Our impact on thyroid cancer research
The Aftershock has partnered with Monash University and Professor James Lee across several projects including the Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) Project; the pioneering thyroid organoids, Cancer Vaccine Project; research into artificial intelligence (AI) in the diagnosis of thyroid nodules and the collation of data that will empower thyroid cancer patients to play a more active role in their treatment.
Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) Project
We are pleased to report the NGS Project, Molecular Profiling of Thyroid FNA Samples, has been completed. While this was a pilot study, it represents a significant contribution to the landscape of thyroid cancer in Australia and is a study that could not have been achieved without our incredible supporters.
Project highlights
Over the period of 2019 to 2021, 115 patients were recruited for this project in collaboration with The Epworth, The Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre (PMCC), Monash Health, Epworth HealthCare Cabrini Hospital, and The Alfred Hospital.
The needle biopsy samples from these patients were analysed by the state-of-the-art NGS technique, at the PMCC laboratory, in collaboration with Molecular Oncology and the Cancer Institute at Epworth Healthcare.
The study found that the Australian population with papillary thyroid cancer are associated with the BRAF mutation (a gene that codes for a protein that is involved in a signalling pathway and is important for cell growth) at a high rate. The finding of this mutation on needle biopsy samples helps to diagnose cancer with a high degree of confidence.
This means that for the 20-25% of patients whose thyroid lump biopsy result is unable to confirm or exclude cancer, we have found a way to improve their cancer diagnosis and streamline their treatment journey.
This study was presented a the 2022 Royal Australasian College of Surgeons Annual Scientific Congress. Following the completion of 2 years of follow up, a manuscript is being prepared for publication.
Cancer Vaccine Project
The support from our donors in helping fund and pioneer the thyroid organoids, Cancer Vaccine Project research, has been crucial and plays a substantial role in developing sufficient preliminary data to seek further funding.
Project highlights
In collaboration with the Endocrine Laboratory at the Hudson INstitute of Medical Research and under the supervision of Associate Professor James Lee and Associate Professor Simon Chu, postdoctoral scientist Dr Nelson George has successfully developed an organoid culture from a thyroid cancer patient’s resected tumour.
Organoids are a 3-dimensional culture of cancer cells, which closely mimic the behaviour of cancer growth within a patient’s body. They can be growin in laboratory, stored for future research and used to develop drugs to treat the type of cancer from which they have been grown.
Dr Nelson George is in the process of analysing the organoids with cutting-edge technology, called mass spectroscopy, to find targets for which a cancer vaccine can be developed.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the diagnosis of thyroid nodules
With the rapid development of computing power and machine learning capabilities, leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) in augmenting clinical diagnostic, therapeutic and prognostic accuracy and speed is at the forefront of medical research. Given the high stakes in deploying AI models in this field, many barriers need to be overcome before the widespread use of this technology can be implemented.
Project highlights
Associate Professor James Lee, and his team of PhD students and computer scientists, are focused on the application of AI models in the diagnostic process of thyroid cancers, developing tools to help patients make better decisions regarding surgery.
Their research also aims to open the “black box” of AI, to ensure the output of the machine learning model is explainable. Thus, building trust between humans (doctors and patients) and machines.
The team’s research in this field has been published in international journals and won research prizes in both national and international meetings. This demonstrates the interest and support this project has garnered from within the research field and clinicians treating patients with thyroid cancer.
Patients reported outcomes research
In addition to laboratory-based research projects, Associate Professor Lee is leading patient reported outcomes research in collaboration with the ANZ Thyroid Cancer Registry (ANZTCR).
Project highlights
Over the past 5 years, Associate Professor Lee has been instrumental in establishing a database of patient’s perspectives on their cancer diagnosis and treatment via the ANZTCR.
Associate Professor Lee and his honours students are researching how this vital information can be used to empower future cancer patients to make more informed decisions about their thyroid cancer treatment.
The long-term plan is to integrate molecular data, patient reported outcomes data and clinical data to create a digital twin, using machine learning algorithms, to simulate likely outcomes of various treatment options for thyroid cancer patients.