Clinical Trials and Research
Previous and current research
Within the Cancer Research UK Unit in Leeds we run a broad portfolio
of clinical research. The clinical practice is organised so
that it is conducted by site specialised multi-disciplinary
teams, led by Drs Julia Newton-Bishop, Mike Leahy, Poulam
Patel, Peter Selby, Matt Seymour and myself. Dr Geoff Hall,
Dr Alan Anthoney and Dr Alan Melcher have recently been appointed
to work with the existing team. Our aim is to treat patients
in the context of a significant clinical trial whenever possible.
Our activity encompasses Phase I, II, and III clinical trials,
as well as Psychosocial and Health Services Research. An important
underlying philosophy of the unit has been to develop the
clinical practice and laboratory research activity in parallel
so as to maximise the effectiveness of the clinico-laboratory
interface.
There are clinical trials currently active in gastrointestinal,
urological, breast, ovarian and lung cancer and in melanoma,
and lymphoma. We have an active interest in both clinical
and laboratory research involving cytokines, and have run
clinical trials involving IL2, IL6, and IL12.
We have recently analysed our Phase III trial of a
interferon as a maintenance agent following chemotherapy in
ovarian cancer, which unfortunately has not shown interferon
to be useful. We are active in a range of other national and
international trials run by the MRC, UKC-CCR, CRC, as well
as the pharmaceutical industry. Psychosocial research includes
studies concerning the use of automated QL assessments in
general oncology practice and social problem detection. We
are also investigating anxiety, quality of life in clinical
trials, module development and sexual problems of cancer patients.
We have recently begun a programme to investigate the biochemical
and molecular genetic determinants of psychosocial morbidity.
We are also involved in a study with the Northern& Yorkshire
Cancer Registry & Information Service to look at variations
in cancer outcome across health districts for sixteen common
cancer sites.
Future projects
The focus of future studies will include the development of
immunological and biological treatment strategies. Phase 1
studies in DNA vaccination of breast cancer and melanoma and
of intravesical oncolytic adenovirus for bladder cancer will
start soon. Translation of dendritic cell laboratory research
into clinical trials with DC vaccinations are planned. This,
coupled with a laboratory programme using proteomics to identify
novel renal cancer antigens should give new vaccination strategies.
