Faculty of Health Sciences
School of Medicine
Department of Medical Oncology
Selected Highlights from Research Findings
While the clinical work at this unit focuses strongly on the treatment of women with caner and pre-invasive neoplasia, the research effort focuses also on epidemiology, identification and management of inherited cancer risk, primary and secondary prevention.
The unit has completed two studies on the epidemiology of cervical cancer in 2010. The AWACC study was a multicentric international African study run by GSK International. We were proud to recruit more women onto this study than initially planned. Research reporting will be by the principal investigator and sponsoring company.
The Norpret study is a collaborative study with the Norchip Company which focuses on the HPV viral types in cervical cancer. Recruitment will end December 2010 and data analysis and reporting will be done 2011.
The unit participated actively in the investigation of family history of SA women with BRCA mutations. This study, called “Mix of Malignancy” was reported in the SAMJ early this year, first author Carina Schlebusch. The unit continues to be involved in the care, follow up and investigation of women at risk for familial breast/ovarian cancer.
Primary prevention of cervical cancer recently became available in the form of a vaccine. The unit will head a national multicentric study over the next three years investigating how HPV-vaccine implementation in schools can best be done and combined with screening of the mothers/female guardians. The past year saw the finalization of the protocol, ethics approval, securing funding and approval of both the departments of Education and health. This study is supported by funding from CANSA, MRC and the Vaccine companies.
Secondary prevention in the form of screening for cervical cancer pre-cursors is essential in the general population and should be intensified in sub-populations at increased risk. A large population based screening trial is run by the unit in urban Tshwane at various municipal clinics. This study, supported by CANSA, completed its second year in 2010 and more than 2000 women have been successfully screened. The study will be completed during the course of 2011, and reported in 2011/2012. Various research reports have been released stemming from this study.
In a collaborative trial with NHLS Virology, women with AIDS are also recruited in a longitudinal trial to monitor progression of HPV related disease. During 2010 a large grant was secured for this researcher initiated trial. This will be done over the next two years. This study will focus on implementing new molecular screening tests in these women.
Treatment of cervical cancer in women with co-existing HIV/AIDS is a huge challenge. During 2010 the unit completed and reported two important studies on this topic. The first study focused on the surgical morbidity of women with HIV disease when operated for cervical cancer. This study formed part of College of SA Medicine commentary for sub specialist training and was reported at international and national conferences. The second study reported radiation morbidity in women receiving (Chemo) radiation for the same disease and compared HIV positive with HIV negative women. This study was also reported at international Congress (IGCS Praque October 2010)
Contact person: Prof LM Dreosti.
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