Australian and New Zealand Urogenital and Prostate Cancer Trials Group

Australian and New Zealand Urogenital and Prostate Cancer Trials Group
Name	Australian and New Zealand Urogenital and Prostate Cancer Trials Group
Abbreviation	ANZUP
Formation	1999
Type	Clinical trials cooperative group
Headquarters	Sydney, New South Wales
Region served	Australia; New Zealand
Leader title	Chair

Australian and New Zealand Urogenital and Prostate Cancer Trials Group is a cooperative clinical trials group focused on urogenital and prostate cancers, operating across Australia and New Zealand. It conducts multicentre randomized trials and translational research involving hospitals such as Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, and Auckland City Hospital, and interfaces with regulatory bodies like the Therapeutic Goods Administration (Australia) and the Ministry of Health (New Zealand). The group engages clinicians from institutions including University of Sydney, Monash University, University of Melbourne, and University of Auckland to advance standards of care in urology, oncology, and radiotherapy.

History

The group was established in 1999 following discussions among investigators at meetings such as the International Society of Urological Pathology and the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, drawing participants from centres including Royal Adelaide Hospital and Christchurch Hospital. Early milestones included trials modeled on designs from the National Cancer Institute (United States) and cooperative groups like the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. Over time ANZUP expanded trial portfolios influenced by translational frameworks from the Garvan Institute of Medical Research and collaborative precedents set by the Australasian Gastro-Intestinal Trials Group and the Australasian Leukaemia & Lymphoma Group.

Organization and Governance

ANZUP operates under a governance structure with committees drawn from professional bodies such as the Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand, the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, the Medical Oncology Group of Australia, and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists. Its executive and scientific advisory boards include representatives from universities like University of New South Wales and research institutes including the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute. Ethical oversight aligns with policies from the National Health and Medical Research Council and institutional review boards at centres such as St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne. The group liaises with registry organisations like the Australian Cancer Database and the New Zealand Cancer Registry.

Research Programs and Clinical Trials

ANZUP’s trial portfolio covers diseases treated at centres such as Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital and St George Hospital (Sydney), with protocols addressing prostate cancer, bladder cancer, testicular cancer, and penile cancer. Major trial types include randomized controlled trials inspired by methodologies from Cochrane reviews and trial designs used by the European Society for Medical Oncology and American Society of Clinical Oncology. Translational components have involved biomarker studies with collaborators like the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research and genomic analyses employing resources from the 100,000 Genomes Project model. Trials have investigated systemic therapies referenced to agents approved by the Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency, with radiotherapy protocols influenced by techniques developed at MD Anderson Cancer Center and Royal Marsden Hospital.

Collaborations and Partnerships

The group partners with national and international entities including the Prostate Cancer Foundation (United States), the Movember Foundation, the Cancer Council Australia, and the Māori Health Authority initiatives in New Zealand. Academic partnerships include University of Otago and University of Western Australia, while industry collaborations have included pharmaceutical companies whose compounds are reviewed by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (Australia). ANZUP engages with cooperative networks such as the Trans-Tasman Radiation Oncology Group and international consortia including the European Association of Urology and the International Kidney Cancer Coalition to harmonize protocols and share data.

Impact and Contributions

ANZUP has influenced clinical practice at hospitals like Princess Alexandra Hospital and Middlemore Hospital through publications in journals such as The Lancet Oncology, Journal of Clinical Oncology, and European Urology. Its trials have informed guidelines produced by organisations such as the Cancer Institute New South Wales and the New Zealand Guidelines Group. Educational activities include symposia at conferences like the Australasian Gastrointestinal Trials Group Annual Scientific Meeting and sessions at the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons congresses. The group’s outputs have been cited in policy discussions involving the National Health Service (United Kingdom) and international guideline panels convened by bodies such as the World Health Organization.

Funding and Support

Funding sources include competitive grants from the National Health and Medical Research Council, philanthropic contributions from organisations such as the Movember Foundation and the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, and infrastructure support from institutions like the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. Additional support has come through partnerships with the Medical Research Future Fund, donations channelled via the Cancer Council Victoria, and collaborative funding arrangements with international funders such as the European Commission research programmes.

Category:Cancer research organizations Category:Medical and health organisations based in Australia Category:Medical and health organisations based in New Zealand