Experimental Cancer Medicine – the future of cancer care

Rosie Davies (LECMC RP based at RLUH)Janet Davies (LECMC RP based at CCO)

Aims

• Background• Experimental Cancer Medicine:- What it is- Overview of Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre

(ECMC) Network- Liverpool ECMC- Role of the ECMC Nurse- Future Challenges

Background

• Calman-Hine Report (1995), DoH Cancer Plan (2000)

• Key reports e.g. Strengthening Clinical Research (Academy of Medical Sciences, 2003) and Bioscience 2015 (Dept of Trade and Industry, 2004) highlighted gap between science and clinical research

• Most cancers remain incurable (DoH, 2000)• Need to better co-ordinate health research

Experimental Cancer Medicine• What is it?• Initiative funded by CRUK and DoH- Early phase trials (I/II) and translational research- Bridges the gap between the researchers and

patients • It involves developing new cancer treatments,

investigating why treatments already in use cease to work or why a treatment produces unwanted side-effects

ECMC Research Pathway

Discovery Development

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Basic

Science

Late Phase

Trials

Experimental

Medicine

Experimental Cancer Medicines Centre• A translational research centre which has the

availability and expertise of both laboratory and clinical facilities

• A Centre where investigational medicinal products (IMPs) are given in clinical trials.These do not necessarily benefit the patient (phase 1 trials)

• Each Centre specialises in a limited number of diseases allowing expert research to be conducted

Con.• Resources available within an ECMC allow for: (i) the safe and rapid evaluation of new cancer

treatments (ii) the development of new biomarkers to

facilitate late stage trials (iii) working towards the evolution of

individualised treatments

Liverpool ECMC

• ECMC status has been awarded to the University of Liverpool (School of Cancer Studies and Pharmacology) and the NHS partners of the Royal Liverpool University Hospital and Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology

• Is managed by the Liverpool Cancer Trials Unit.• Supports world-class translational research both in

Liverpool and across the U.K

LECMC• 52 studies adopted to date • NIHR portfolio studies and commercially sponsored

studies across solid tumour and haematological malignancy

• Translational work including bio-banking • Focus is on better understanding of cancers, developing

better treatments with fewer side-effect and a strategy to target cancer in low-income communities where survival is lowest

Role of the ECMC Nurse

• Integration into existing clinical/research services within trusts

• Setting up of research projects and in addition educating both patients and other staff members in current research practice

• To provide support and assistance to researchers in coordinating and managing early phase research

Role of ECMC Nurse con

• To link with and collaborate with other health professionals and other research agendas

• To provide quality care to patients and collection of quality specimens for research purposes

• Administration of new treatments to patients

• To raise awareness of the important work of the ECMC as a whole and more specifically the LECMC

Future Challenges

• As we enter an era where there is high expectation in the provision of effective cancer drugs, the development of new and better cancer treatments is vital for public health

• The ECMC initiative is an essential step that will ultimately lead to an improvement in the treatments given to cancer patients

Future challenges con• The challenges that present themselves within the

realm of experimental medicine remain vast:• The management of potentially fatal toxic side-

effects• Many ethical issues are raised within experimental

cancer medicine • Asking terminally ill patients to volunteer for

experimental drug trials remains extremely emotive

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However the work of the ECMC offers a very precious commodity – that of

hope!!

Any Questions?