About Us

‘Alcohol abstinence in drinkers with atrial fibrillation’ New England Journal of Medicine (2020) 382:20-28

Prof Kistler was principal investigator and senior author on the paper, the first randomised study to determine the impact of alcohol abstinence on atrial fibrillation (AF). Cabrini was one of the largest sites for patient recruitment and integral to the success of the investigator initiated non-funded multicentre randomised controlled trial. Prof Kistler was awarded the RT Hall Prize in 2020 (outstanding cardiac researcher from Cardiac Society Australasia) in part as recognition of this publication.

The study significantly strengthened the role of lifestyle interventions, which are now referred to as the fourth pillar in AF management. Population studies have long demonstrated an association between alcohol and AF but alcohol counselling was not routinely performed. As a result of this study, alcohol reduction is now included in the American Heart Association lifestyle guidelines in management of AF. The NEJM publication was the culmination of research exploring the relationship between alcohol and AF, which has attracted worldwide media attention including the front page of The Age and featured on Channel 7 and 10 National News.

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‘The molecular origin and taxonomy of mucinous ovarian carcinoma’ Nature Communications (2019) 10(1):3935

The study tackled an important question about the origin of a rare and unique subtype of ovarian cancer, mucinous ovarian carcinoma (MOC). The origin of MOC has long been controversial, including whether it genuinely arises within the ovary or is a metastatic cancer from another organ. The tumour has long been recognised as having different associated risk factors and poorer responses to traditional therapies used for advanced ovarian cancer.

A/Prof Antill explained that ovarian cancer was comprised of several different histological types, but the MOC subtype was the odd one out. “So much so that the scientific community was divided as to whether this cancer could ever be a primary ovarian tumour and not a metastasis from another organ,” A/Prof Antill said.

“Our research findings were able to resolve this debate and will have a huge impact on how we treat patients.”

Due to the rarity of MOC, the study team needed to take an international approach to amass enough MOC tumours to provide definitive evidence. More than 500 tumour samples from four countries (Australia, UK, USA and Canada) were reviewed clinically and pathologically to collect a study sample of 255 confirmed primary MOC samples. To generate the highest quality data, whole genome, exome, and targeted sequencing were performed to allow integration of mutation, copy number, gene expression, clinical and histo-pathological data, and unique patient data over space and time. The extensive data collection enabled the research team to establish that MOC represents a cancer that has progressive molecular evolution with shared abnormalities from the earliest precancerous lesions to advanced high grade tumours together with accumulated mutations, genomic instability as the tumour moves from precancerous to benign, low grade and finally high grade status. While the cell of origin has not yet been established, it is highly likely the tumour develops at the ovary and is not metastases from other sites. The study also identified a novel amplicon driving invasive disease, representative of the role of copy number complexity in patient outcomes. This is the first time that molecular genetic features of MOC have been associated with disease survival. Their findings will impact MOC treatment guidelines and patient outcomes worldwide.

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