Research area: Stem Cell Medicine | Heart Disease

Overview

Why are survivors of childhood cancer 15 times more likely to have heart failure? How can the incidence of cardiovascular disease, which is 8 times higher in childhood cancer survivors than the general population, be reduced? How do we identify at-risk patients earlier and provide the best management regimen to improve the long-term cardiovascular health of these children and AYA?

ACOR is a world first paediatric and young adult prospective cardio-oncology registry designed to capture the clinical, epidemiological and pharmaceutical data from every Australian child and young adult that receives cardiac toxic therapies (chemotherapy, radiotherapy, molecular and immunotherapy). This strategically places ACOR in a position to provide data to underpin research and generate hypotheses that will address some of the above questions. 

ACOR aims to provide a research platform from which longitudinal data can be attained and through which further research can be developed to better provide outcomes for children and young adults who are at risk of cancer therapy related cardiovascular dysfunction (CRTCD). ACOR will achieve this through the establishment of:

• A registry of all paediatric and AYA patients who have been exposed to cardiac toxic chemotherapy 
• A biobanking study whose purpose will be to determine if genetic variants in cardiac health genes predispose patients to CTRCD
• MBS/PBS data linkage which will allow for an accurate reflection of patient use of the health care system in the outpatient setting when they develop CTRCD compared to those who do not develop heart toxicity
• Extended Cardiac Evaluation study to assess whether the use of the adult gold standard (cardiac magnetic resonance imaging) will cause better detection and management of heart toxicity in children with cancer. 

ACOR’s unique cohort will provide data that will enable researchers to address deficiencies which is necessary in order to improve the health outcomes for the estimated 300,000 children, and their families, who are exposed each year to the cardiac insult of cancer therapy. ACOR will achieve these aims through meaningful collaborations between clinical specialities of cardiology and oncology, a national partnership of 11 hospitals and research institutions, research and education and advocacy.