Professor Peter Croucher receives the Sally Crossing AM Award 

The Sally Crossing AM Award for an Outstanding Outcome in Cancer Research (individual award) reflects the enduring legacy of Sally Crossing AM (1946-2016), a pioneer who championed consumer involvement in cancer research.  

Awarded by Cancer Council NSW and Cancer Voices NSW, this award is made possible by the extraordinary support of the Belalberi Foundation and the Crossing family.  

This year’s recipient, a former Cancer Council NSW grant recipient, Professor Peter Croucher, has significantly advanced our understanding of metastatic cancer, particularly in how cancer cells interact with bone tissue.  

Revolutionising cancer treatment 

Professor Peter Croucher, from the Garvan Institute of Medical Research, has dedicated his work to uncovering the mechanisms behind cancer dormancy, particularly in bone tissue.  

Most notably, Professor Croucher discovered that the bone-active drug zoledronic acid can prevent multiple myeloma cells from destroying bone.  

Multiple myeloma, an incurable blood cancer, affects approximately 1,800 Australians each year, with 80% of people diagnosed suffering from bone lesions.  

Professor Croucher’s groundbreaking research led to a large clinical trial that demonstrated zoledronic acid’s ability to not only halt bone destruction but also significantly improve survival rates.  

This discovery has had a major impact on the global standard of care for people diagnosed with myeloma, with zoledronic acid now listed on the World Health Organisation’s Essential Medicines List. 

Advancing treatment options 

Strengthening abilities of sclerostin 

Building on his earlier work, Professor Croucher and his team have continued to push the boundaries of cancer treatment by identifying a new molecule called sclerostin, which is found in the bone.  

By blocking sclerostin, they discovered that the skeleton could be strengthened, increasing resistance to fractures – a concern for multiple myeloma patients.  

This approach has shown promise in clinical trials and could offer an even more effective treatment option for those diagnosed.  

His research highlights the importance of not only treating the cancer itself, but also addressing the bone environment in which it thrives, leading to potentially improved patient outcomes. 

Dormancy of myeloma cells in the skeleton 

Additionally, Professor Croucher’s research extends beyond traditional cancer treatment by exploring the hidden, dormant states that cancer cells can enter within the bone.  

Using advanced imaging technologies, his team has uncovered how myeloma cells can “hide” in the skeleton, evading detection by the immune system. 

 They found that osteoclasts, the cells responsible for breaking down bone, can inadvertently “wake up” these dormant cancer cells, leading to relapse.  

This discovery has opened new opportunities for treatment, as the team has now identified the genes that control dormancy, revealing new therapies that could eradicate these hidden cells before they can cause harm.  

Continuing Sally Crossing’s legacy 

As a founding member of Cancer Voices NSW, Sally Crossing led the organisation for 13 years.  

She advocated strongly and continuously for training in consumer advocacy and for the inclusion of meaningful consumer involvement in research. 

The Sally Crossing AM Award reflects the character of its namesake, who dedicated her life to making sure that the voices of cancer patients were heard in research efforts.  

The $100,000 grant will support Professor Croucher and his team in developing ways to detect rare dormant cancer cells in patient samples and testing new treatments that can eliminate these cells before reactivation occurs. 

Consumers and patient support organisations, including Myeloma Australia, the Leukaemia Foundation, Cancer Voices, and the Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research (in the UK), actively contributed to Professor Croucher’s research program. 

Their involvement was vital for success, particularly in areas such as ensuring accessibility, research design, and translation.