About
Dr Frentzas leads the Early Phase Clinical Trials Unit at the Clinical Trials Centre (CTC) of the Monash Health Translational Precinct (MHTP), and also focuses on treating Gynaecological and Gastrointestinal malignancies. She has undertaken specialty training and research fellowships in the drug development unit and translational research at the Royal Marsden Hospital and Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) in London. She has completed a laboratory PhD (ICR, London), focusing on delineating mechanisms of resistance to anti-angiogenic therapy in colorectal cancers. Her main research interests are focused on novel and personal approaches for the treatment of solid tumours, particularly in targeting aberrant pathways for angiogenesis, immuno-oncology, and on the investigation of strategies to overcome resistance to conventionally employed therapeutic agents. In particular, she has an interest in clinical, tissue, and imaging biomarker correlates of systemic therapy, sensitivity and resistance, as evidenced by her published translational work in advanced colorectal cancer. Her research has been published in a number of peer-reviewed, high impact factor journals, and abstracts, and she has also published in book chapters. She has also had the opportunity to present her work at several national and international conferences. As an internationally trained medical oncologist/clinical trialist, she integrates her skills, knowledge and culture with those newly obtained in Australia, her new home. Dr Frentzas wishes to pursue a national and international leadership pathway in cancer care provision, and in translational oncology. She wishes to foster collaborations through ASCO-ASIA and nationally spanning trials, mentorship, translational research, education, and industry and has a vision of transforming its future by facilitating the development and ratification of world-class research and enhancing infrastructure to improve delivery of oncology care.
Other Appointments
- Member, Steering Group, Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre (VCCC) Program to accelerate novel therapies, Victoria, Australia (February 2021-current)
- Member of the ANZGOG Ovarian Tumour Type Working Group, and EDEN Endometrial Cancer Working Group (2020-current)
- Member, Steering Group, Monash Partners Comprehensive Cancer Consortium (MPCCC) for Precision Oncology, Victoria, Australia (October 2020-current)
- Member, Monash Trials Strategy and Governance, Monash Health, Victoria, Australia (October 2020-current)
- Panel Member, Monash Human Research Ethics Committee, Monash Health, Victoria, Australia (August 2020-current)
- Chair, Northern Territory Clinical Trials, Darwin (2016-2018)
Key Accomplishments
- Chief Investigator and Associate Investigator for several successful grants attracting external research funding (in collaboration with Hudson Medical Research Institute, Monash Health, and AGITG)
- 2021-2025: AI. NHMRC Ideas Grant. Application ID: 2004500. The Role of Interferon Epsilon in Ovarian Cancer. $1,108015
- 2020-2024: AI. MRFF International Clinical Trial. APP1191909. POLEM Trial. Avelumab plus fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy as adjuvant treatment for stage III dMMR or POLE exonuclease domain mutant colon cancer: a Phase III randomized study. $ 981, 3131
- 2020-2022: CI-F. ASCOLT: Aspirin for Dukes C and High-Risk Dukes B Colorectal Cancers. An International, Multi-centre, Double Blind, Randomised Trial. $ 465,587
- Co-author and author, ‘Clinical Applications of Targeting Gastric Neoplasms’, ‘Molecular Understanding of Colorectal Cancer’ and ‘Understanding the Tumour Microenvironment’, IntechOpen Books (2018-2021)
- Co-editor, ‘Gynaecological Malignancies, Updates and Advances’, IntechOpen Books (2020)
- Supervisor & co-supervisor – Royal Australasian College of Physicians (Advanced Medical Oncology Trainees), Honours, PhD students, Monash University (2019-2021)
- Active member, cancer societies and trials groups (e.g ESMO, ASCO, AACR, MOGA, AGITG, ANZGOG), 2010-2021
- Journal of Pathology Jeremy Jass Prize for Research Excellence in Pathology, UK (November 2018)
Education / Honors
- Fellow, Royal Australasian College of Physicians, FRACP, Australia (September 2017)
- Certificate of Specialist Training, Medical Oncology, Royal College of Physicians, London, United Kingdom (CCST, MRCP – Med Onc) (March 2009-January 2016)
- Postgraduate Diploma, Oncology, The Institute of Cancer Research, University of London, London, United Kingdom (October 2015)
- Specialty Certificate Examination (SCE), MRCP (UK) Medical Oncology, Royal College of Physicians. Passed (September 2015)
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), The Institute of Cancer Research, University of London, London, United Kingdom (Sept 2011-June 2015)
- Clinical Trials fellow, Early Phase Oncology & Haemato-Oncology (January 2007-March-2009)
- Postgraduate training, Internal Medicine; Member Royal College of Physicians (MRCP) Royal College of Physicians, London (September 2002-November 2006)
- Medical degree, Bachelor of Medicine & Surgery (MBBS), Imperial College School of Medicine, University of London, United Kingdom (July 2002)
- Bachelor of Science (B.Sc), 1st class (Hons) – Histopathology with Basic Medical Sciences, Imperial College / Charing Cross Hospital, London, United Kingdom (June 2000)
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