There are 186 neglected cancer types, which currently account for 25% of cancer diagnoses and over 50% of cancer deaths in Australia. Just some of these include cancers of the brain, connective tissues, urinary, blood, male and female reproductive cancers, as well as mesothelioma, sarcoma and unknown primary cancer.
The 52,000 Australians diagnosed annually with rare or less common cancers face significantly worse outcomes. This is due in large part to poor access to clinical trials and lack of treatment options.
The Garvan Institute of Medical Research’s Genomic Cancer Medicine Program delivers precision or genomics-based clinical trials matching people with rare or less common cancers to treatments based on the genetics of their cancer. Genomics-based precision medicine will have will have its greatest impact on patients with rare and less common cancers.
The Garvan Institute of Medical Research launched Neglected Cancers Awareness Week in 2017. It runs from Monday 18 June to Sunday 25 June, 2018. Read more about our research into neglected cancers.