Princess Alexandra Hospital home to world first cancer trial

• A new treatment is being trialled for the first time at the PA Hospital to fight advanced prostate cancer.
• The ground-breaking clinical trial uses a treatment called targeted alpha therapy which kills only the prostate cancer cells.
• It’s highly effective, has fewer side effects, and minimises damage to surrounding tissue compared to traditional oncology treatment. 

A new treatment called Targeted Alpha Therapy for difficult to treat cancers that have spread in the body is being trialled as a world first at Princess Alexandra Hospital through the Integrated Theranostic Centre.

Patients with advanced prostate cancer can receive targeted alpha therapy which specifically targets and kills prostate cancer cells, minimising damage to healthy tissue and organs.

PA Hospital is partnering with AdvanCell, an Australian radiopharmaceutical company leading the way in developing innovative cancer treatments.

The company specialises in alpha isotopes based on Lead (212Pb) which are attached to small molecules that bind and deliver the radiation directly to cancer cells via infusion.

Theranostics involves an injection of a radioactive material that targets a specific cancer type. These agents have been shown to be highly effective, have fewer side effects and minimise damage to surrounding healthy tissues compared to conventional oncology treatments.

The Integrated Theranostic Centre was formed in 2023 as a partnership between Radiology/Nuclear Medicine and Medical Oncology, making PA Hospital one of the few centres in Australia offering this service. 

The targeted alpha therapy for prostate cancer study is one of just a number of ground-breaking theranostics trials underway.

The TheraPb clinical trial of targeted alpha therapy for prostate cancer is running for three years with plans for up to 100 patients to participate.

This world-first trial comes after the Miles Government announced the development of a 10-year Queensland Cancer Plan to revolutionise cancer care across the state.

The Miles Government is asking Queenslanders to have their say via the Queensland Cancer Plan consultation survey here. The survey is closing Wednesday 17 April.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Health, Mental Health and Ambulance Services Shannon Fentiman:

“We are lucky here in Queensland to be home to world-leading and life-changing research.

“It’s exactly why we’re investing $73 million into the Miles Government’s 10-year Research Strategy.

“I’d like to congratulate the researchers and clinicians for their efforts and dedication towards improving cancer treatment for Queenslanders.

“This ground-breaking trial will hopefully benefit cancer sufferers here in Queensland, but also those living across Australia and around the world.

“We know there’s always more work to do in improving cancer care for Queenslanders, so please have your say in our consultation survey if you haven’t already.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Bulimba Di Farmer:

“We have such amazing health heroes here in Metro South so it’s no surprise that we’re leading the way in Cancer research.

“I’m proud to be part of a government that supports our researchers to produce world class healthcare.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Greenslopes Joe Kelly:

“The Miles Government is proud to be supporting incredible researchers here in Queensland.

“Our clinicians are worldclass and so is their commitment to innovating cancer healthcare.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Miller Mark Bailey:

“We have some of the best healthcare in the world here in Queensland and this new trial proves just that.

“Queenslanders everyone should make sure they share their stories so we can make our new Queensland Cancer Plan the best possible.” 

Quotes attributable to PA Hospital Medical Oncologist, Dr Aaron Hansen:

“We’re extremely excited about what the future holds as our service grows and new cancer treatments become available.

“PA Hospital is also involved in a trial using a combination of theranostics and immunotherapy for the treatment of patients with Extensive-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer (ES-SCLC).

“Beside prostate cancer and ES-SCLC, we’re also involved in using theranostics for other clinical trials involving non-small cell lung cancers, merkel cell and renal cell carcinomas.

“At the end of the day, all of these studies and trials are about providing the best possible care to our patients.”

ENDS