The role of research in positive cancer outcomes
14 February 2020
Professor Frank Frizelle MBChB, MMedSci, FRACS, FACS, FASCRS, FNZMA, FRCSI(hon). Professor of Colorectal Surgery at the University of Otago, Christchurch, Colorectal Surgeon at Christchurch Hospital, Editor in Chief, New Zealand Medical Journal.
Professor Frank Frizelle explains that the key to effective cancer treatment and research is translating laboratory science into the clinical setting; from bench to bedside.
Cancer will impact most of us at some point in our lives. In New Zealand half of all men and one in three women will have cancer before the age of 75.
Research into cancer aims to reduce the number of people who get cancer, improve the diagnosis and treatment of patients with cancer, and improve their quality of life and survival.
Even taking part in cancer research results in a more positive patient experience, with participants more likely to describe their overall care and treatment as very good or excellent, with more positive interactions with staff, better coordination of care and a greater likelihood of feeling treated as individuals.
The good news is that centres with integrated cancer care and research programs improve both treatment and outcomes for patients.
Unfortunately, funding for cancer research is limited in New Zealand. The main funders are the government, through agencies such as the Health Research Council and industry.
The Health Research Council funds research on what it considers as New Zealand’s health priorities across the whole spectrum of disease; both cancer and noncancer research. Due to the high demand for research funding, less than 10% of research submissions are funded.
Industry funded research focuses on identifying gaps in treatment paradigms that can be filled in a financially profitable manner. As such industry research is generally focused on drug treatments; either new indications for old drugs or novel drugs. While these corporations are usually based in the US or Europe, New Zealand is often a collaborator in this sort of research.
There are some small charities that support cancer research, usually in niche areas. The result is that cancer research here struggles to be adequately funded, despite New Zealand having many world class researchers.
Although operating in this environment of scarce funding, Christchurch has developed a fantastic track record in laboratory and clinical cancer research. The key to effective cancer research is translating basic laboratory science into the clinical setting; from bench to bedside. The cohesive nature of the Canterbury health system means it is better placed for this translational research than many areas.
With the combined support of the Canterbury District Health Board and the University of Otago, there exists close collaboration amongst our tight knit community of basic science and clinical researchers working with common goals. This is a unique situation with significant, yet untapped potential, given adequate funding.
We all appreciate cancer accounts for a huge burden of death and suffering, much of which could be avoidable. What we often don’t consider is the huge socioeconomic impact of cancer; both the direct costs involved in medical management as well as the indirect costs resulting from productivity loss in patients and their caregivers.
It is here that the vision of The Christchurch Cancer Foundation is so valuable. The Foundation will help advance cancer research and reduce the impact on the individual, their family and society as a whole, creating a long lasting and wide-ranging benefit.