Researchers at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute (WEHI) are leading the landmark study which aims to tailor treatment to patients and improve broader outcomes for multiple cancers within our lifetime.

The treatment will involve using tumour organoids, 3D cancer models built in a lab, to predict which treatments work and which don’t for a particular patient. 

The method is expected to take the guesswork out during treatment, alleviate stress for patients and allow them to get the treatment they need sooner in order to improve quality of life and survival outcomes.

“What we showed is we can take a biopsy from those patients and grow miniature copies of their cancer in the laboratory and then we tested those cancers against a range of different chemotherapy drugs,” Professor Peter Gibbs said. 

“If the chemotherapy drug doesn’t work in the laboratory, it won’t work in the patient.”

Case numbers in young people have doubled in recent years.

James Armstrong’s father passed away from bowel cancer and his late wife was diagnosed with the disease. 

He has regular screenings himself and is a big supporter of this research.

“If we had something like that, it takes the guesswork out of it and gives you clarity,” Armstrong said.

It is unknown why bowel cancer rates are increasing so much in young people but teams are encouraging Australians to be more informed and aware of what signs to look for.

“It’s under recognised I think because people are reluctant to talk about their bowels when they’re not working, if they’ve got bleeding in the bowels,” Gibbs said.

It is hoped the treatment will be available in the next few years.