Home News & Updates Breast cancer clinical trial expands to the Gold Coast

Breast cancer clinical trial expands to the Gold Coast

Icon Cancer Foundation / 19 Oct, 2026

This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we’re proud to announce the Icon Cancer Foundation-funded breast cancer clinical trial PUMA has been expanded to Icon Cancer Centre Gold Coast University Hospital.

Now available at six Icon Cancer Centre sites across Australia, PUMA’s continued expansion has been made possible thanks to Icon Cancer Foundation’s generous donors.

Leading the study as Principal Investigator at Icon Cancer Centre Gold Coast University Hospital (ICC GCUH) is radiation oncologist Dr Sarah Leeson, who has been closely involved in bringing the trial to patients in the Gold Coast and surrounding regions.

“This has been in the works for some time. Icon Cancer Centre has a national network of radiation oncologists, and a medical colleague in Sydney had discussed PUMA with me,” said Dr Leeson.

“I knew the Icon Cancer Centre team at the Gold Coast would be keen to be involved, so I reached out to the Research team and it all went from there.”

About PUMA

The PUMA clinical trial compares two internationally recognised radiation doses used in partial breast irradiation for early-stage breast cancer. By assessing both patient-reported quality-of-life measures and treatment outcomes, the study aims to generate evidence that may help inform future standards of care.

Learn more about the PUMA trial

Clinician-led research, focused on patient-centred care

For Dr Leeson, the study reflects the importance of continuing to build evidence that can help enhance patient experiences and improve treatment outcomes.

“Patients with breast cancer can live for many decades after diagnosis, so managing long-term quality of life alongside cure is always foremost in our minds,” said Dr Leeson.

“It’s important that we support innovative and potentially practice-changing research in order to deliver the best possible care for our breast cancer patients,” she said.

The study was originally designed by Icon Cancer Centre radiation oncologist Professor John Boyages AM. Dr Leeson values the opportunity to contribute to research designed and led by clinicians who work directly with patients.

“Clinicians are the on-the-ground research minds at the forefront of what is most important to patients and what treatments are clinically needed,” Dr Leeson said.

“Investigator-initiated trials will often get to the heart of a clinically meaningful research question.”

The advantage of an Australian network

PUMA’s continued expansion demonstrates one of Icon Cancer Foundation’s greatest strengths: the ability to deliver research across Icon Cancer Centre’s Australian network.

Every new site strengthens a study, enabling more patients to access a clinical trial closer to home and helping researchers collect data from a larger and more diverse patient population.

By supporting research across Australia, Icon Cancer Foundation can help clinician-led studies reach more communities, generate stronger evidence and accelerate research that has the potential to shape future cancer care.

With the support of donors, we can continue to expand access to research and invest in the clinical trials that matter most to patients and clinicians.

Disclaimer: The statements and opinions presented in these articles are those of the individuals featured and may not represent the experiences of others. They do not constitute endorsements or necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Icon Cancer Foundation (ICF), Icon Cancer Centres, or their affiliates. This information is general and does not replace medical advice. ICF is not responsible for any loss or damage resulting from the use of this information and does not guarantee its completeness, accuracy, or reliability.

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