Individual Abstract within a Delegate Designed Symposium Clinical Oncology Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting 2022

Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre Alliance- fast track innovations in regions with poor outcomes program: addressing geographical, cultural and rare cancer disparity (#95)

Kate Burbury 1 2 , Ian Collins 3 , Niall Corcoran 2 4 5 6 , Carolyn Rowan 2 , Dayna Swiatek 7 , Robert Blum 8 , Chris Packer 2 , Jessica Freeman 2 , Mark Buzza 2 , Michelle Barrett 2 , Donna Long 9 , David Wiesenfeld 2 10 , Sharan Ermel 2 , Wasek Faisal 11 , Arvind Sahu 12 , Chloe Georgiou 8 13 14 , Mark Shackleton 15 16 17 , Craig Underhill 2 9 18 19
  1. Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Parkville, Vic, Australia
  2. Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Parkville, Vic, Australia
  3. Southwest Healthcare , Warrnambool, Vic, Australia
  4. Frankston Hospital, Frankston, Vic, Australia
  5. Western Hospital, Footscray, Vic, Australia
  6. Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Vic, Australia
  7. Victorian Cancer Agency, Victorian Department of Health, Melbourne, Vic , Australia
  8. Bendigo Health, Bendigo, Vic, Australia
  9. Border Medical Oncology, Border Medical Oncology Research Unit, Albury, NSW, Australia
  10. The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic, Australia
  11. Grampians Health, Ballarat, Vic, Australia
  12. Goulburn Valley Health, Shepparton, Vic, Australia
  13. Trials Hub, Alfred Hospital, Prahran, VIc, Australia
  14. Australian Rare Cancer Portal , Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Vic, Australia
  15. Trials Hub, Alfred Hospital, Prahran, VIC, Australia
  16. Monash University, Clayton, Vic, Australia
  17. Alfred Hospital, Prahran, Vic, Australia
  18. Latrobe University, Wodonga, Vic, Australia
  19. UNSW School of Clinical Medicine, Rural Clinical Campus, Albury, NSW, Australia

Aims

People with cancer living in regional and rural Victoria experience several disadvantages compared to those living in Melbourne, including a lower survival rate (65 per cent compared to 69 per cent in metropolitan areas) and geographical barriers to clinical trial access. The Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre (VCCC) Alliance Fast Track Innovations in Regions with Poor Outcomes Program, was developed to address geographical, cultural and rare cancer disparities.

Methods

This program is funded by the Victorian State Government within the VCCC Alliance 2021-2024 strategic research plan, which aims to systematically address complex issues and challenges to improve outcomes for people affected by cancer. The design and implementation of the program embeds input from metropolitan and regional experts. There are strong elements of meaningful consumer input, gender and regional equity in participation and engagement across the program.

Three main projects comprise the program of work:

Teletrials (TT) – increasing the number of TT clusters, streamlining regulatory processes (in collaboration with the Victorian Teletrials Consortium) and increasing capability and awareness of TT through education, training, and advocacy.

Regional Partnerships – establishing formal partnerships between the VCCC Alliance and regional health services and addressing connection, educational and training needs and clinical trial recruitment in the regions.

Improving Outcomes in Less Common Cancers – development of a low volume cancer framework underpinned by a virtual network.

 

Results

Partnerships and collaborations have been established across the state including Trials Hub Alfred, Regional Trials Hub Victoria and the VCCC Alliance health equity program.

Early outputs of these health services projects will be shared and could be utilised by health services and cancer networks elsewhere.

 

Conclusion

The VCCC Alliance Fast Track Innovations in Regions with Poor Outcomes Program is driving improvements in addressing geographical, cultural, and rare cancer disparity in Victoria.