Preston cancer patients will be among the first in the world to access the newest anti-cancer treatment.

Patients who are failing to respond to treatment, are being offered access to ground-breaking new treatments as part of clinical trials.

Advertisements

The trials will take place at the National Institute for Health Research Lancashire Clinical Research Facility (LCRF), which serves the whole of Lancashire and South Cumbria, and is based at the Royal Preston Hospital site.

Cancer charity Rosemere Cancer Foundation has given the LCRF £83,993 to fund a specialist cancer experimental medicines research nurse for the next two years, to deliver early phase experimental medicine research trials.

That position has already been filled by former chemotherapy and cancer nurse specialist Karen Jones, who began working at the LCRF in 2018 as a Rosemere Cancer Foundation funded oncology research co-ordinator.

Read more: How music is being used to help relax patients at Rosemere Cancer Centre

Karen said: “It takes an average of 20 years to take a medicine from the lab through trial stage to licensing for prescription to patients.

“It’s a process that costs pharmaceutical companies millions of pounds along the way.

“There could be a potentially life-prolonging medicine out there to give to a patient failing on currently available medicines but the only way to get that treatment to them is to invite them to participate in a trial should they meet trial criteria.”

Read More: Preston radiographers learn about latest innovations at national conference

The LCRF have already been involved in a Phase I trial researching a new drug that could extend both the life expectancy and quality of life of women with advanced ovarian cancer, with which Karen assisted.

The trial work she completed as part of their research programmes meant her oncology research co-ordinator role became self-funded and it is hoped that her new experimental medicines research nurse position will also become self-funding.

The LCRF was established in April 2016, with the largest portfolio of its work involving trials of cancer medicines.

The LCRF also undertakes other drug research, including research into dementia medicines and neurological treatments.

Read more: John Farnworth smashes keepy-uppie ice challenge for Cancer Research UK

What do you think of these ground-breaking clinical trials being held in Preston? Let us know in the comments.