Associate Professor Brett Hughes
Associate Professor

Brett Hughes

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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

Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Oncology and carcinogenesis

Search Professor Brett Hughes’s works on UQ eSpace

194 works between 2004 and 2025
All (194) Journal Article (147) Conference Publication (47)

1 - 20 of 194 works

2025

Journal Article

The development of a high-plex spatial proteomic methodology for the characterisation of the head and neck tumour microenvironment

Tan, Chin Wee, Berrell, Naomi, Donovan, Meg L., Monkman, James, Lawler, Clara, Sadeghirad, Habib, Naei, Vahid Yaghoubi, Chen, Jinjin, Rossenbloom, Alyssa, Bonnett, Shilah, Conner, Mark, Filanoski, Brian, Kang, Christine, Beechem, Joseph M., Fraser, John F., Barnett, Catherine, Ladwa, Rahul, Hughes, Brett G. M. and Kulasinghe, Arutha (2025). The development of a high-plex spatial proteomic methodology for the characterisation of the head and neck tumour microenvironment. npj Precision Oncology, 9 (1) 191, 1. doi: 10.1038/s41698-025-00963-0

The development of a high-plex spatial proteomic methodology for the characterisation of the head and neck tumour microenvironment

2025

Journal Article

Long-term results of the randomized, phase 3 KEYNOTE-412 trial of pembrolizumab (pembro) or placebo (pbo) plus concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for unresected, locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (LA HNSCC)

Tao, Yungan, Siu, Lillian L., Licitra, Lisa F., Burtness, Barbara, Tahara, Makoto, Rischin, Danny, Alves, Gustavo Vasconcelos, Pinto Figueiredo Lima, Iane, Hughes, Brett Gordon Maxwell, Pointreau, Yoann, Aksoy, Sercan, Laban, Simon, Greil, Richard, Burian, Martin, Hetnał, Marcin, Delord, Jean-Pierre, Kassalow, Laurent, Bidadi, Behzad, Gumuscu, Burak and Machiels, Jean-Pascal H. (2025). Long-term results of the randomized, phase 3 KEYNOTE-412 trial of pembrolizumab (pembro) or placebo (pbo) plus concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for unresected, locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (LA HNSCC). Journal of Clinical Oncology, 43 (16_suppl), 6013-6013. doi: 10.1200/jco.2025.43.16_suppl.6013

Long-term results of the randomized, phase 3 KEYNOTE-412 trial of pembrolizumab (pembro) or placebo (pbo) plus concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for unresected, locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (LA HNSCC)

2025

Journal Article

Neoadjuvant and adjuvant pembrolizumab plus standard of care (SOC) in resectable locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (LA HNSCC): Exploratory efficacy analyses of the phase 3 KEYNOTE-689 study

Adkins, Douglas, Haddad, Robert I., Tao, Yungan, Le Tourneau, Christophe, Lee, Nancy Y., Sindhu, Kunal, Chernock, Rebecca, Tahara, Makoto, Harrington, Kevin Joseph, Klochikhin, Arkadiy, Brana, Irene, Alves, Gustavo Vasconcelos, Hughes, Brett Gordon Maxwell, Oliva, Marc, Pinto Figueiredo Lima, Iane, Ueda, Tsutomu, Manschot, Cole, Benjamin, Kimberly Thomas, Bidadi, Behzad and Uppaluri, Ravindra (2025). Neoadjuvant and adjuvant pembrolizumab plus standard of care (SOC) in resectable locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (LA HNSCC): Exploratory efficacy analyses of the phase 3 KEYNOTE-689 study. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 43 (16_suppl), 6012-6012. doi: 10.1200/jco.2025.43.16_suppl.6012

Neoadjuvant and adjuvant pembrolizumab plus standard of care (SOC) in resectable locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (LA HNSCC): Exploratory efficacy analyses of the phase 3 KEYNOTE-689 study

2025

Journal Article

Abstract CT001: Neoadjuvant and adjuvant pembrolizumab plus standard of care (SOC) in resectable locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (LA HNSCC): Phase 3 KEYNOTE-689 study

Uppaluri, Ravindra, Haddad, Robert I., Tao, Yungan, Le Tourneau, Christophe, Lee, Nancy Y., Westra, William, Chernock, Rebecca, Tahara, Makoto, Harrington, Kevin, Klochikhin, Arkadiy L., Braña, Irene, Alves, Gustavo Vasconcelos, Hughes, Brett G.M., Oliva, Marc, Figueiredo Lima, Iane Pinto, Ueda, Tsutomu, Rutkowski, Tomasz, Schroeder, Ursula, Mauz, Paul-Stefan, Fuereder, Thorsten, Laban, Simon, Oridate, Nobuhiko, Popovtzer, Aron, Mach, Nicolas, Korobko, Yevhen, Costa, Diogo Alpuim, Hooda-Nehra, Anupama, Rodriguez, Cristina P., Bell, R. Bryan ... Adkins, Douglas (2025). Abstract CT001: Neoadjuvant and adjuvant pembrolizumab plus standard of care (SOC) in resectable locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (LA HNSCC): Phase 3 KEYNOTE-689 study. Cancer Research, 85 (8_Supplement_2), CT001-CT001. doi: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2025-ct001

Abstract CT001: Neoadjuvant and adjuvant pembrolizumab plus standard of care (SOC) in resectable locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (LA HNSCC): Phase 3 KEYNOTE-689 study

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

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

2025

Conference Publication

Characterising head and neck tumour microenvironment using high plex spatial omics technologies and analyses

Tan, Chin Wee, Berrell, Naomi, Donovan, Meg L., Monkman, James, Sadeghirad, Habib, Naei, Vahid Yaghoubi, Chen, Jinjin, Rossenbloom, Alyssa, Bonnett, Shilah, Conner, Mark, Filanoski, Brian, Kang, Christine, Beechem, Joseph M., Fraser, John F., Barnett, Catherine, Ladwa, Rahul, Hughes, Brett G. and Kulasinghe, Arutha (2025). Characterising head and neck tumour microenvironment using high plex spatial omics technologies and analyses. AACR Annual Meeting 2025, Chicago, IL United States, 25-30 April 2025. Philadelphia, PA United States: American Association for Cancer Research. doi: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2025-175

Characterising head and neck tumour microenvironment using high plex spatial omics technologies and analyses

2025

Conference Publication

2D and 3D spatial characterisation of tertiary lymphoid structures in head and neck cancer patients receiving immune checkpoint blockade therapy

Donovan, Meg L., Sadeghirad, Habib, Berrell, Naomi, Monkman, James, Naei, Vahid Yaghoubi, Tan, Chin Wee, Yunis, Joseph, West, Zoe, Warkiani, Majid E., Ladwa, Rahul, Hughes, Brett G., Da Gama Duarte, Jessica and Kulasinghe, Arutha (2025). 2D and 3D spatial characterisation of tertiary lymphoid structures in head and neck cancer patients receiving immune checkpoint blockade therapy. AACR Annual Meeting 2025, Chicago, IL United States, 25-30 April 2025. Philadelphia, PA United States: American Association for Cancer Research. doi: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2025-5252

2D and 3D spatial characterisation of tertiary lymphoid structures in head and neck cancer patients receiving immune checkpoint blockade therapy

2025

Conference Publication

Exploring PD1/PDL1 interactions and macrophage-tumor barriers in head and neck cancer: A spatial approach to immunotherapy response

Naei, Vahid Yaghoubi, Tubelleza, Rafael, Monkman, James, Sadeghirad, Habib, Donovan, Meg L., Blick, Tony, Wicher, Agata, Bodbin, Sara, Basu, Subham, Stad, Robert, Barnett, Catherine, O’Byrne, Ken, Ladwa, Rahul, Cooper, Caroline, Warkiani, Majid Ebrahimi, Hughes, Brett G.M. and Kulasinghe, Arutha (2025). Exploring PD1/PDL1 interactions and macrophage-tumor barriers in head and neck cancer: A spatial approach to immunotherapy response. AACR Annual Meeting 2025, Chicago, IL United States, 25-30 April 2025. Philadelphia, PA United States: American Association for Cancer Research. doi: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2025-750

Exploring PD1/PDL1 interactions and macrophage-tumor barriers in head and neck cancer: A spatial approach to immunotherapy response

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

ASO Visual Abstract: Survival Following Orbital Exenteration for Primary Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma, a Retrospective Cohort Study

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, 177. doi: 10.1186/s12967-025-06186-y

Spatial interaction mapping of PD-1/PD-L1 in head and neck cancer reveals the role of macrophage-tumour barriers associated with immunotherapy response

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

Durvalumab, Tremelimumab, and Platinum Chemotherapy in EGFR Mutation–Positive NSCLC: An Open-Label Phase 2 Trial (ILLUMINATE)

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

Coupling of response biomarkers between tumor and peripheral blood in patients undergoing chemoimmunotherapy

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

Survival After Orbital Exenteration for Primary Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Retrospective Cohort Study

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

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

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

Type I interferon drives a cellular state inert to TCR-stimulation and could impede effective T-cell differentiation in cancer

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

Real‐world outcomes for patients with pleural mesothelioma: a multisite retrospective cohort study

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

Circulating tumour cells predict recurrences and survival in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients

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

Revalidation of proactive gastrostomy tube placement guidelines for head and neck cancer patients receiving helical intensity-modulated radiotherapy

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

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

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, 677. doi: 10.1186/s12967-024-05409-y

Spatial dynamics of tertiary lymphoid aggregates in head and neck cancer: insights into immunotherapy response

Current funding

  • 2024 - 2026
    From Pixels to Prognosis: Harnessing single-cell spatial analysis to predict and improve immunotherapy response in lung cancer
    Cure Cancer Early Career Research Grants
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2026
    Developing a multi-omic, high-dimensional assessment of head and neck cancer
    Garnett Passe and Rodney Williams Memorial Foundation Conjoint Grant
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2014 - 2016
    NITRO Trial: A randomised phase III trial of adding nitroglycerin to first line chemotherapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NHMRC Project Grant administered by the University of Sydney)
    University of Sydney
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2016
    Improving quality of life in high-risk cancer populations: a randomised trial of a structured intervention for head and neck cancer survivors
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant

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

Enquiries

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