Timothy Price

Biography

My research focus over the last five years has been primarily investigating the relevance of the EGFR and VEGF pathways in advanced colorectal cancer. Via a collaboration with investigators of the MAX trail, a large International Randomised Phase 3 study of anti-VEGF therapy and chemotherapy, and the Basil Hetzel Institute my team investigated the proposed cross talk between the EGFR and VEGF pathways and the potential of KRAS/RAS, BRAF, PTEN and PIC3CA as predictors of anti-VEGF therapy. Furthermore our laboratory also assessed novel predictors of resistance to anti-EGFR therapy. As part of the AGITG collaboration I was a member of the Clinical Trial Management Team that produced and presented the evidence to support KRAS mutation as a predictor of non-response to anit-EGFR therapy and the subsequent NEJM paper. This data has led to changes in clinical practice internationally. It is now well recognised that KRAS and RAS mutation testing should be an integral part of standard clinical practice in advanced colorectal care and this is now mandated prior to prescribing anti-EGFR therapy. These findings have led to significant improvements in patient care preventing access to these agents in patients who will be resistant to them and therefore reducing the impact on quality of life of an ineffective therapy. This also has obviously implications for the Health Care System in terms of cost savings. Ongoing investigation of alternate pathways and markers continue to be a focus of our laboratory and this will lead to further honour’s projects.

Research Interest

Medicine,Medical Education,Research,etc