John Forbes, MB, BS

2009-2010 BCRF Project
Primary prevention of breast cancer and prevention of late recurrence of breast cancer are high priority goals. The Australian New Zealand Breast Cancer Trials Group (ANZ BCTG) conducted the tamoxifen prevention trial (IBIS I) and showed that tamoxifen, a drug used to treat hormone sensitive early breast cancer for many years, can also prevent hormone sensitive breast cancer long-term. New trials are testing the prevention role of aromatase inhibitors: anastrozole, to prevent new breast cancer in postmenopausal women (IBIS II); and, letrozole, to prevent late recurrence in postmenopausal women who are currently well, but who had breast cancer diagnosed many years previously (the LATER trial).

The BCRF-funded project is for a new high High Risk Bio-Bank (HRBB) created with tissue collected from women on these trials. The HRBB will create new opportunities for discovery of biomarkers in blood or tumor tissue that can predict which women have the highest and lowest risk of breast cancer. This is likely to lead to a better understanding of breast cancer biology, and improved prevention therapies for women at risk. It will also improve survivorship for well women on long-term follow-up who are at risk of late recurrence of breast cancer. The HRBB will be a unique platform for translational research with collaborating investigators throughout the world.

Mid-Year Progress Report:
The ANZ BCTG High Risk Bio-Bank project commenced in January 2010. The trials are continuing and the IBIS II trial has recruited 5200 women as of January. Recruitment of new staff for the project has alsocommenced.

Curriculum Vitae:

EDUCATION
Matriculation 1962:
(1st Class Honours, Dux Prize for School). University of Melbourne
MB, BS 1968:
Robert Gartley Healy Prize in Medicine. Keith Levi Memorial Scholarship for Medicine,(University prizes for first place in Medicine).
Other Degrees:
B.Med.Sci., 1973, (Dissertation): "The Distribution of Histo-compatibility Antigens on Human Tissues" - University of Melbourne.
MS, 1977, (Thesis): "HLA Antigens & Hodgkin's Disease" - University of Melbourne.
Diplomas:
Fellow, Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, (FRACS) 1974
Fellow, Royal College of Surgeons of England, (FRCS) 1977

CURRENT APPOINTMENTS
Professor of Surgical Oncology, University of Newcastle (1987-
Director, Department of Surgical Oncology, Calvary Mater Newcastle Hospital, Hunter New England Area Health Service. (1987-
Director of Research, Australian New Zealand Breast Cancer Trials Group (2008-
Medical Director, Breast Cancer Institute of AustraliaTM (1994-

Other Current Appointments
Deputy Chair, Scientific Advisory Committee, Australian New Zealand Breast Cancer Trials Group Ltd. (1984-
Member, Advisory Committee, Early Breast Cancer Trialists Collaborative Group, Oxford (EBCTCG), U.K. (1985-
Member, International Breast Cancer Study Group (IBCSG), Bern, Switzerland. (1978-
Member, Scientific Advisory Committee, International Breast Cancer Study Group (IBCSG), Bern, Switzerland. (1988-
Co-Chair, International Steering Committee , IBIS trial, UK. ( 1992- Chair, IBIS Trial, ANZ Breast Cancer Trials Group (1992 –
Deputy Chair, ATLAS Trial, ANZ Breast Cancer Trials Group(1995 - Member, Steering Committee, ATLAS Trial, Clinical Trials Service Unit, Oxford, UK (1995 -
Member, International Steering Committee for ATAC (Adjuvant Breast Cancer treatment Trial) (2001- 2002).
Member, ATAC International Steering Committee (2002 - (Deputy Chair 2005-2007; Chair 2007-2009)
Member of Council, Breast International Group (1999-
Patron, Hunter Breast Cancer Foundation, (1999 -
Member, ATAC Translational Research Committee, (2002-
Co-Chair (International) IBIS-2 (breast cancer prevention trials), (2002-
Member, BIG 1-98 International Steering Committee (2002 -
Member, Advisory Board of the Da Costa International Funds for Breast Cancer Prevention, (2003-
Member, NSW Oncology Group Breast Steering Committee (2006- Member, International Steering Committee, International Exemestane Study (IES),(2006-
Co-Chair, LATER Breast Cancer Prevention Trial (2008-

AWARDS AND DISTINCTIONS
Postgraduate Scholarship, The Cancer Institute, Melbourne, 1970-71.
Denis Glissan Memorial Prize, 1971.
Robert Fowler Travelling Fellowship, Anti-Cancer Council of Victoria, 1975-76.
Nuffield Foundation: Commonwealth Travelling Fellowship in Medicine (Australia) 1975-76.
John Mitchell Crouch Fellowship, Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, 1980.
Paul Harris Fellow, Rotary International, 1993.
Inaugural Medal, Australian New Zealand Breast Cancer Trials Group, 1998.
Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Community Business Partnerships, 2004 (First prize: longevity), ANZ Breast Cancer Trials Group.
Top 10 Global Researcher for Scientific Publications 2005-2006, Thomson Scientific - March 2007.
Hunter Medical Research Institute Award for Research Excellence - 2008. Newcastle Innovation Excellence in Research Award - 2009.

MEMBERSHIP OF SOCIETIES
Member, Surgical Research Society of Australia
Member, International Society for Surgeons
Member, Royal Society of Medicine
Member, American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)
Member, American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)
Member, Hunter Surgical Society
Member, Hunter Postgraduate Medical Foundation
Member, Hunter Medical Society

LECTURES, SEMINARS AND WORKSHOPS CHAIRED OR CONVENED
More than 200 lectures and seminars on breast disease, breast cancer and surgery have been given or workshops convened or chaired by invitation in Australia and internationally, since 1970. Many community lectures, and activities to support breast cancer research and education.

GROUPS ESTABLISHED
Australian New Zealand Breast Cancer Trials Group (ANZ BCTG) - 1978
Consumer Advisory Panel (CAP) for ANZ BCTG, (1998 –
Improving Participation & Advocacy for Clinical Trials Group (IMPACT), for ANZ BCTG, (2001-

PUBLISHED WORKS
Include 1 book, 10 book chapters, 1 thesis, (Master of Surgery) 1 dissertation, (Bachelor of Medical Science) and over 200 publications in peer reviewed scientific journals, exclusive of abstracts. These publications are on various aspects of breast cancer surgery, research and clinical trials.