College Grants Fund Continuing Research

A/Prof Sweet Ping Ng shares details of her ongoing study of serum and imaging biomarkers to predict treatment response in patients with head and neck cancer.

As members are aware, a variety of opportunities are available to support research projects and foster a culture of research at the College. RANZCR Research Grants, offered since 2005, provide financial support for Fellows, Educational Affiliates and trainees. At the College, we want to invest in the future of the radiology professions by developing researchers and supporting innovative projects.

One of our Fellows is A/Prof Sweet Ping Ng, a radiation oncologist at Austin Health, and a multiple successful RANZCR Research Grant applicant. Her most recent project has been to investigate circulating miRNA as biomarker of response during radiation therapy in patients with head and neck cancer.

We sat down with A/Prof Ng to learn about her ongoing research.

“Cancer cells release a variety of analytes, such as circulating tumour cells, cell-free DNA, and RNA, into the systemic circulation that can be detected by ‘liquid biopsy’. MicroRNAs are mature, non-coding RNAs with 21-23 nucleotides that can be involved in a multitude of biological processes. Recent studies have demonstrated the association of miR-19, miR-21, and miR-375 with poorer survival in head and neck cancer (HNC), and another six miRNAs that may discriminate high- vs low-risk oropharyngeal cancer. Currently, no validated method has been found to identify patients at risk of incomplete tumour response during treatment, thereby representing a significant unmet need.

My earlier study, which was funded by RANZCR Research Grants in 2016 and 2017, collected and stored weekly plasma samples from patients with HNC undergoing definitive radiation therapy. Weekly MRls were obtained simultaneously for this study, allowing correlation of ‘liquid biopsy’ markers with radiographic response and subsequent clinical outcomes.

This current project aims to establish the feasibility of using circulating miRNA in therapeutic monitoring during radiation therapy, early detection of poor treatment response, and improving therapeutic stratification.

Currently we have 40 patients who have completed radiation therapy with post-treatment follow-up imaging and blood sample collection. We propose to use the stored plasma samples to isolate circulating RNA and evaluate circulating miRNA via next generation sequencing to identify any change in circulating miRNA during radiation therapy that may be an early response marker.

Right now, we’re nearly finished the project—we’re awaiting formal analysis of the raw data. Successful completion of this project will provide the first in-human evidence on the utility of circulating miRNA as a promising liquid biopsy approach for serial monitoring of response during treatment. Any change in tumour genome that may alter tumour’s biology and response to therapy can be detected, allowing early therapeutic steps to be taken. This will have immediate impact in clinical practice in selecting the right patient for the right treatment and takes real steps towards precision medicine in oncology.

Successful completion of this project will provide the first in-human evidence on the utility of circulating miRNA as a promising liquid biopsy approach for serial monitoring of response during treatment.

This RANZCR Research Grant provides an opportunity for me to pursue this exciting prospective study of serum and imaging biomarkers to predict treatment response in patients with head and neck cancer. During the course of this project, I am learning the intricacies of developing and executing a translational project, establishing collaborations, grant writing and submission, as well as laboratory skills (sample processing, workflow of NGS) and biostatistical knowledge for analysis of circulating miRNA. I’m also gaining great experience in working with statistics, writing a critical literature review, and writing and publishing manuscripts. This project is equipping me with the research skills and knowledge to facilitate my goal of becoming a physician scientist, with a special interest in predictive biomarkers research, in an international collaborative setting.”

This Research Grant provides an opportunity for me to pursue this exciting prospective study of serum and imaging biomarkers to predict treatment response in patients with head and neck cancer.

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