Genetic testing first in NZ cancer clinical trial

The clinical trial is at Starship Blood and Cancer Centre in Auckland, and the Children’s Haematology and Oncology Centre in Christchurch but will be available to all eligible child cancer patients, no matter where they live in the country.

Cure Kids and Child Cancer Foundation have jointly committed $1.25 million to the PPCP.

The project aims to offer therapies that are ‘‘more gentle’’, Dr Wood said.

‘‘Cancer treatments often injure healthy cells while attempting to kill off cancerous ones. Short term and life-long side effects may result, including infertility, heart problems and second cancers. Targeted therapies aim to minimise such risks and improve quality of life.’’

The NGS test is not expected to change treatment recommendations for the majority of the clinical trial participants.

‘‘Precision medicine is an important part of the future of patient care and will mean doctors can get the right treatments to the right patients at the right time,’’ Cure Kids chief executive Frances Benge said.

‘‘It also takes the pressure off the health system as funds and resources will be aligned with treatments that, in many cases, are more likely to be effective than current standard care.

‘‘This research is a critical step towards realising these benefits for New Zealand child cancer patients.’’

The PPCP funding collaboration was to be officially announced yesterday morning at the University of Auckland.