Professor Nick Pavlakis
Rethinking Cancer Treatment Professor Nick Pavlakis, a medical oncologist, is reshaping how clinicians understand and treat cancer. His work goes far beyond traditional chemotherapy, focusing on targeted therapies, immunotherapy, and the tumour microenvironment. “Chemo probably should be more broadly called medical therapy now,” he said. “We’re not just attacking cancer cells— we’re looking at how the tumour interacts with the body and how we can harness the immune system to improve outcomes.” A major focus of his research is angiogenesis, the process by which tumours create their own blood supply. “While blocking blood vessels alone isn’t sufficient to kill cancer, if you combine it with immune therapy, you can enhance the immune response,” he said. By understanding how tumours manipulate their surroundings, Nick’s work aims to improve treatment strategies for lung, gastrointestinal, and neuroendocrine cancers. Nick is also pioneering circulating tumour DNA technology, a “liquid biopsy” that detects traces of cancer in the blood, allowing therapies to be personalised more precisely. “We’ve received a $15 million grant to run a
national program using this technology in specific lung cancers,” he said. “This could revolutionise how we monitor and adjust treatment, making advanced care more widely accessible.” Beyond the laboratory, Nick emphasises the importance of holistic care. “Maintaining fitness and nutrition can improve resilience and quality of life during treatment,” he said. “Cancer care isn’t just about the drugs—it’s about supporting the whole person.” Nick recently shared these insights on NSLHD’s Tomorrow’s Medicine Today podcast with hosts Professor James Elliott and Associate Professor Matthew Doane, highlighting how research and personalised care are reshaping lung cancer treatment. “Genomic testing helps doctors choose treatments that are more targeted, more effective, and better tolerated. Instead of one-size-fits-all therapy, care is becoming smarter, more precise, and more hopeful,” he said. “We want people to live longer, healthier lives, and to feel supported every step of the way.” Listen to the full episode via the NSLHD website: https://bit.ly/49Go1VN or on Spotify: https://bit.ly/3LLq9U6
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8 NSLHDNEWS | ISSUE 2| 13 FEBRUARY 2026
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