Patients

 

Velindre has a strong reputation for excellence in cancer research, both in the UK and around the world. Staying at the forefront of pioneering treatments and technologies means our patients in Wales are able to access the latest developments in therapies, delivered by expert researchers.

We run trials and studies that measure the effectiveness of drugs and methods of treatment such as radiotherapy. We deliver first-in-human trials and trials that use personalised medicines tailored to each individual patient’s cancer.

We aim to enable all our patients to be involved in many types of research, from clinical trials of new treatments, including pioneering immunotherapies, gene therapy, cancer vaccines and first in class drugs, to radiotherapy studies and the chance to donate their samples to the Wales Cancer Biobank.

These are some of the different types of research studies taking place at Velindre.

 

Clinical trials research

Clinical trials are research that involves people in assessing safety, effectiveness, and potential benefits of a new treatment or care.

This could include trialling a new drug or combination of drugs, medical device, vaccine, diagnostic test, or treatment procedure. Clinical trials measure things like how well a new treatment works, if it has any side effects and if it works better than a currently used treatment or procedure, helping people to feel better. 

Find out more about clinical trials at Velindre [link to Clinical trials page]

 

Systemic anti-cancer therapy

All anti-cancer drug treatments such as chemotherapy and immunotherapy are known as systemic anti-cancer therapy (SACT). The majority of these trials are randomised late phase (Phase 2b and Phase 3) where new drugs combinations are compared to the current standard of care. However since 2013 we have also developed an early phase capability where drugs much earlier in the development pathway are tested for both safety and early signs of activity. These trials are often aimed at patients who have exhausted standard options and therefore provide additional choices.

Our SACT research includes:

• FAKTION: a new breast cancer treatment that began its life as an idea and then clinical trials at Velindre Cancer Service 10 years ago.
• BICCC, a new colorectal clinical trial aimed at increasing disease-free survival.

 

Radiotherapy research

Treatment for people with cancer often includes radiotherapy and at Velindre we have a dedicated radiotherapy research team looking at ways to improve treatment and the associated side effects.

Our radiotherapy research includes:

• APPROACH a clinical trial looking at proton beam therapy for people with a brain tumour called oligodendroglioma
• The SABRE trial involved the use of the SpaceOAR Vue system designed by Boston Scientific in patients being treated with radiotherapy for prostate cancer

 

Palliative and supportive care research

We have research fellows (doctors) in our palliative and supportive care team who are focused on improving treatment and care of patients at the end of their lives.

Our research includes:

• Using QR code technology to improve communication between healthcare teams for patients with palliative conditions in an emergency situation
• Looking at the risk of developing a leg deep vein thrombosis in cancer patients admitted acutely to hospital
• Finding out the values and preferences of people with lived experience of glioma so we can develop a set of core outcomes based on what matters most for patients in clinical settings

 

Allied Health Professional research

We encourage everyone at Velindre to get into research and this includes our nurses, therapists, pharmacists and more. Through the support of Velindre Cancer Centre Fundraising charity we regularly fund health professionals from these occupation groups to carry out their own research into the treatment and support of patients with cancer.

In the past couple of years this research by allied health professionals has taken on issues such as:

• the help-seeking behaviours of cancer patients who become unwell between routine clinic or treatment appointments and don’t reach out for support
• the potential of simulation training to improve the knowledge and confidence of nurses responding to acute adverse reactions to SACT treatment
• the exercise needs of advanced lung cancer patients receiving immunotherapy or targeted treatments
• enhancing screening compliance for Carbapenamase Producing Organisms (CPO) at Velindre Cancer Centre.