
Overview
Background
Dr Brett Hughes graduated from the University of NSW with a Bachelor of Medical Science and Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery in 1997. He completed his postgraduate training in Canberra and Brisbane and was admitted as a Fellow of the Australian College of Physicians as a Specialist Medical Oncologist in 2005.
Dr Hughes is currently a Senior Staff Specialist Medical Oncologist at the RBWH and TPCH. He is also an Associate Professor at the University of Queensland since 2015. As the previous Clinical Director of Oncology (201-2017) and current Cancer Care Services Research lead at TPCH, Dr Hughes has established both an independent TPCH Oncology unit and continuing TPCH’s reputation as a lung cancer research centre of excellence.
Dr Hughes is an active senior member of the Thoracic Oncology Group Australasia (TOGA) and the Trans Tasman Radiation Oncology Group (TROG). He is also heavily involved in many pivotal multicentre trials of cancer therapy at both TPCH and RBWH with his principal research interests in Lung cancer, Head & Neck cancer, Mesothelioma, cutaneous SCC and Thyroid cancer. He has published over 100 peer review papers. Dr Hughes is also involved in undergraduate and post graduate teaching in his fields of research interest.
Availability
- Associate Professor Brett Hughes is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Works
Search Professor Brett Hughes’s works on UQ eSpace
2025
Journal Article
Pembrolizumab with or without chemotherapy in recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: 5-year follow-up from the randomized phase III KEYNOTE-048 study
Tahara, Makoto, Greil, Richard, Rischin, Danny, Harrington, Kevin J., Burtness, Barbara, de Castro, Gilberto, Psyrri, Amanda, Braña, Irene, Neupane, Prakash, Bratland, Åse, Fuereder, Thorsten, Hughes, Brett G.M., Mesía, Ricard, Ngamphaiboon, Nuttapong, Rordorf, Tamara, Ishak, Wan Zamaniah Wan, Lin, Jianxin, Gumuscu, Burak, Lerman, Nati and Soulières, Denis (2025). Pembrolizumab with or without chemotherapy in recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: 5-year follow-up from the randomized phase III KEYNOTE-048 study. European Journal of Cancer, 221 115395, 115395. doi: 10.1016/j.ejca.2025.115395
2025
Journal Article
ASO Visual Abstract: Survival Following Orbital Exenteration for Primary Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma, a Retrospective Cohort Study
Murray-Douglass, Alexander, Crawford, Lachlan, Hunt, Justin, Dunn, Darryl, Hughes, Brett G. M., Lin, Charles and Fox, Carly (2025). ASO Visual Abstract: Survival Following Orbital Exenteration for Primary Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma, a Retrospective Cohort Study. Annals of Surgical Oncology, 32 (5), 3485-3486. doi: 10.1245/s10434-025-16995-6
2025
Journal Article
Spatial interaction mapping of PD-1/PD-L1 in head and neck cancer reveals the role of macrophage-tumour barriers associated with immunotherapy response
Naei, Vahid Yaghoubi, Tubelleza, Rafael, Monkman, James, Sadeghirad, Habib, Donovan, Meg L., Blick, Tony, Wicher, Agata, Bodbin, Sara, Viratham, Amelie, Stad, Robert, Basu, Subham, Cooper, Caroline, Barnett, Catherine, O’Byrne, Ken, Ladwa, Rahul, Warkiani, Majid Ebrahimi, Hughes, Brett G. M. and Kulasinghe, Arutha (2025). Spatial interaction mapping of PD-1/PD-L1 in head and neck cancer reveals the role of macrophage-tumour barriers associated with immunotherapy response. Journal of Translational Medicine, 23 (1) 177. doi: 10.1186/s12967-025-06186-y
2025
Journal Article
Durvalumab, Tremelimumab, and Platinum Chemotherapy in EGFR Mutation–Positive NSCLC: An Open-Label Phase 2 Trial (ILLUMINATE)
Lee, Chee Khoon, Liao, Bin-Chi, Subramaniam, Shalini, Chiu, Chao-Hua, Mersiades, Antony J., Ho, Chao-Chi, Brown, Chris, Lai, Chun-Liang, Hughes, Brett G.M., Yang, Tsung-Ying, O'Byrne, Ken, Luo, Yung-Hung, Yip, Sonia, Ho, Ching-Liang, Bray, Victoria, Su, Wu-Chou, Moore, Melissa, Feng, Wei-Lien, Bai, Ya-Ying, Ford, Kate, Cummins, Michelle M., Stockler, Martin R., Solomon, Benjamin J., John, Thomas and Chih-Hsin Yang, James (2025). Durvalumab, Tremelimumab, and Platinum Chemotherapy in EGFR Mutation–Positive NSCLC: An Open-Label Phase 2 Trial (ILLUMINATE). JTO Clinical and Research Reports, 6 (2) 100771, 100771-2. doi: 10.1016/j.jtocrr.2024.100771
2025
Journal Article
Coupling of response biomarkers between tumor and peripheral blood in patients undergoing chemoimmunotherapy
Chin, Wee Loong, Cook, Alistair M., Chee, Jonathan, Principe, Nicola, Hoang, Tracy S., Kidman, Joel, Hmon, Khaing P.W., Yeow, Yen, Jones, Matthew E., Hou, Rui, Denisenko, Elena, McDonnell, Alison M., Hon, Chung-Chau, Moody, Jonathan, Anderson, Denise, Yip, Sonia, Cummins, Michelle M., Stockler, Martin R., Kok, Peey-Sei, Brown, Chris, John, Thomas, Kao, Steven C.-H., Karikios, Deme J., O'Byrne, Kenneth J., Hughes, Brett G.M., Lake, Richard A., Forrest, Alistair R.R., Nowak, Anna K., Lassmann, Timo and Lesterhuis, W. Joost (2025). Coupling of response biomarkers between tumor and peripheral blood in patients undergoing chemoimmunotherapy. Cell Reports Medicine, 6 (1) 101882, 101882. doi: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2024.101882
2025
Journal Article
Survival After Orbital Exenteration for Primary Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Murray-Douglass, Alexander, Crawford, Lachlan, Hunt, Justin, Dunn, Darryl, Hughes, Brett G. M., Lin, Charles and Fox, Carly (2025). Survival After Orbital Exenteration for Primary Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Retrospective Cohort Study. Annals of Surgical Oncology, 32 (4) i3, 1-7. doi: 10.1245/s10434-024-16854-w
2025
Journal Article
A phase 2 open-label study of cemiplimab in patients with advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (EMPOWER-CSCC-1): Final long-term analysis of Groups 1, 2, and 3, and primary analysis of fixed-dose treatment Group 6
Hughes, Brett G.M., Guminski, Alexander, Bowyer, Samantha, Migden, Michael R., Schmults, Chrysalyne D., Khushalani, Nikhil I., Chang, Anne Lynn S., Grob, Jean-Jacques, Lewis, Karl D., Ansstas, George, Day, Fiona, Ladwa, Rahul, Stein, Brian N., Muñoz Couselo, Eva, Meier, Friedegund, Hauschild, Axel, Schadendorf, Dirk, Basset-Seguin, Nicole, Modi, Badri, Dalac-Rat, Sophie, Dunn, Lara A., Flatz, Lukas, Mortier, Laurent, Guégan, Sarah, Heinzerling, Lucie M., Mehnert, Janice M., Trabelsi, Sabiha, Soria-Rivas, Ainara, Stratigos, Alexander J. ... Rischin, Danny (2025). A phase 2 open-label study of cemiplimab in patients with advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (EMPOWER-CSCC-1): Final long-term analysis of Groups 1, 2, and 3, and primary analysis of fixed-dose treatment Group 6. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 92 (1), 68-77. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2024.06.108
2025
Journal Article
Type I interferon drives a cellular state inert to TCR-stimulation and could impede effective T-cell differentiation in cancer
Corvino, Dillon, Batstone, Martin, Hughes, Brett G. M., Kempchen, Tim, Ng, Susanna S, Salim, Nazhifah, Schneppenheim, Franziska, Rommel, Denise, Kumar, Ananthi, Pearson, Sally, Madore, Jason, Koufariotis, Lambross T., Steinheuer, Lisa Maria, Pathirana, Dilan, Thurley, Kevin, Hölzel, Michael, Borcherding, Nicholas, Braun, Matthias and Bald, Tobias (2025). Type I interferon drives a cellular state inert to TCR-stimulation and could impede effective T-cell differentiation in cancer. European Journal of Immunology, 55 (1) e202451371, 1-13. doi: 10.1002/eji.202451371
2024
Journal Article
Real‐world outcomes for patients with pleural mesothelioma: a multisite retrospective cohort study
Chow, Kar Ven Cavan, Turner, Cassie, Hughes, Brett, Lwin, Zarnie and Chan, Bryan (2024). Real‐world outcomes for patients with pleural mesothelioma: a multisite retrospective cohort study. Asia-Pacific Journal of Clinical Oncology, 20 (6), 723-730. doi: 10.1111/ajco.14098
2024
Journal Article
Circulating tumour cells predict recurrences and survival in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients
Zhang, Xi, Weeramange, Chameera Ekanayake, Hughes, Brett G. M., Vasani, Sarju, Liu, Zhen Yu, Warkiani, Majid, Hartel, Gunter, Ladwa, Rahul, Thiery, Jean Paul, Kenny, Liz, Breik, Omar and Punyadeera, Chamindie (2024). Circulating tumour cells predict recurrences and survival in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients. Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences, 81 (1) 233, 1-14. doi: 10.1007/s00018-024-05269-1
2024
Journal Article
Revalidation of Proactive Gastrostomy Tube Placement Guidelines for Head and Neck Cancer Patients Receiving Helical Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy
Brown, Teresa E., Byrnes, Angela, Chan, Aaron C., Dwyer, Kathleen, Edwards, Anna, Blake, Claire L., Banks, Merrilyn D., Hughes, Brett G. M., Lin, Charles Y., Kenny, Lizbeth M., Spurgin, Ann-Louise and Bauer, Judith D. (2024). Revalidation of Proactive Gastrostomy Tube Placement Guidelines for Head and Neck Cancer Patients Receiving Helical Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy. Current Oncology, 31 (11), 6938-6955. doi: 10.3390/curroncol31110512
2024
Journal Article
Impact of Bone Metastasis in Stage IV Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer Treated With Durvalumab and Tremelimumab With or Without Chemotherapy: A Retrospective Analysis of the CCTG BR.34 Trial
Annageldiyev, Charyguly, Gaudreau, Pierre-Olivier, Leitzel, Kim, Ali, Suhail M., Ding, Keyue, Leighl, Natasha B., Vera Badillo, Francisco Emilio, Bradbury, Penelope Ann, Goss, Glenwood D., Shepherd, Lois E., Costa, Luis, Suva, Larry J., Hughes, Brett G.M., Stockler, Martin R., Drabick, Joseph J., Ma, Patrick C., Joshi, Monika, Moku, Prashanth, Polimera, Hyma V., Louis, Patricia, Ramachandrula, Priya and Lipton, Allan (2024). Impact of Bone Metastasis in Stage IV Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer Treated With Durvalumab and Tremelimumab With or Without Chemotherapy: A Retrospective Analysis of the CCTG BR.34 Trial. JCO Oncology Advances (1). doi: 10.1200/oa.24.00017
2024
Journal Article
Spatial dynamics of tertiary lymphoid aggregates in head and neck cancer: insights into immunotherapy response
Sadeghirad, Habib, Monkman, James, Tan, Chin Wee, Liu, Ning, Yunis, Joseph, Donovan, Meg L., Moradi, Afshin, Jhaveri, Niyati, Perry, Chris, Adams, Mark N., O’Byrne, Ken, Warkiani, Majid E., Ladwa, Rahul, Hughes, Brett G.M. and Kulasinghe, Arutha (2024). Spatial dynamics of tertiary lymphoid aggregates in head and neck cancer: insights into immunotherapy response. Journal of Translational Medicine, 22 (1) 677. doi: 10.1186/s12967-024-05409-y
2024
Journal Article
A phase Ib study to assess the safety of the human papillomavirus DNA vaccine (AMV002) in combination with durvalumab for HPV-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma
Ladwa, Rahul, Chandra, Janin, Woo, Wai-Ping, Finlayson, Neil, Liu, Howard, McGrath, Margaret, See, Adrienne, Hughes, Brett G., Cooper, Caroline L., Jackson, Jim E., Dzienis, Marcin, Xu, Yan, Panizza, Benedict, Frazer, Ian and Porceddu, Sandro V. (2024). A phase Ib study to assess the safety of the human papillomavirus DNA vaccine (AMV002) in combination with durvalumab for HPV-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Frontiers in Oncology, 14 1419258, 1-8. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1419258
2024
Journal Article
Pembrolizumab plus epacadostat in patients with recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (KEYNOTE-669/ECHO-304): a phase 3, randomized, open-label study
Cho, Byoung Chul, Braña, Irene, Cirauqui, Beatriz, Aksoy, Sercan, Couture, Felix, Hong, Ruey-Long, Miller, Wilson H., Chaves-Conde, Manuel, Teixeira, Margarida, Leopold, Lance, Munteanu, Mihaela, Ge, Joy Yang, Swaby, Ramona F. and Hughes, Brett G. M. (2024). Pembrolizumab plus epacadostat in patients with recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (KEYNOTE-669/ECHO-304): a phase 3, randomized, open-label study. BMC Cancer, 23 (Suppl 1) 1254, 1-12. doi: 10.1186/s12885-023-11316-0
2024
Conference Publication
A phase 2 study of de-escalation in resectable, locally advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) with the use of neoadjuvant pembrolizumab: De-Squamate
Ladwa, Rahul, Lee, Jenny H.J., Porceddu, Sandro V., McGrath, Margaret Louise, Cooper, Caroline, Liu, Howard, Gupta, Ruta, Cuscaden, Claire, Nottage, Michelle K., Clark, Jonathan, Le, Dieu, Pauley, Marketa, Gonzalez-Cruz, Jazmina, Frazer, Ian, Hughes, Brett Gordon Maxwell and Panizza, Benedict J. (2024). A phase 2 study of de-escalation in resectable, locally advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) with the use of neoadjuvant pembrolizumab: De-Squamate. 2024 ASCO Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL United States, 31 May - 4 June 2024. Alexandria, VA United States: American Society of Clinical Oncology. doi: 10.1200/jco.2024.42.16_suppl.9514
2024
Journal Article
Capmatinib plus nivolumab in pretreated patients with EGFR wild-type advanced non–small cell lung cancer
Felip, Enriqueta, Metro, Giulio, Tan, Daniel S.W., Wolf, Juergen, Mark, Michael, Boyer, Michael, Hughes, Brett G. M., Bearz, Alessandra, Moro-Sibilot, Denis, Le, Xiuning, Puente, Javier, Massuti, Bartomeu, Tiedt, Ralph, Wang, Yingying, Xu, Chao, Mardjuadi, Feby I. and Cobo, Manuel (2024). Capmatinib plus nivolumab in pretreated patients with EGFR wild-type advanced non–small cell lung cancer. Lung Cancer, 192 107820. doi: 10.1016/j.lungcan.2024.107820
2024
Journal Article
Pembrolizumab plus concurrent chemoradiotherapy versus placebo plus concurrent chemoradiotherapy in patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (KEYNOTE-412): a randomised, double-blind, phase 3 trial
Machiels, Jean-Pascal, Tao, Yungan, Licitra, Lisa, Burtness, Barbara, Tahara, Makoto, Rischin, Danny, Alves, Gustavo, Lima, Iane Pinto Figueiredo, Hughes, Brett G M, Pointreau, Yoann, Aksoy, Sercan, Laban, Simon, Greil, Richard, Burian, Martin, Hetnał, Marcin, Delord, Jean-Pierre, Mesía, Ricard, Taberna, Miren, Waldron, John N, Simon, Christian, Grégoire, Vincent, Harrington, Kevin J, Swaby, Ramona F, Zhang, Yayan, Gumuscu, Burak, Bidadi, Behzad, Siu, Lillian L, Hughes, Brett GM, Gao, Bo ... Obara, Grzegorz S (2024). Pembrolizumab plus concurrent chemoradiotherapy versus placebo plus concurrent chemoradiotherapy in patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (KEYNOTE-412): a randomised, double-blind, phase 3 trial. The Lancet Oncology, 25 (5), 572-587. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(24)00100-1
2024
Journal Article
Human papillomavirus associated oropharyngeal cancer now the most common mucosal head and neck cancer in Queensland
Porceddu, Sandro, Negrello, Theresa, Rawson, Neal, Dunn, Nathan, Batstone, Martin, Collins, Michael, Dowthwaite, Sam, Hughes, Brett G. M., Kenny, Liz, Ladwa, Rahul, Panizza, Ben and Cossio, Danica (2024). Human papillomavirus associated oropharyngeal cancer now the most common mucosal head and neck cancer in Queensland. Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Oncology, 68 (4), 472-480. doi: 10.1111/1754-9485.13643
2024
Conference Publication
Defining PD-1/PD-L1 receptor-ligand interactions in the head and neck cancer tumor microenvironment identifies unique ‘immune cell rivers’ of cellular interactions
Sadeghirad, Habib, Naei, Vahid Yaghoubi, Monkman, James, Basu, Subham, Wicher, Agata, Ladwa, Rahul, Hughes, Brett G.M. and Kulasinghe, Arutha (2024). Defining PD-1/PD-L1 receptor-ligand interactions in the head and neck cancer tumor microenvironment identifies unique ‘immune cell rivers’ of cellular interactions. American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024, San Diego, CA United States, 5-10 April 2024. Philadelphia, PA United States: American Association for Cancer Research. doi: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2024-5188
Supervision
Availability
- Associate Professor Brett Hughes is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
The changing face of head and neck cancer: addressing and advancing best-practice nutritional care to improve outcomes for patients with human papillomavirus-associated disease
Associate Advisor
-
Doctor Philosophy
Developing predictive biomarkers for immunotherapy using deep spatial profiling
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Arutha Kulasinghe
Completed supervision
-
2025
Doctor Philosophy
The investigation of the tumour microenvironment in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma to identify predictive biomarkers of response to immunotherapy
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Quan Nguyen, Associate Professor Arutha Kulasinghe
Media
Enquiries
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