New 'ground-breaking' trials to be offered to people with brain cancer in West Yorkshire
New ground-breaking brain cancer clinical trials will be available in West Yorkshire for people with glioblastoma - the most common type of brain cancer.
EPIC-GB, a £6.9 million programme of clinical trials funded by Yorkshire Cancer Research, aims to transform how cancer drug treatments are tested for people with recurrent glioblastoma.
The trials, which have been pioneered in Yorkshire, will be delivered through dedicated Centres of Excellence for brain cancer, and offered to people living with recurrent glioblastoma across the region.
Each year in Yorkshire, around 247 people are diagnosed with glioblastoma, the most common and fastest-growing type of brain cancer.
Most people diagnosed with the disease will also see recurrence within the first year.
The new trials would enable people to start trial treatments before surgery.
Tumour tissue removed during the operation can then be studied, to understand which drugs reach the tumour and are likely to be effective.
By identifying promising treatments, people with recurrent glioblastoma can continue those treatments, or stop them early.
This helps the person avoid unnecessary side effects and move to alternative, more effective options quicker.
Dr Stuart Griffiths, Director of Research, Policy and Impact at Yorkshire Cancer Research said: “For far too long, people with glioblastoma have faced limited treatment options and there remains an urgent need for more research.
“This ground-breaking study shows the charity’s commitment to bringing innovative clinical trials to Yorkshire, so people in the region can be among the first to benefit from pioneering cancer breakthroughs.
"Yorkshire Cancer Research hopes this vital work will help position Yorkshire as an attractive region for future investment in clinical trials.”