Clatterbridge launches pioneering clinical trials

The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre is leading the way in two new areas of cancer research after signing up the first patients in the UK on pioneering clinical trials.

The studies aim to improve treatment outcomes and enhance the quality of life for patients with rare and aggressive cancers.

The patients will take part in research into treatments for a rare but aggressive cancer of the nose and head and neck cancer which has spread or returned after treatment. Head and neck cancer is a disease which is becoming more common, especially in parts of Merseyside.

The PROTIS study is looking at cancer of the sinuses which is often extensive by the time something is seen to be wrong.

Radiotherapy is an important part of the usual treatment but is complicated because of the closeness of the site of the tumour to critical areas, including the eyes and the brain.

Treatment may sometimes cause serious long-term side effects, including eye pain, loss of vision, problems with thinking or memory, epilepsy, sinus inflammation or blockage, reduced hormone levels and difficulties hearing and smelling.

Intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) is the current standard treatment but this study will also look at the effectiveness of a new form of radiotherapy called proton beam therapy (PBT).

This trial will find out how many people are cured with PBT compared with the standard IMRT treatment, and gather information on side effects of each, to determine whether one treatment causes less damage than the other.

The CTO-MCLA-158-CL02 study is for patients whose head and neck cancer has not responded to standard immunotherapy and chemotherapy.

It will use a specially engineered antibody that can target two different cancer-related proteins, blocking the growth of tumours and helping the patient’s own immune system to fight the disease.

The goal is to see if this antibody, called petosemtamab, works better and is safer than the standard treatment options.

Both studies are being led at Clatterbridge by clinical oncologist Dr Rachel Brooker, who praised the research team for their hard work in signing the patients up ahead of other centres across the country.

She said:

“These are important but complex clinical trials and to have Clatterbridge patients joining them as the first people in the UK is a fantastic achievement by the team here.

“Cancer of the sinuses is a rare but devastating disease which can leave some people with challenging side effects and we hope proton beam therapy will be shown to be both effective and less harmful to patients.

“We are also excited to trial petosemtamab, a bispecific antibody which has been shown to be a promising treatment for cancer because it can work in more precise and powerful ways than traditional therapies.

“These trials represent a significant step forward in our efforts to find more effective treatments for rare and aggressive cancers for patients at Clatterbridge.

“We are hopeful that the results will lead to improved outcomes for our patients here and provide valuable insights into the best approaches for treating these challenging diseases.”

Find out more on the Clatterbridge website.

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