Emma Sinclair, a 37-year-old mother of two from Forbes, New South Wales, who is currently fighting stage-three brain cancer. She approaches this challenge with hope and optimism for the future. After getting diagnosed late in 2020, Sinclair originally was told she would have between five and 15 years to live. Unfortunately, her specific tumor, pilocytic astrocytoma Grade 3, had not responded to conventional approaches including chemotherapy and radiation. Her continued treatment, via a clinical trial, has made a significant impact. These advancements are a testament to the promise of new approaches in cancer care.
And for more than a year, Sinclair has been using intravenous immunotherapy. She was able to receive the new treatment by enrolling into a clinical trial. This trial was made possible through Omico, a precision oncology not-for-profit founded by Professor David Thomas. Rob Zielinski, head of oncology and clinical trials at Orange Health Service, has cited Sinclair’s case as an exemplar success story. This recognition speaks to the importance of Sinclair’s journey.
Sinclair’s story is an inspiring example of the healing impact that CGP can have. Now, thanks to this groundbreaking test, she has access to a range of personalized treatment options for her cancer. Sinclair’s medical team’s sophisticated use of genomic strategy is the key to staying one step ahead of her deadly tumor. They do things once deemed impossible.
A New Hope Through Immunotherapy
Emma Sinclair’s story is emblematic of an exciting new breakthrough in cancer treatment, where the promise of personalized medicine truly is making all the difference. In the past, patients with the same diagnosis would receive cookie cutter treatments, leading to different outcomes. For Sinclair, the traditional approaches were unable to make a significant impact in stopping the spread of her tumor.
The introduction of CGP allowed doctors to analyze the genetic characteristics of her cancer, identifying specific mutations driving its growth. “In 85 percent of the occasions that we get a test like that, we are able to make a recommendation for a treatment,” stated Professor David Thomas. This proactive approach has been really important for stopping the spread of Sinclair’s cancer.
“It’s a relief I keep expecting the worst to happen,” said Sinclair, expressing the emotional rollercoaster many cancer patients endure. Her mother, Toni Edwards, echoed these sentiments: “We didn’t expect miracles … but to stop it growing has been such a relief because it’s been over 12 months that she hasn’t got any worse.”
The Role of Precision Oncology
Precision oncology is revolutionizing how clinicians treat and care for people with cancer. By zeroing in on the genetic blueprint of cancers, scientists are able to create medicines engineered to attack certain mutations. This approach focuses on eliminating side effects and amplifying effectiveness. Rob Zielinski noted, “What that means is that those treatments work on the cancer but they tend to have, in general, fewer side effects.”
The independent work being done by Omico and other such organizations represents a historic turn in cancer care in Australia. Professor David Thomas highlighted the potential societal benefits: “Cancer, which we’ve lived with forever as an ancient curse on mankind, is at a cusp where science could do for cancer what science did for HIV and COVID.”
Challenges remain. Zielinski pointed out logistical issues for rural patients: “I’ve got stacks of rural patients who are either too symptomatic, too much pain, too elderly to travel back and forth [to cities to access the] trials.” This underscores the urgent need to expand access to such innovative treatments to all patients.
Looking Ahead
The triumph of Emma Sinclair’s case has the potential to change the course of cancer treatment and prevention. As the field of genomics continues to progress, we hope that more patients will be able to take advantage of truly personalized therapies. Professor Thomas advocates for expanding access: “I would like to see this available for all cancer patients, certainly all incurable cancer patients as an urgent matter, because we now have the drugs that can extend people’s lives.”
Zielinski emphasized the importance of identifying “driver mutations” in tumors: “What we’re really trying to find are these driver mutations. If we stop the driver, the cancer shuts down.” With this increased focus on precision, we have the opportunity to dramatically shift the landscape of cancer care.
