Aussie plant gives hope to head & neck cancer patients

26 Apr 2023

A rainforest plant only found in North QLD is providing new hope for people living with head and neck cancers. To date the plant compound, technically called tigilanol tiglate, has been highly successful in treating cancer in canines, by activating an immune response against tumours.

For the first time in Australia, tigilanol tiglate has recently been delivered in a multi-centred human trial, commencing at St Vincent’s. Principal Investigator, Associate Professor Richard Gallagher delivered the drug via injection directly into the patient’s tumour, breaking down the tumour’s blood vessels, with the intention of directly obliterating the cancerous cells.

The overall aim of trial is designed to determine optimal dose, safety, and response in a broad range of solid head and neck tumours. But the precision delivered treatment offers promising additional benefits by limiting exposure and damage to surrounding healthy tissues, and potentially eliminating the need for surgery to otherwise remove the tumour.

With surgery currently the primary course of action for people with head and neck cancers, surgery can be disfiguring and affect a person’s sight, hearing, speech or swallowing.

“I’m delighted to be leading this study. Every surgeon wants to avoid potentially destructive surgery which can compromise a patient’s quality of life. So a simple, intratumoural injection is very appealing advance”, said Prof Gallagher. “This study has the potential to improve quality of life for patients after treatment” - A/Prof Richard Gallagher.

For more information and trial eligibility details, please CLICK HERE.

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