VCCC Alliance Precision Oncology Forum

Genomics to solve cancers of unknown primary

21 February 2025

Whole genome sequencing on diagnostic biopsies and cell-free DNA improves diagnosis of cancers of unknown primary (CUP). 

Discover how implementing whole genome sequencing of tissue and liquid biopsy improves diagnosis and management of CUP patients in the analysis of a 72-patient cohort.

Case vignettes will be presented to demonstrate insights gained from employing these techniques, while also describing challenges in significantly influencing patient outcomes.

This hybrid event is part of the VCCC Alliance Precision Oncology Forum series. These multi-disciplinary forums provide opportunities to discuss new research topics in Precision Oncology, as well as interesting and novel cases illustrating the clinical implications of molecular pathology and targeted therapies.

Cases are discussed on an individual, de-identified basis. 

Chairs

Dr Huiling Xu
Senior Research Fellow, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

Dr Joep Vissers
Curation Scientist Team Leader, the University of Melbourne

Speakers

Dr Richard Rebello
Postdoctoral Researcher, Collaborative Centre for Genomic Cancer Medicine, the University of Melbourne

Dr Rebello is a cancer genomics scientist at the University of Melbourne and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre where he worked on the SUPER-NEXT study: Employing prospective genomic analysis to the clinicopathology work up of cancer of unknown primary.

Dr Tharani Sivakumaran
Medical Oncologist and PhD Candidiate, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

Dr Sivakumaran is a medical oncologist with an interest in improving outcomes for patients with gynaecological cancers and carcinoma of unknown primary. She is currently undertaking a PhD at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.

Dr Camilla Thornton
Curation Scientist, the University of Melbourne 

Dr Thornton is a curation scientist at the University of Melbourne Centre for Cancer Research, analysing and interpreting patient tumour data to determine genomic variants that may inform patient care. She is a trained cancer cell biologist, with expertise in developmental neuroscience, cell motility (developmental guidance, cancer cell invasion and migration), and cellular signalling pathways involved in the development of cancer and PIK3CA-related overgrowth syndromes.