Accounting for minimum data required to train a machine learning model to accurately monitor Australian dairy pastures using remote sensing.

Precision in grazing management is highly dependent on accurate pasture monitoring. Typically, this is often overlooked because existing approaches are labour-intensive, need calibration, and are commonly perceived as inaccurate. Machine-learning processes harnessing big data, including remote sensing, can offer a new era of decision-support tools (DST) for pasture monitoring.

Comparison of capecitabine concentrations determined by microsampling versus plasma concentrations for therapeutic drug monitoring: a pilot study.

Objectives: Therapeutic drug monitoring allows personalized dosing of chemotherapy, but is not well established for capecitabine. The aim of this study was to compare the concentrations of capecitabine and its metabolites obtained simultaneously by microsampling with plasma sampling and their acceptability to patients.

Methods: Adults taking capecitabine for cancer had paired (duplicate) microsampling at steady state (hour 2 post dose) using Mitra® devices and venous blood samples for analysis.

An Australian mainstream genetic testing program: Clinicians views about current and future practices.

Purpose: Germline genetic testing results can guide treatment decisions for oncology patients and are now offered to many cancer patients. Mainstream testing refers to genetic testing arranged by a non-genetics specialist. This repeated cross-sectional study aimed: (1) to capture clinician views on the existing mainstreaming genetic testing program for ovarian, breast, prostate, and endometrial cancer patients, and (2) to ascertain the interest of clinicians to consider changing practice to adopt mainstream testing.

Warmer ambient temperatures reduce protein intake by a mammalian folivore.

The interplay between ambient temperature and nutrition in wild herbivores is frequently overlooked, despite the fundamental importance of food. We tested whether different ambient temperatures (10°C, 18°C and 26°C) influenced the intake of protein by a marsupial herbivore, the common brushtail possum (). At each temperature, possums were offered a choice of two foods containing different amounts of protein (57% versus 8%) for one week.

Stakeholder perspectives on the impact of COVID-19 on oncology services: a qualitative study.

Background: As COVID-19 spread across the globe, cancer services were required to rapidly pivot to minimise risks without compromising outcomes for patients or staff. The aim of this study was to document changes to oncology services as a result of COVID-19 from the perspectives of both providers and receivers of care during the initial phase of the pandemic.

Methods: Participants were recruited between June and December 2020 through an email invitation via professional or consumer organisations, two hospital-based oncology services and snowballing.

Influence of age on pharmacokinetics of capecitabine and its metabolites in older adults with cancer: a pilot study.

Background: Capecitabine is an oral chemotherapy prodrug of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) with unpredictable toxicity, especially in older adults. The aim of this study was to evaluate the pharmacokinetics (PK) of capecitabine and its metabolites in younger adults (< 70 years) and older adults (≥ 70 years) receiving capecitabine for solid cancer.

Methods: Eligible participants receiving capecitabine had 2 venous samples collected on day 14 of cycle 1 and cycle 2 of their treatment.

Effect of core versus enhanced implementation strategies on adherence to a clinical pathway for managing anxiety and depression in cancer patients in routine care: a cluster randomised controlled trial.

Background: Optimal strategies to facilitate implementation of evidence-based clinical pathways are unclear. We evaluated two implementation strategies (Core versus Enhanced) to facilitate implementation of a clinical pathway for the management of anxiety and depression in cancer patients (the ADAPT CP).

Methods: Twelve cancer services in NSW Australia were cluster randomised, stratified by service size, to the Core versus Enhanced implementation strategy.

Patient perceptions of cognitive screening in adult audiology services: A qualitative exploration.

Introduction: Both hearing loss and dementia are extremely pervasive, especially amongst older adults. As hearing loss and dementia have common symptoms, misdiagnosis can be common, and failure to address hearing loss for people with dementia could accelerate cognitive decline. The timely detection of cognitive impairment is clinically important, however the use of cognitive assessments in adult audiology services is a hotly debated topic.

Older age should not be a barrier to testing for somatic variants in homologous recombination DNA repair-related genes in patients with high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma.

Background: Somatic pathogenic variants (PVs) in homologous recombination DNA repair (HR)-related genes found in high-grade serous ovarian carcinomas (HGSC) are not well-characterised in older patients (≥70 years). This may reflect low testing rates in older patients.

Methods: Data from 1210 HGSC patients in AACR Project GENIE and 324 patients in an independent dataset INOVATe were analysed.

Dried Blood Spot Sampling in the Monitoring of Anticancer Therapy for Solid Tumors: A Systematic Review.

Background: Dried blood spot (DBS) sampling is a convenient alternative to whole-blood sampling for therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) in clinical practice. The aim of this study was to systematically review studies that have examined and used DBS sampling for the TDM of chemotherapy and targeted therapy agents for the treatment of patients with solid cancers.

Methods: Using the PRISMA guidelines, a systematic literature search of EMBASE and PUBMED was performed to identify eligible clinical studies that used DBS sampling to monitor chemotherapy or targeted therapy for the treatment of solid cancers.

Results of PD-L1 Analysis of Women Treated with Durvalumab in Advanced Endometrial Carcinoma (PHAEDRA).

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.

Implementation and evaluation of a smoking cessation checklist implemented within Australian cancer services.

Introduction: The detrimental impact of smoking tobacco can be mitigated when cancer patients quit smoking. Smoking cessation clinical pathways are inconsistently implemented within Australian cancer services. The aim of this study was to pilot test and evaluate the reach, adoption, and implementation of a smoking cessation checklist within oncology services.

The impact of COVID-19 on cancer patients, their carers and oncology health professionals: A qualitative study.

Objective: Cancer patients, carers and oncology health professionals have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in many ways, but their experiences and psychosocial responses to the pandemic are still being explored. This study aimed to document the experience of Australians living with cancer, family carers, and Oncology health professionals (HPs) when COVID-19 first emerged.

Methods: In this qualitative study, participants (cancer patients currently receiving treatment, family carers and HPs) completed a semi-structured interview exploring their experiences of COVID-19 and the impact it had on cancer care.

Evaluation of a mainstream genetic testing program for women with ovarian or breast cancer.

Introduction: Mainstream genetic testing refers to genetic testing arranged by a patient's treating specialist. The aim of this study was to retrospectively review a Sydney-based ovarian cancer mainstream genetic testing program.

Methods: A Cancer Genetics Service (CGS)-supported mainstream genetic testing program was commenced in 2015.

Acceptability and appropriateness of a clinical pathway for managing anxiety and depression in cancer patients: a mixed methods study of staff perspectives.

Background: Clinical pathways (CPs) can improve health outcomes, but to be sustainable, must be deemed acceptable and appropriate by staff. A CP for screening and management of anxiety and depression in cancer patients (the ADAPT CP) was implemented in 12 Australian oncology services for 12 months, within a cluster randomised controlled trial of core versus enhanced implementation strategies. This paper compares staff-perceived acceptability and appropriateness of the ADAPT CP across study arms.

A phase III randomized clinical trial comparing sentinel node biopsy with no retroperitoneal node dissection in apparent early-stage endometrial cancer - ENDO-3: ANZGOG trial 1911/2020.

Background: Sentinel node biopsy is a surgical technique to explore lymph nodes for surgical staging of endometrial cancer, which has replaced full retroperitoneal lymph node dissection. However, the effectiveness of sentinel node biopsy, its value to patients, and potential harms compared with no-node dissection have never been shown in a randomized trial.

Primary Objectives: Stage 1 will test recovery from surgery.

Insights into ovarian cancer care: report from the ANZGOG Ovarian Cancer Webinar Series 2020.

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is among the top ten causes of cancer deaths worldwide, and is one of the most lethal gynecological malignancies in high income countries, with incidence and death rates expected to rise particularly in Asian countries where ovarian cancer is among the 5 most common cancers. Despite the plethora of randomised clinical trials investigating various systemic treatment options in EOC over the last few decades, both progression-free and overall survival have remained at approximately 16 and 40 months respectively. To date the greatest impact on treatment has been made by the use of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors in women with advanced EOC and a mutation.

Phase 2 study of anastrozole in rare cohorts of patients with estrogen receptor/progesterone receptor positive leiomyosarcomas and carcinosarcomas of the uterine corpus: The PARAGON trial (ANZGOG 0903).

Background: Aromatase inhibitors have been used empirically to treat a subset of patients with hormone receptor positive uterine leiomyosarcomas(LMS) and carcinosarcomas (UCS) mainly supported by retrospective data. We evaluated the activity of anastrozole in two rare cohorts; patients with recurrent/metastatic LMS and UCS enrolled in PARAGON, a basket trial of anastrozole in estrogen receptor (ER+)/progesterone receptor positive (PR+) gynecological cancers.

Method: An investigator-initiated, single-arm, prospective open-label trial of anastrozole 1 mg/day in patients with ER &/or PR + ve LMS or UCS with measurable disease, treated until progression or unacceptable toxicity.

Getting the MOST out of follow-up: a randomized controlled trial comparing 3 monthly nurse led follow-up via telehealth, including monitoring CA125 and patient reported outcomes using the MOST (Measure of Ovarian Symptoms and Treatment concerns) with routine clinic based or telehealth follow-up, after completion of first line chemotherapy in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer.

Background: Physical symptoms, anxiety, depression, fear of recurrence, sexual dysfunction, and social withdrawal are common in women after treatment for ovarian cancer. Most patients would like and need help dealing with these symptoms. The traditional model of follow-up care is unstructured and largely focused on diagnosing recurrent disease, and most oncologists lack skills to identify and manage psychosocial issues.

Computer-Based Decision Tools for Shared Therapeutic Decision-making in Oncology: Systematic Review.

Background: Therapeutic decision-making in oncology is a complex process because physicians must consider many forms of medical data and protocols. Another challenge for physicians is to clearly communicate their decision-making process to patients to ensure informed consent. Computer-based decision tools have the potential to play a valuable role in supporting this process.

Physician-patient communication of costs and financial burden of cancer and its treatment: a systematic review of clinical guidelines.

Background: Optimising the care of individuals with cancer without imposing significant financial burden related to their anticancer treatment is becoming increasingly difficult. The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has recommended clinicians discuss costs of cancer care with patients to enhance shared decision-making. We sought information to guide oncologists' discussions with patients about these costs.

Evaluation of pharmacogenomics and hepatic nuclear imaging-related covariates by population pharmacokinetic models of irinotecan and its metabolites.

Background: Body surface area (BSA)-based dosing of irinotecan (IR) does not account for its pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) variabilities. Functional hepatic nuclear imaging (HNI) and excretory/metabolic/PD pharmacogenomics have shown correlations with IR disposition and toxicity/efficacy. This study reports the development of a nonlinear mixed-effect population model to identify pharmacogenomic and HNI-related covariates that impact on IR disposition to support dosage optimization.

Promising Anticancer Activity of [Bis(1,8-quinolato)palladium (II)] Alone and in Combination.

Due to similar coordination chemistry of palladium and platinum, a large number of palladium compounds as well have been investigated for their anticancer activity. In the present study, we describe synthesis, characterization, and anticancer activity of palladium complex [Bis(1,8-quinolato)palladium (II)], coded as NH3 against seven different cancer cell lines. NH3 is found to have higher antitumor activity than cisplatin against both parent ovarian A2780 cell line and cisplatin-resistant cell lines.