Researchers based in the STRIVE Academic Centre at The James Cook University Hospital have recruited their first patient to receive Lutetium-177 PSMA in an international clinical trial.
The Novartis sponsored clinical trial, known as PSMAfore, is an international study investigating whether a new type of treatment using a drug called 177Lu-PSMA-617, can help to prolong the duration and quality of life in patients who have received first-line therapies for incurable prostate cancer.
Patients wishing to be involved need to receive a special diagnostic scan in London to see if their cancer cells express the PSMA marker required for the treatment.
The phase three research trial compares the results between patients being treated with the new drug, verses traditional methods of hormone treatment sometimes used in prostate cancer patients.
Five patients in total were screened for the trial, but only one patient of the four entered onto it will receive the new treatment.
Dr Leaning said: “We have reached an era whereby we will see more and more molecular radiotherapy agents being made available through studies over the coming years, most likely for multiple cancer types.
Having these types of trials open at our hospital, is extremely significant and important, as we need to plan for investment into nuclear medicine services that puts us at the vanguard of cancer centres across the UK.
“This will ensure our future patients are able to access trials and new therapies that may benefit them close to home.”
To find out more about the trial or any of the other trials going on in the Tees Valley region, contact [email protected].