TRACKER supports first international collaboration to advance personalised lung cancer research
- Aug 5
- 3 min read
Researchers at the University of Otago are using TRACKER plasma samples and de-identified clinical data to investigate blood-based biomarkers of treatment response in lung cancer.
TRACKER has supported its first international research collaboration, with researchers at the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand, accessing TRACKER plasma samples and de-identified clinical data to investigate why some non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC) respond to molecular targeted therapies while others develop treatment resistance.
The project brings together the Chatterjee Laboratory lung cancer therapy response team, led by A/Prof Aniruddha Chatterjee, with Dr Rajiv Kumar (Medical Oncologist and co-PI), Dr Euan Rodger (co-PI) and PhD candidate Safia Farry (Te Aupōuri). By analysing circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) – small fragments of tumour-derived DNA released in the bloodstream - the team aims to identify epigenetic biomarkers that may help predict treatment response and improve understanding of how resistance develops.
As TRACKER's first international collaboration, this project marks an exciting new chapter for the biobank, extending access to its resources beyond Australia and strengthening lung cancer research across Oceania.
"TRACKER was established to ensure that every participant's contribution could have the greatest possible impact. Seeing our biospecimens and clinical data support researchers beyond Australia is incredibly exciting because those contributions are helping answer important questions about lung cancer. This collaboration reflects exactly what TRACKER was designed to do: connecting researchers with high-quality resources to accelerate discoveries that have the potential to improve patient care."
-Dr Sagun Parakh, TRACKER Biobank Co-Lead
Understanding treatment resistance
Molecular targeted therapies have transformed the treatment of NSCLC by targeting the genetic alterations that drive tumour growth. For many patients, these therapies deliver significant and often durable clinical benefit. However, resistance can develop over time, reducing their effectiveness and limiting treatment options.
Understanding why this happens remains one of the major challenges in precision oncology. Resistance arises through a complex interplay of genetic and epigenetic changes that influence how cancer cells evolve and respond to therapy. Uncovering these mechanisms may help researchers identify biomarkers that better predict treatment response and inform more personalised approaches to care.
Investigating tumour DNA through a blood sample
Rather than relying solely on repeated tumour biopsies, the research team is studying ctDNA to better understand how tumours change during treatment.
Blood-based approaches offer a less invasive way to monitor tumour biology over time. In the future, findings from studies such as this may contribute to more precise methods of assessing treatment response and support more informed clinical decision-making.
Advancing research through collaboration
TRACKER was established to provide researchers with access to high-quality biospecimens and linked clinical data, accelerating translational research that aims to improve outcomes for people affected by lung cancer.
This collaboration with the University of Otago demonstrates how shared research infrastructure can connect expertise, resources and ideas across borders, creating opportunities to address complex scientific questions that no single institution could answer alone.
"Collaborative research like this is essential for translating cutting-edge science into better outcomes for patients with lung cancer.”
- Chatterjee Laboratory lung cancer therapy response team
Most importantly, this work has been made possible through the generosity of TRACKER participants who contribute their samples and clinical information to research. Their contributions are now supporting discoveries beyond Australia's borders, helping researchers across Oceania build new knowledge that may ultimately improve lung cancer care for future patients.
The detection and identification of drug metabolites obtained from both in vitro and in vivo studies in preclinical species is an important part of the discovery process. Ultimately, these studies will lead to a comprehensive description of the metabolism of successful compounds in humans.