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Research & Education

Cancer Therapeutics Research Group (CTRG)

Cancer Therapeutics Research Group (CTRG)


​“Cancer is an enormous problem in this part of the world, and does not discriminate between race, economic status, age, or sex. Many of our patients either fail standard therapy or have cancers where there is no effective therapy if unresectable. We owe it to our patients to develop better treatment for them. With the return of several well trained staff from leading institutions overseas, the National University Hospital and National University of Singapore have been most privileged to have the National Cancer Centre Singapore, Johns Hopkins Singapore, Chinese University of Hong Kong, National Taiwan University Hospital, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, and the Yonsei Cancer Centre join us in our pursuit of better treatment for our patients. 

We also believe that there is a tremendous opportunity to contribute to science with our collaboration. We will be able to simultaneously test new therapies in Asians and Caucasians prospectively to answer whether there is a difference in the biology of cancer in different ethnic groups, as well as examine differences, if any, in drug metabolism in different populations. This information will be of significant interest to the pharmaceutical industry, and the CTRG hopes to play a major role in the development of the Life Science industry in the Asia-Pacific region.” 

Since 1997, The CTRG has rapidly established itself and is now recognized as the leading group for evaluating new therapeutic strategies in the Asia-Pacific region. The CTRG has built up an impressive infrastructure, presented a number of studies at cancer meetings, and have published a number of peer-reviewed papers in high impact journals. 

We position ourselves as a major centre for early phase drug development in clinical trials with expertise in genomics and proteomics research. The Group is well-recognized by the international academic community and industry, as well as the United States National Cancer Institute (NCI) and Mayo Clinic through various collaborative studies. These project collaborations have enabled cancer patients in Asia-Pacific to benefit greatly. 

It remains the aim of CTRG to contribute to the advancement towards better treatments in cancer.

 

Professor John Eu-Li Wong
National University Health System
Founder of the Cancer Therapeutics Research Group (CTRG)


The Cancer Therapeutics Research Group (CTRG) was formed in October 1997 by Professor John Eu-Li Wong (National University Hospital) and Professor James Bishop (Sydney Cancer Centre) as part of the drive to develop Singapore into a life sciences hub and centre for drug development and clinical trials. 

Since then, the Group has expanded to 8 member institutions, which is a testimony of the rising standards of the group’s research infrastructure in the Asia-Pacific region. 

The current member institutions are:
  • National University Cancer Institute, Singapore / National University Health System
  • Johns Hopkins Singapore International Medical Centre (Singapore)
  • The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Hong Kong SAR, China)
  • National Cancer Centre, Singapore
  • Yonsei Cancer Centre, Seoul, Korea
  • Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, Australia
  • National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
  • Department of Haematology, Singapore General Hospital (Singapore) 
The need for high quality and well-coordinated clinical trial groups in Asia-Pacific has provided many opportunities for the CTRG in clinical trials and translational research, having established itself as a leader in this region. The institutions forming the CTRG collectively bring extensive experience in oncology drug development. 

CTRG have collaborated with many multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, as well as research institutions, to conduct clinical trials in cancer and for cancer drug development. Such research collaborations and partnerships have enabled cancer patients in Singapore and the region to benefit greatly with much earlier access to the latest chemotherapy regimens and novel molecular targets for cancer treatment before their availability in the market. These collaborations have brought valuable investments into Singapore thus benefiting the biomedical and pharmaceutical industries here. 

CTRG is positioned as a major centre for early phase drug development in clinical trials with more sophisticated endpoints, and with expertise in Phase I and translational research. The Group has Phase 1-2 dedicated facilities/resource. Located in a region of multi-ethnicities, the CTRG also conducts research to understand interethnic variability of anticancer drugs. CTRG also has capability to assay anti-cancer drugs at greater sensitivity and specificity, including metabolite analysis. 

CTRG is, undoubtedly, in an exciting phase of development and their efforts are being recognised increasingly by the international academic community and industry. 

Going forward, the Group will continue to bring together key opinion leaders in Asia Pacific, attract drug companies to conduct clinical trials, and gain recognition through publications in high impact journals. 

  • ​To provide the means and opportunity to test novel anticancer agents and therapeutic strategies simultaneously in Asian & Caucasian patients with cancer
  • To study pharmacogenomics in relation to ethnicity
  • To develop better therapies for cancers common in Asia-Pacific
  • To provide high quality data through ICH-GCP compliant clinical trials for rapid registration and licensing of new compounds in Asia 

​Set Up

  • The administrative head office is located in the National University Hospital, Singapore.
  • Our Group is led by a Joint Management Committee (JMC), comprising of the Directors of each member institution and a Chairman elected on an annual rotating basis.
  • An audit committee audits our clinical trials conducted at the participating member institutions on a regular basis.
  • We have established comprehensive Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to ensure smooth operations within the Group.
  • Business meetings are conducted annually.
  • Our Group keeps in close contact and follows discussions closely through regular teleconferences. 

Organisation Structure

Joint Management Committee




For more information on CTRG and regional clinical trials, please contact Ms. Vilianty at +65 6772 4619 or email vilianty@nuhs.edu.sg

Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

  • Multicenter phase II study of MK-2206 in previously treated patients with recurrent and metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma 
  • A Phase I Trial of 5Azacitidine and Suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid in Patients with Metastatic or Locally Recurrent Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma and Nasal NK-T cell Lymphoma (NCI study). 
  • Phase II study of Cetuximab with Carboplatin in patients with metastatic NPC. 
  • Phase II study of Ifosphamide and Doxorubicin in Patients with Refractory Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma
  • A Phase II Trial of VELCADE in Patients with Metastatic or Locally Recurrent Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma.
  • A Phase 2 Study of GW786034 (Pazopanib) in Asian Patients with Recurrent/Metastatic Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (NCI study).

Breast

  • NeoPHOEBE: “Pi3k inhibition in Her2 OverExpressing Breast cancEr: A phase II, randomized, parallel cohort, two stage, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of neoadjuvant trastuzumab versus trastuzumab + BKM120 in combination with weekly paclitaxel in HER2-positive, PIK3CA wild-type and PIK3CA mutant primary breast cancer” 
  • A Phase I/II study of weekly Paclitaxel and ORZEL (UFT + Leucovorin) in patients with metastatic breast cancer. 

Non Small Cell Lung Cancer

  • Phase II study of Taxotere & Carboplatin combination in resectable metastatic and locally advanced NSCLC. 
  • Phase I study of Gemcitabine in conjunction with Vinorelbine and Radiotherapy in the Management of Stage IIIB or medically non-resectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). 
  • Phase I/II trial of infusional Gemcitabine in combination with Carboplatin in chemo-naive advanced NSCLC. 
  • A Phase II study of Triapine And Gemcitabine as Second-Line Treatment of Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer in Patients Who Had Prior Gemcitabine with Evaluation of the Effect of Triapine on Gemcitabine Pharmacokinetics and Cellular Uptake in Peripheral Mononuclear Cells (NCI study). 

Gastric Cancer 

  • Phase II trial of pre-operative Docetaxel, Cisplatin and continuous infusion 5FU in patients with locally advanced gastric adenocarcinoma. 
  • Phase II clinical trial of a novel tubulin-interacting macrolide in advanced local or metastatic gastric cancer (collaboration with a multi-national pharmaceutical company). 
  • A Phase II study of Irofulven as first line therapy in recurrent or metastatic gastric cancer (NCI study). 

Hepatocellular Carcinoma

  • Survey of angiogenic factors in HCC 
  • A Phase II trial of Thalidomide in unresectable HCC
  • Phase II trial of PS-341 in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (NCI study in collaboration with Mayo Phase II Consortium). 

Hepatoma 

  • Hepatoma — Validation of CUPI. 

Colorectal Cancer 

  • Phase II study of biweekly Irinotecan (CPT-11), 5-Fluorouracil (5FU) and Folinic Acid (FA) in unresectable liver metastases from colorectal cancer. 
  • Phase II study of 5-Fluorouracil, Folinic Acid, Gemcitabine and Cisplatin as the second line treatment in patients with metastatic or recurrent colorectal carcinoma. 

Prostate Cancer

  • A Phase II study of Fenretinide in Patients with Hormone Refractory Prostate Cancer (NCI study). 

Biliary Tumours

  • A Phase II Trial of Bevacizumab and Erlotinib in Patients with Advanced Biliary Tumors (NCI study in collaboration with Mayo Phase II Consortium).
  • A Phase II Trial of Bevacizumab and Erlotinib in Patients with Advanced Biliary Tumors (NCI study in collaboration with Mayo Phase II Consortium). 

Miscellaneous

  • Study of genetic predisposition to chemotherapy-related toxicity
  • The effect of pharmacogenetics on treatment toxicities and outcomes in East Asian and Caucasian patients undergoing docetaxel or gemcitabine-based chemotherapy.
  • A Phase II Trial of AZD0530 in Previously Treated Metastatic Pancreas Cancer (NCI study in collaboration with Mayo Phase II Consortium).

Thyroid Cancer 

  • A Phase II Trial of GW786034 in Advanced Thyroid Cancer (NCI study in collaboration with Mayo Phase II Consortium).
  • Phase I/II trial of Cediranib alone or Cediranib and Lenalidomide in Iodine 131-Refractory Differentiated Thyroid Cancer 
  • A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Phase II trial Comparing Gemcitabine Monotherapy to Gemcitabine in Combination with AZD1775 (MK1775) in Women with Recurrent, Platinum Resistant Epithelial Ovarian, Primary Peritoneal or Fallopian Tube Cancers

Lymphoma

  • MC1282-(NCI 9271) – Phase 2 Trial of Single-agent Ibrutinib (PCI-32765) in Relapsed or Refractory Follicular Lymphoma 
  • A Phase I Trial of 5Azacitidine and Suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid in Patients with Metastatic or Locally Recurrent Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma and Nasal NK-T cell Lymphoma (NCI study).

  1. H L Kong, M J Boyer, R Lim, S Clarke, M J Millward, J E Wong: Phase II trial of Thalidomide in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Proceedings of American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), Vol 20, #2282, 2001.
  2. AYC Chang, W Yeo, JM Beith, JEL Wong; JHS, CUHK, SCC, NUS. Phase I/II study of weekly paclitaxel, UFT and leucovorin in patients with metastatic breast cancer. Proceedings of American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), Vol 21, #1962, 2002.
  3. RA Soo, HL Lim, LZ Wang, SC Lee, LT Tok, HS Lee, BC Goh. Phase I/II study of gemcitabine administered at a constant rate infusion in combination with carboplatin in chemo-naive patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Proceedings of American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), Vol 21, #2754, 2002.
  4. JM Beith, BC Goh, W Yeo, A Sullivan, S Lim, S Zhong, LP Rivory: Inter-ethnic differences in the myelotoxicity of adriamycin/cyclophosphamide (AC) for adjuvant breast cancer. Proceedings of American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), Vol 21, #252, 2002.
  5. M. J. Millward, M. J. Boyer, M. Lehnert, S. Clarke, D. Rischin, B.-C. Goh, J. Wong, E. McNeil, and J. F. Bishop. Docetaxel and carboplatin is an active regimen in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: a phase II study in Caucasian and Asian patients. Ann Oncol 2003 14: 449-454.
  6. T. W.-T. Leung, F. Mo, C. K. Leow, H. L. Kong, M. J. Boyer, P. Kho, A. Chang, B. Lai, A. T. C. Chan, J. Wong, for the Cancer Therapeutics Research Group. Multicenter validation of the Chinese University Prognostic Index (CUPI) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Proceedings of American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), Vol 22, #1040, 2003.
  7. A. T. C. Chan, M. M. Hsu, B. C. Goh, E. P. Hui, T. W. Liu, M. Millward, A. Y. Chang, B. B. Ma, R. L. Hong, X. Lin, for the Cancer Therapeutics Research Group; MERCK Pte Ltd. Singapore. A phase II study of cetuximab (C225) in combination with carboplatin in patients (pts) with recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) who failed to a platinum-based chemotherapy. Proceedings of American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), Vol 22, #2000, 2003.
  8. Soo RA, Lim HL, Wang LZ, Lee HS, Millward MJ, Tok LT, Lee SC, Lehnert M, Goh BC. Phase I trial of fixed dose-rate gemcitabine in combination with carboplatin in chemonaive advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: a Cancer Therapeutics Research Group study. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 2003 Aug; 52(2):153-8.
  9. Anthony T.C. Chan, Mow-Ming Hsu, Boon C. Goh, Edwin P. Hui, Tsang-Wu Liu, Michael J. Millward, Ruey-Long Hong, Jacqueline Whang-Peng, Brigette B.Y. Ma, Ka F. To, Matthias Mueser, Nadia Amellal, Xiao Lin, Alex Y. Chang. Multicenter, Phase II Study of Cetuximab in Combination with Carboplatin in Patients with Recurrent or Metastatic Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma. Journal of Clinical Oncology Apr 4 2005: 200502147.
  10. Wing M Ho, B Ma, Tony Mok, W Yeo, Paul Lai, R Lim, Jane Koh, YY Wong, Ann King, CK Leow, ATC Chan. Liver Resection after Irinotecan, 5-Fluorouracil, and Folinic acid for Patients with Unresectable Colorectal Liver Metastases. A Multicenter Phase II Study by the Cancer Therapeutics Research Group. Medical Oncology, vol 22, no. 1, 2005.
  11. A Multicenter Randomized Phase II Study of Carboplatin in Combination with Gemcitabine at Standard Rate or Fixed Dose Rate Infusion in Patients with Advanced Stage Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer. Annals of Oncology July 2006; 17(7):1128-33.
  12. Multi-centre phase II trial of thalidomide in the treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. Acta Oncol 2006; 46(2):234-8.
  13. Phase II Study of Irofulven in recurrent or metastatic gastric cancer: a cancer Therapeutics Research Group (CTRG) study. Proceedings of American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 2006.
  14. Irofulven as first line therapy in recurrent or metastatic gastric cancer: a phase II multicenter study by the Cancer Therapeutics Research Group (CTRG). The pharmacogenomics journal Feb 2007 / 59: 295-300.
  15. Multicentre phase II trial of thalidomide in the treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. Acta oncologica 2007; 46:234-238.
  16. High incidence of symptomatic methemoglobinemia (metHb) in Asian patients (pts) treated with 3-aminopyridine-2-carboxaldehyde thiosemicarbazone (3-AP, triapine) and gemcitabine (GEM) in a second-line phase II trial of metastatic non-small cell lung. American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) abstract 1820; 2007.
  17. A multicenter phase II trial of 3-aminopyridine-2-carboxaldehyde thiosemicarbazone (3-AP, TriapineÒ) and gemcitabine in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer with pharmacokinetic evaluation using peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Investigational New Drugs Apr 2008; 26(2):169-173.
  18. Epigenetic Therapy Using Belinostat for Patients With Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Multicenter Phase I/II Study With Biomarker and Pharmacokinetic Analysis of the Mayo Phase II Consortium and the Cancer Therapeutics Research Group. J Clin Oncol 2012;30(27):3361-7.