Establishing the Australian Particle Therapy Clinical Quality Registry - ASPIRE

Abstract

Objectives

The Australian Bragg Centre for Proton Therapy and Research (ABCPTR), a wholly owned subsidiary of the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) secured Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) listings for cancers treatable with Proton Beam Therapy (PBT). Addressing the complexities of cost-utility for PBT, the Medical Services Advisory Committee advocated for a national registry to affirm PBT's safety benefits over Photon Radiation Therapy (PRT). This registry aims to validate health economic analyses for the MBS submission and support evidence for future applications, enhancing PBT's role in cancer treatment.

Methods

In alignment with MBS application goals, the Australian Particle Therapy Clinical Quality Registry (ASPIRE) was initiated in 2022. Currently, two sites are actively recruiting, with four more in different stages of approval nationwide. ASPIRE, a forward-looking, observational study, focuses on paediatric, adolescent, and rare adult cancer cases within specified tumour categories receiving radiation therapy. It aims to examine treatment patterns and gather long-term data on outcomes for patients treated with PRT or PBT.

Results

The ABCPTR is set to establish a crucial PBT service for the regions of Australia and New Zealand. Predictive modelling for the ABCPTR suggests that - using current MBS refundable indications for PBT - 80% of treated patients will be under 25 years of age.

Conclusion

ASPIRE will standardize radiation oncology data collection, capturing key patient data, short- and long-term toxicities, and outcomes for MBS-funded radiation treatments. This data, accessible to Australian researchers, will provide unique clinical and cost utility insights not available in other national registries.