Christie trial hope for more cancer patients
THERE are more clinical studies and trials taking place at The Christie than ever before.
Data held by the Manchesterbased cancer hospital shows that over the past 10 years, patientinvolved research has soared by almost 40 per cent.
The clinical research studies and trials can make a huge impact on the lives of those involved.
They also allow cancer scientists to explore the benefits of new treatments both for those taking part and also for future patients.
It comes after the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) league tables revealed The Christie to be one of the country’s top performing trusts for commercial research activity.
Figures show that in just 12 months, the number of trials recruiting patients at the Withington hospital site have risen by 11 per cent from 193 in 2016-17, to 214 to the year ending in March 2018.
The Christie is also smashing the target set by the Clinical Research Network (CRN) – the NHS organisation that coordinates and supports research – for the number of patients recruited to studies by almost a third (31pc).
Overall, the Trust remains one of the most active NHS clinical research organisations in the UK and is ranked fifth out of 450 in the research activity league table.
Prof John Radford, professor of medical oncology and director of research at The Christie, said: “We’re very pleased that these figures acknowledge that we have an extremely vibrant research culture and that we’re offering patients more opportunities to take part in trials.
“These studies not only have the potential for improving outcomes for those patients taking part, they also enrich our understanding of cancer and benefit patients in the future.”
Christie patient Cathy Perkins was diagnosed with melanoma – skin cancer – in 2008 and was offered a place on a trial for an experimental drug.
She said: “I was given a very poor diagnosis and conventional treatments had little to offer so it wasn’t a difficult decision to go on a trial for a new immunotherapy drug. Four-and-a-half years on I have a life I love and appreciate, with lots of new adventures.
“I see other people who have been on trials leading amazing lives, too. I’m so grateful to The Christie, to the scientists and the funders and to the NHS for giving us a second chance at our lives which seem so much more precious now we understand what we nearly lost. This is proving to be the future for cancer treatment.”