20Professor Nicovan ZandwijkDirector, Asbestos Diseases <strong>Research</strong> <strong>Institute</strong>, University of SydneyAsbestos is responsible for an increasing number of deaths in <strong>NSW</strong>.In 2008, more than 200 people were diagnosed with mesothelioma(a cancer directly related to asbestos) and almost the same amountdied from the disease.Australia has historically been one of the biggest users of asbestosin the world and there is a large amount of asbestos in Australianbuildings and other infrastructure. As a consequence, we have oneof the world’s highest rates of mesothelioma and it is estimated thatthis is yet to peak.Figures like these prompted the establishment of the AsbestosDiseases <strong>Research</strong> <strong>Institute</strong> in January 2009 at the Bernie BantonCentre. The institute has quickly became recognised as leading theworld in the investigation of how asbestos fibres cause malignantgrowth, and ways of fighting diseases such as mesothelioma, largelydue to the expert leadership of Professor Nico van Zandwijk.Growing up in Amsterdam, Nico had already many achievementsunder his belt – including founding the department of ThoracicOncology of the Netherlands <strong>Cancer</strong> <strong>Institute</strong> – when he took upthe position of director of the <strong>Institute</strong>. He was initially promptedto work in thoracic oncology (a group that includes mesothelioma,lung cancer and mediatinal tumours) because he considered it anarea that needed considerably more research input.“Little attention has been paid to asbestos-induced cancers incomparison with other cancers,” says Nico. “Through translationalresearch our staff aim to improve the diagnosis and treatment ofasbestos-related diseases.“Quality of life of asbestos victims and the development of effectivepreventive measures for people exposed to asbestos are extremelyimportant to our work.”Nico is certain that the future of treating cancer, including malignantmesothelioma, is in optimising individualised treatment approaches.“We need to obtain an accurate profile of disease and to tailortreatment accordingly,” he says. “In this way, we will be able to avoid theunnecessary toxicity that sometimes accompanies cancer therapy today.“We can get better results if treatment can be started when thetumour is in an early stage,” explains Nico. “At the same time, itis vital to be informed about the exact characteristics of thisspecific cancer and to individualise treatment accordingly.”His group at the Asbestos Diseases <strong>Research</strong> <strong>Institute</strong> is alreadymaking headway in identifying a protein-based prognostic profile,which is specific for malignant mesothelioma.“We are also looking for factors that are able to predict thesensitivity of an individual tumour to certain medication,” he says.“This would be a significant step forward towards better treatmentselection for patients.“Even in mesothelioma, a disease characterised by poor survivalfigures, there are great differences in prognosis: there are patientswho are surviving a very short amount of time and there arepatients who are surviving much longer,” Nico explains. “A so-calledprognostic marker helps to identify to which group a patientbelongs and will help to tailor treatment according to that profile.”This research, Nico believes, will be imperative for the future as thenumber of people succumbing to asbestos-related diseases, includingmesothelioma, grows in Australia.“In the coming years, we expect an increase of this disease and thatis directly related to the tremendous amounts of asbestos around inthe Australian environment,” he says.“Awareness of the dangers of asbestos today is very, very important.We should be careful if we are to prevent a second or third waveof this disease.”
EARLY DETECTION“I saw research as the only way tocontribute to a better future.”Professor Nico van Zandwijk
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