NEW OPTION FOR MANAGEMENT OF HIGH-RISK SOFT TISSUE SARCOMA OF THE LIMB International, multi-centre sarcoma trial shows benefits of integrating immunotherapy with radiotherapy and surgery
The Australia and New Zealand Sarcoma Association (ANZSA) is the peak body for the sarcoma community. ANZSA aims to improve outcomes for sarcoma patients through research, education and awareness of sarcomas and related tumours.
ANZSA fosters effective collaborations across multi-disciplinary teams (MDT), which comprise of specialist health professionals (including pathologists, radiologists, surgeons, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists and paediatric oncologists) working together to discuss sarcoma and related tumours cases, and how to best manage treatment and care.
Professor Angela Hong MBBS, MMed, PhD, FRANZCR is the co-Chair of ANZSA’s Scientific Advisory Committee and a Professor at Sydney Medical School of the University of Sydney. She is a radiation oncologist and has been a member of the Multidisciplinary Bone and Soft Tissue Tumour Clinic at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital/Chris O’Brien Lifehouse for the past 15 years.
As a clinician scientist, her research focuses on developing innovative radiation therapy technique and combination treatments to improve the outcome for patients with sarcoma.
Professor Hong spoke to Australian Health Journal about sarcoma and a recently concluded international, multicentre trial, that could lead to a new potential option for patients grappling with high-risk sarcoma of the limb.
Soft tissue sarcoma, a rare aggressive cancer originating in connective tissues, can affect both children and adults. It is particularly challenging to conduct clinical trials due to its rarity, However a recently concluded international collaborative Phase II clinical trial SARC032 has shown groundbreaking findings into the advantages of Immunotherapy for patients with high-risk soft tissue sarcoma of the limb
The trial was led by the Sarcoma Alliance Research Collaboration (SARC) in the United States and the Australia and New Zealand Sarcoma Association (ANZSA) in Australia. The Australian participating sites in the trial were Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Chris O’Brien Lifehouse and Princess Alexandra Hospital.
SARC032 is the first completed randomised clinical trial of its kind and has demonstrated compelling evidence to integrate immunotherapy, with the standard treatment regimen of radiotherapy and surgery for patients with grade 2 or 3, stage III soft tissue sarcoma of the limb.
Professor Angela Hong, Australia’s Principal Investigator for the trial, believes these results will be beneficial for patients for this specific stage of sarcoma.
“This is a significant milestone. The integration of immunotherapy into standard treatment protocols heralds a new era in sarcoma management, offering patients and clinicians a potent tool in the battle against this formidable disease.”
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Alfred Hospital leading in pharmacy services for critically unwell patients
Cristina Roman, is the Lead Pharmacist at Alfred Emergency Trauma Centre. In her 12 years working in the Emergency Department, Cristina has established pharmacy services, and filled gaps in patient care with new models of care.
One of those models of care adopted by the US and other countries, is involving pharmacists for critically unwell patients that present to the emergency department.
Australian Health Journal spoke with Cristina Roman and Lisa Bremner, Advanced Training Resident Pharmacist at Alfred Hospital Emergency Trauma Centre.
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Medical research institutes association responds to draft national research strategy
On 27 August 2025, the Minister for Health, Disability and Ageing announced the release of the draft National Health and Medical Research Strategy (the National Strategy).
Involved in the initial consultation phase, was the Association of Australian Medical Research Institutes (AAMRI), the peak body for medical research institutes across Australia. Member institutes work on a broad spectrum of human health issues such as preventive health, chronic disease, mental health, immunology and Indigenous health. Their research ranges from fundamental biomedical discovery through to clinical research and the translation of research findings.
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Space Health & Medicine on Australia’s Clinical Launchpad
Professor Smart is a veteran, medical doctor, health leader, aerospace medicine specialist, and retired Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) senior officer. She is currently at the Professor, Military and Aerospace Medicine at the Australian National University (ANU), and serves as the Interim Director of the ANU Defence Institute, and as a Mission Specialist at the ANU Institute for Space. She previously served as the University’s COVID-19 Public Health Lead from 2020 to 2022.
