MELBOURNE, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Researchers in Australia have launched a new digital platform aimed at accelerating breakthroughs in pancreatic cancer, one of the world's deadliest cancers.
Developed by scientists at Australia's Walter and Eliza Hall Institute (WEHI), the PURPLE (Pancreatic cancer: Understanding Routine Practice & Lifting End results) Translational Platform is a centralized online hub designed to support the development of new approaches to treating the disease and improve patient access to clinical trials, a WEHI statement said on Thursday.
Pancreatic cancer, expected to be Australia's second-deadliest cancer by 2030, is often diagnosed late due to non-specific early symptoms, with most cases detected after the cancer has spread to nearby organs, it said.
The online hub integrates data from the PURPLE registry, tracking over 6,000 patients across 57 global cancer centers, enabling analysis of de-identified clinical data to enhance diagnosis and treatment, it added.
"When treatment options are as limited as they are in pancreatic cancer, collaboration isn't just important -- it's essential," said Belinda Lee, consultant medical oncologist who led the PURPLE registry team.
"This will see clinicians, scientists, patients and carers who have lost loved ones to the disease uniting to shift the landscape for pancreatic cancer research," said Lee, also a WEHI clinical research fellow.
The platform will integrate the PURPLE registry, hospital population data from Australia and abroad, and tissue-based research to address pancreatic cancer's complexity, explore innovative trial designs, and accelerate new drug discovery, researchers said. ■
