Australian Rare Cancer Portal

06/10/2026

The ARC Portal brings together a trusted national and international network of rare cancer expertise into one accessible gateway for clinicians across Australia. Instead of relying only on local contacts or fragmented sources of information, clinicians can use the ARC Portal to quickly connect to the right expertise when a case moves beyond familiar territory.

The service is designed to be practical and useful in real clinical settings. And best of all, it’s free, and easy to use.

More on how to access: https://www.arcportal.org.au/how-to-access-arc-portal

Summary of the ARC Portal access process for clinicians

02/10/2026

🎉 Congratulations to Dr Betty Zhang, Senior Research Fellow with the ARC Portal, who won 🏆 Best Poster Presentation at the 🗓️ 2026 Medical Oncology Group of Australia (MOGA) Annual Scientific Meeting, held 5–7 August at 📍RACV Royal Pines on the Gold Coast.

Dr Zhang's winning poster, Navigating compassionate access to PARP inhibitor therapy (PARPi) for rare cancers with homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) alterations: the ARC Portal experience, set out a structured model for supporting access to biomarker-linked therapies beyond current PBS-reimbursed indications.

Congratulations again to Dr Zhang on this recognition, and to the broader ARC Portal team whose work behind the scenes, from genomic interpretation to case coordination, made it possible.

02/10/2026

Leading the ARC Portal team are our Principal Investigator Professor Clare Scott and Co-Lead Investigators Professor David Goldstein and Dr Damien Kee. They bring extensive clinical and research expertise to their leadership, along with their passion to improve outcomes for Australian rare cancer patients.

https://www.arcportal.org.au/introducing-the-arc-portal-team

24/09/2026

📣 Congratulations to A/Prof Bryan Chan, Prof Clare Scott, and Dr Cassie Turner on their new publication examining 42 years of Queensland data on sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma (SNUC), one of the rarest and most aggressive head and neck cancers.

The study highlights how collaborative data collection and research can improve our understanding of rare cancers and help build evidence for better patient care.

📖 Read the article: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esmorc.2026.100539

23/09/2026

From 1 March 2026, Australia introduced a world first multi indication PBS listing for nivolumab and ipilimumab, enabling subsidised treatment across all immunotherapy sensitive advanced or metastatic cancers, regardless of tumour type. This includes many rare cancers that previously had no PBS-funded immunotherapy options.

However, expanded PBS access does not mean all rare cancers will benefit equally. The ARC Portal is available to support clinicians in these situations, ensuring rational, evidence-based use of these medications.

Read more: https://www.arcportal.org.au/new-pbs-listing-for-immunotherapy-access

21/09/2026

📅 Mark your calendars!

From clinical symposiums to advocacy forums and scientific meetings, there's a lot happening over the coming months for the rare cancer community, clinicians and researchers alike.

Head to the ARC Portal for the full list of dates, events and registration links. https://www.arcportal.org.au/conferences-and-meetings-2026

ARC Portal’s listing of upcoming conferences and meetings relating to rare cancers

16/09/2026

Our website just got a refresh, making it easier for oncologists to see how our free, national service connects clinicians to rare cancer expertise across Australia.

Sign up to our newsletter to stay updated: https://www.arcportal.org.au/newsletter-subscribe

Know an oncologist who hasn't heard of us? Share this with them!

15/09/2026

ARC Portal's Dr Betty Zhang attended CanForum26 at Parliament House last week. Thank you to Rare Cancers Australia for bringing together patients, clinicians, advocates and policymakers to tackle rare cancers together.

14/09/2026

With the establishment of the Health Translation Queensland as an NHMRC Advanced Health research and translation centre, the 13th Annual Brisbane Cancer Conference is an opportunity to draw together cancer researchers in Brisbane and Queensland to advance collaborative efforts in cancer treatment and research.

The Brisbane Cancer Conference comprises plenary lectures and workshops on recent scientific, technological, nursing and medical advances in the diagnosis and treatment of malignant disease.

Reinforcing and establishing new relationships between researchers in Brisbane and Queensland, the Conference is an important annual event on the Queensland conference calendar.

The symposium Gala Dinner will be held on Thursday evening offering the opportunity to socialise with colleagues, patient advocates and consumers from other institutions, the City and Queensland.

* Members of the ARC Portal team will be attending the conference and welcome any questions about how the ARC Portal can assist Queensland clinicians who have rare cancer patients. *

Dates: Thursday, 26th November to Friday, 27th November 2026
Venue: Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre
Register: https://www.brisbanecancer.org.au/

11/09/2026

The Australian Rare Cancer (ARC) Portal was established to help clinicians with rare cancer patients access the specialised, expert support they need, anywhere in Australia, at no cost.

It’s a conversation that is ongoing and one we want to highlight, so we’re pleased to share that ARC Portal’s Senior Research Fellow, Dr Chloe Georgiou, is chairing the online forum “Connecting care: Rare cancers and regional Australia” on 22 October, 2026.

This event will explore the issues faced by rare cancer patients and their clinicians. Drawing on findings from Rare Cancers Australia's Lived Experience Survey, this forum explores disparities in access, highlights the role of consumer-led advocacy in driving change, and showcases practical solutions including telehealth supportive care, the Australian Rare Cancer (ARC) Portal, and partnerships with local health professionals and communities.

Topics covered will include:
• Presentation of Rare Cancers Australia Lived Experience survey results
• Rare Cancers Australia, Specialist Cancer Navigator as an example of consumer-led change
• Access to the ARC Portal, RCA Knowledgebase and Medicines Access Portal
• Telehealth supportive care models
• Delays to diagnosis and referral to supportive care
• Working with community

Details:

Date: Thursday 22 October, 2026
Time: 12.30–2.00PM AEST
Venue: Online
Register:

Regional and rural Australians living with a rare or less common cancer face unique barriers to diagnosis, treatment and supportive care. Drawing on findings from Rare Cancers Australia's Lived Experience Survey, this forum explores disparities in access, highlights the role of consumer-led advocacy...