a breast cancer risk gene were invited to receive their PRS. All participants completed a questionnaire at study enrollment.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • - Hereditary breast cancer is linked to genetic changes, including rare gene variants and common genomic risk variants that create a polygenic risk (PR) score, which is still being evaluated for clinical use.
  • - A study analyzed 65 genetic counseling sessions about PR scores and found that compared to discussions about monogenic risk (MR), counseling for PR was less patient-centered, focusing more on teaching rather than understanding individual patient needs.
  • - As PR scores are expected to become standard in clinical practice, it’s essential for genetic health professionals to receive proper education to effectively communicate and address patient concerns and preferences.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: In this study, we assessed the activity of durvalumab, an antibody to programmed death ligand-1, in two cohorts of women with advanced endometrial cancers (AEC)-mismatch repair proficient (pMMR) and mismatch repair deficient (dMMR).

Methods: A multicenter phase two study was performed in women with AEC with pMMR tumor progressing after one to three lines of chemotherapy and women with AEC with dMMR tumor progressing after zero to three lines of chemotherapy. Mismatch repair status was based on immunohistochemistry expression.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The increasing use of genetic testing for BRCA1/2 and other pathogenic variants in the management of women with breast and ovarian cancer necessitates increased genetic literacy in oncology healthcare professionals. This pilot study aimed to evaluate an online training program to increase genetic literacy and communication skills in Australian oncology healthcare professionals tasked with discussing and coordinating mainstream genetic testing with breast and ovarian cancer patients. A training website with embedded videos was developed.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: To describe the communication of polygenic risk scores (PRS) in the familial breast cancer setting.

Methods: Consultations between genetic healthcare providers (GHP) and female patients who received their PRS for breast cancer risk were recorded (n = 65). GHPs included genetic counselors (n = 8) and medical practitioners (n = 5) (i.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: The strength of evidence supporting the validity of gene-disease relationships is variable. Hereditary cancer has the additional complexity of low or moderate penetrance for some confirmed disease-associated alleles.

Methods: To promote national consistency in interpretation of hereditary cancer/tumour gene test results, we requested opinions of representatives from Australian Family Cancer Clinics regarding the clinical utility of 157 genes initially collated for a national research project.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

TP53 mutations are implicated in the progression of mucinous borderline tumors (MBOT) to mucinous ovarian carcinomas (MOC). Optimized immunohistochemistry (IHC) for TP53 has been established as a proxy for the TP53 mutation status in other ovarian tumor types. We aimed to confirm the ability of TP53 IHC to predict TP53 mutation status in ovarian mucinous tumors and to evaluate the association of TP53 mutation status with survival among patients with MBOT and MOC.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Anthracycline chemotherapy (AC) is an efficacious (neo) adjuvant treatment for early-stage breast cancer (BCa), but is associated with an increased risk of cardiac dysfunction and functional disability. Observations suggest that regular exercise may be a useful therapy for the prevention of cardiovascular morbidity but it is yet to be interrogated in a large randomised trial. The primary aims of this study are to: 1) determine if 12-months of ET commenced at the onset of AC can reduce the proportion of BCa patients with functional disability (peak VO, < 18 ml/kg/min), and 2) compare current standard-of-care for detecting cardiac dysfunction (resting left-ventricular ejection fraction assessed from 3-dimensional echocardiography) to measures of cardiac reserve (peak exercise cardiac output assessed from exercise cardiac magnetic resonance imaging) for predicting the development of functional disability 12-months following AC.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: BRCA1/2 mutation status has increasing relevance for ovarian cancer treatments, making traditional coordination of genetic testing by genetic services unsustainable. Consequently alternative models of genetic testing have been developed to improve testing at the initial diagnosis for all eligible women.

Methods: A training module to enable mainstreamed genetic testing by oncology healthcare professionals was developed by genetic health professionals.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

It is estimated that polygenic factors can explain up to 18% of familial breast cancer. Clinical implementation of polygenic testing has begun, with several commercial laboratories now testing. Despite commercial implementation, there is little research investigating how women respond and understand polygenic risk information.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF