Exploring biomarker testing (MSI, MMR, PD-L1) in advanced gastric cancer to improve survival.

*** $3,000 scholarship on offer to one successful applicant *** Gastric cancers have a dismal prognosis, even when detected early and treated aggressively. Surgery (with or without peri-operative chemotherapy) is the only potentially curative treatment for patients with gastric cancer. However, the majority of patients present with advanced, in operable, disease at diagnosis. Routine testing for biomarkers is recommended in individuals diagnosed with advanced gastric cancer, as research has shown that those eligible for treatment with targeted drug therapies are more likely to have a significantly improved response to treatment and prolonged survival. PROJECT AIM: The aim of this study is to use real-world data from the Upper Gastrointestinal Cancer Registry (UGICR) to understand current practices of testing for biomarkers (such as MSI, MMR, PD-L1) in individuals with advanced gastric cancer at health services in Victoria. This project involves: 1) Data collection via the UGICR 2) Data auditing and cleaning 3) Data analysis *** $3,000 scholarship on offer to one successful applicant ***