ANZBCTG Annual Report Research for a world without breast cancer. Annual Report 1 April 2012 - 31 March 2013 1 April 2012 - 31 Mar ch 2013 The Australia and New Zealand Breast Cancer Trials Group is supported by its fundraising department the Breast Cancer Institute of Australia. Australia & New Zealand Breast Cancer Trials Group Email: [email protected] Web: www.anzbctg.org or scan the following QR code: Trials Coordination Department Australia & New Zealand Breast Cancer Trials Group PO Box 155 Hunter Region Mail Centre NSW 2310 Australia Ph: (+61) 2 4985 0136 Fax: (+61) 2 4985 0141 Business Administration Department Australia & New Zealand Breast Cancer Trials Group PO Box 283 The Junction NSW 2291 Australia Ph: (+61) 2 4925 5255 Fax: (+61) 2 4925 3068 Fundraising & Education Department Breast Cancer Institute of Australia PO Box 283 The Junction NSW 2291 Australia Ph: (+61) 2 4925 3022 Fax: (+61) 2 4925 3068 Email: [email protected] Web: www.bcia.org.au ANZ Breast Cancer Trials Group Limited ACN 051 369 496 ABN 64 051 369 496 ATO N0939 ©2013. This report cannot be reproduced without the permission of the ANZ Breast Cancer Trials Group Ltd. All rights reserved. Contents Contents 1 About Us 2 Chair’s Report 4 Chief Operating Officer’s Report 6 Research Report 8 Clinical Trials Open for Participant Entry 20 Clinical Trials Accrual Completed 30 Communication Report 36 Consumer Advisory Panel Report 38 Fundraising Report 40 Fundraising Results and Highlights 42 Governance 56 Contributors and Supporters 62 Financial Report 66 Publications 70 Glossary of Terms 72 ANZBCTG Annual Report 2012-2013 1 About Us Our Mission: To eradicate all suffering from breast cancer through the highest quality clinical trials research. Our Vision: To be a global and regional leader in research collaboration committed to a world without breast cancer. Our Values: Excellent, Relevant, Transparent, Reputable, Inclusive, Innovative. The Australia and New Zealand Breast Cancer Trials Group (ANZBCTG) is the largest independent, oncology clinical trials research group in Australia and New Zealand. For more than 30 years, the ANZBCTG has conducted a national clinical trials research program for the treatment, prevention and cure of breast cancer. The research program rigorously and scientifically tests the efficacy of new breast cancer treatments and prevention interventions through the conduct of multicentre national and international clinical trials. This program brings together over 600 researchers in 84 institutions throughout Australia and New Zealand. Clinical trials are the essential tool to identify if a treatment or treatment strategy is safe, effective and has the potential to save lives. All new treatments or treatment strategies are rigorously tested through the clinical trials process before they are made widely available to the community. The Breast Cancer Institute of Australia is the fundraising and education department of the ANZBCTG and was established in 1994 to increase awareness of, and seek ongoing funding for, the ANZBCTG research program. Our aim is to eradicate all suffering from breast cancer and achieve the ultimate goal of “a world without breast cancer”. 2 ANZBCTG Annual Report 2012-2013 Dr Janine Lombard with Katy Keene who is a participant in the APHINITY clinical trial. ANZBCTG Annual Report 2012-2013 3 Chair’s Report Through collaboration, the ANZBCTG’s breast cancer clinical trials research program is making a real difference to the lives of women and their families. In this my first report as Chair of the Australia and New Zealand Breast Cancer Trials Group (ANZBCTG), I have reflected on the importance of patience and collaboration. The international clinical trial ATLAS for example, was one of the first trials I was involved in with the ANZBCTG as a junior oncologist. Results for this trial were presented in December 2012 and showed that extending the use of tamoxifen from five years to 10 years reduces the risk of breast cancer recurrence and improves survival rates for women with oestrogen receptor (ER) positive breast cancer. The ANZBCTG coordinated the ATLAS study in Australia and New Zealand and 784 women participated in ATLAS across 32 institutions. This is a fantastic result that would not have been achieved without collaboration between academic researchers around the world, women participating in our trials and our members. Today, one in eight women in Australia will be diagnosed with breast cancer by the age of 85 and on average, 37 Australian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer each day. While mortality rates for breast cancer are falling, thanks in large part to discoveries made by clinical trials research, breast cancer still remains the most common cancer in Australian women. They are sobering statistics and reinforce the importance of breast cancer clinical trial research in both prevention and treatment. Significant highlights in the reporting period include: • The number of women who have participated in ANZBCTG clinical trials from Australia and New Zealand now exceeds 14,000; • The enrolment of women to five clinical trials and two trial substudies; • An excellent contribution from participating institutions to a high profile international trial APHINITY, which is evaluating the efficacy and safety of a new drug, called pertuzumab, in the treatment of patients with HER2-positive breast cancer. 98 women were enrolled during the reporting period from 15 institutions in Australia and New Zealand; • Strong financial results with a net income of $2.603 million, which enables the ANZBCTG to undertake its research program; • Excellent results from our fundraising department, the Breast Cancer Institute of Australia. 4 ANZBCTG Annual Report 2012-2013 Governance The ANZBCTG is governed by a Board of Directors, which is comprised of six elected Directors and three appointed Directors. I would like to thank my predecessor Associate Professor Jacquie Chirgwin, whose term as Chair was completed in July 2012. Under Jacquie’s leadership our Board was restructured to include appointed members with financial expertise, the ANZBCTG’s financial position was strengthened and our membership continued to grow throughout Australia and New Zealand. On behalf of the Board of Directors, I thank Jacquie for her leadership, commitment and ongoing support. She has left a larger and more complex garden to tend. We welcomed Associate Professor Prue Francis to the role of Vice Chair of the ANZBCTG’s Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) in November 2012. Prue joins SAC Chair, Associate Professor Nicholas Wilcken, as SAC’s leadership team. Meanwhile, Jennifer Bryce retired from the ANZBCTG’s Consumer Advisory Panel (CAP) at the end of 2012, after almost 10 years as a CAP member and we thank Jenny for her invaluable contribution. We welcome new CAP members Petrina Burnett and Leslie Gilham, who both bring extensive consumer advocacy experience to their roles. Strategic Planning Clinical trials are facing a number of challenges in the future, as they become more complex and multidisciplinary, and it is important that the ANZBCTG is in a position to be able to meet those challenges. The Strategic Planning Framework has determined our operational goals between 2009-2014 and focuses on delivering high quality clinical trials based on excellent science; translation of research results; adequate resourcing and sustainability of our research program; and opportunities to engage with ANZBCTG members, collaborators and other key stakeholders. The Board of Directors, ANZBCTG Committee representatives and senior ANZBCTG staff will meet later this year to start developing our next strategic plan. Summary This is a very exciting time for breast cancer clinical trials research. We are in the era of molecular biology and as a result, this will enhance the treatments available to patients with specific targeted therapies. We hope to be able to develop a platform for molecular testing of secondary breast cancer samples in order to tailor trials to women who need new therapies. I would like to thank all ANZBCTG members and researchers, and women who participate in our clinical trials, for their contribution to our research program. I would also like to acknowledge the fantastic results from our fundraising and education department, the Breast Cancer Institute of Australia, and thank our donors and corporate supporters, particularly Avon and the Commonwealth Bank. It is through these collaborations that the ANZBCTG’s clinical trials research program is making a real difference to the lives of women and their families. Professor Frances Boyle AM Chair, Board of Directors ANZBCTG Annual Report 2012-2013 5 Chief Operating Officer’s Report The foundations have been laid for us to develop our next five year strategic plan and we can be confident that the ANZBCTG is in a position to take advantage of future research opportunities. It is a pleasure to work with an organisation that is dedicated to such a worthy goal - “a world without breast cancer”. The commitment to excellence and the highest quality clinical trials research is an inspiration, and is demonstrated by everyone involved in the conduct of the ANZBCTG’s research program. With responsibility to manage the ANZBCTG’s overall business performance, I am supported by a hardworking and dedicated team and I am pleased to report that the ANZBCTG has had an excellent year. Together we have worked to improve efficiencies within the Group, simplify processes and update governance procedures