Topics

Cancer

Health services administration Letters 17 April 2017 Free

Adaptation of a biobank certification program for Australia

To the Editor:Biobanking involves the collection, processing, storage and distribution of biospecimens and data, and, in recent years, it has rapidly evolved to become an integral component in biomedical research.1 Biobanks may range in complexity from a single researcher storing their own material to large stores of material used by multiple researchers. This diversity has complicated the standardisation of biobanking practices,2,3 sometimes compromising biospecimen quality and storage capacity4 and the security of funding. In turn, irreproducible research results, poor biospecimen access and decreased public confidence may ensue.4 Therefore, New South Wales Health Pathology — a statewide clinical diagnostic service — has adapted and launched a Biobank Certification Program in conjunction with the Canadian Office of Biobank Education and Research and the Canadian Tissue Repository Network, where the program has been operating successfully for 4 years.5 This voluntary program aims to improve the quality of biobanking practices and raise standards through the provision of education modules and document templates. To encourage participation, the program is free for NSW biobanks and associated pathology laboratories for the first year. Nominal fees will subsequently apply for non-NSW Health organisations. Certification requires the biobank or pathology leader to register details of the biobank and complete (with team members) up to nine pertinent education modules, submit a declaration of compliance to adhere to best practices and upload key documents for auditor review. Moreover, biobanks may also opt to be listed on a publically available biobank locator. The program is designed as a first step towards improving the quality of biobanks for stakeholders, including researchers, multicentre trials, ethics committees, funders and the public. Current biobank practices are diverse, making a formal accreditation system impractical for some biobanks to undertake. It is envisaged that the program — subject to evaluation and uptake of staff education modules — may provide a foundation for a future accreditation program. Further information is available at https://nsw.biobanking.org.

Jane E Carpenter · Amanda Rush · Candace Carter

Indigenous health Research 6 February 2017 Free

Time to clinical investigation for Indigenous and non-Indigenous Queensland women after a high grade abnormal Pap smear, 2000–2009

Improved screening rates and follow-up could reduce the burden of cervical cancer among Indigenous women

Lisa J Whop · Peter D Baade · Julia ML Brotherton · Karen Canfell · Joan Cunningham · Dorota Gertig · Kamalini Lokuge · Gail Garvey · Suzanne P Moore · Abbey Diaz · Dianne L O'Connell · Patricia Valery · David M Roder · John R Condon

16 00255
Cancer Narrative reviews 21 November 2016 Free

Prevention of breast cancer

Modifiable lifestyle factors may reduce the risk of developing breast cancer. Obesity is associated particularly with post-menopausal breast cancer. Diet is important, and exercise equivalent to running for up to 8 hours each week reduces the risk of breast cancer, both in its own right and through reducing obesity. Alcohol consumption may be responsible for 5.8% of breast cancers in Australia and it is recommended to reduce this to two standard drinks per day. Drinking alcohol and smoking increases the risk for breast cancer and, therefore, it is important to quit tobacco smoking. Prolonged use of combined oestrogen and progesterone hormone replacement therapy and oral contraceptives may increase breast cancer risk and this must be factored into individual decisions about their use. Ionising radiation, either from diagnostic or therapeutic radiation or through occupational exposure, is associated with a high incidence of breast cancer and exposure may be reduced in some cases. Tamoxifen chemoprevention may reduce the incidence of oestrogen receptor positive cancer in 51% of women with high risk of breast cancer. Uncommon but serious side effects include thromboembolism and uterine cancer. Raloxifene, which can also reduce osteoporosis, can be used in post-menopausal women and is not associated with the development of uterine cancer. Surgical prophylaxis with bilateral mastectomy and salpingo-oophorectomy can reduce the risk of breast cancer in patients carrying BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations. For preventive treatments, mammographic screening can identify other women at high risk.

Ian N Olver

16 01007
Cancer News 15 August 2016 Free

Cancer control’s new STaR

Cancer Australia, in collaboration with leading national, state and territory health organisations and governments, has begun the ambitious STaR project to access and report national data on cancer Stage at diagnosis, Treatment and Recurrence. The project will greatly enhance our ability as a nation to understand variations in cancer outcomes by stage and treatment across population groups. While cancer registries based on the Australian population have been collecting and reporting high-quality data on cancer incidence and mortality for at least 30 years, there remains a lack of national data on the stage (severity of a cancer) when a patient is first diagnosed, the treatments subsequently applied and the frequency of cancer recurrence after treatment. The successful collection and reporting of STaR data, along with information already being collected on cancer incidence and mortality will provide, for the first time, important information across the journey of patients with cancer. With a better understanding of cancer outcomes by stage and treatment across population groups, we can more accurately address variations in practice. This will be especially valuable in variations in outcome across socio-demographic and culturally and linguistically diverse groups. The data may also assist in determining whether differences in survival can be explained by the treatment provided and patterns of care following diagnosis, which could identify areas for practice improvement. The knowledge gained will inform clinical best practice in cancer control, health services planning and public health policy. The STaR project will initially collect and report on the five cancers of highest incidence in Australia. Where available, data will be analysed by cancer type (site and histology), age and gender, Indigenous status, remoteness, socio-economic status and country of birth. In undertaking the STaR project, Cancer Australia is engaging with state and territory population-based cancer registries, as well as key cancer control stakeholders, including the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, the Australasian Association of Cancer Registries and state and territory government health departments.

Elizabeth Coad

16 00649

Subscribe to MJA email alerts

No spam, you can unsubscribe anytime you want.

By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy.

Thanks for Subscribing! Tell us more

Your email updates will use your name.

Good one! Your updates are coming

Thank you for subscribing to the MJA email alerts. Receive the latest content in your inbox.