What is the project?
Precision-Panc is an ongoing platform which aims to use a personalised approach to an individual’s cancer, looking at the genetic make-up of a patient’s tumour, to determine the best treatment for the individual.
The study brings together expertise in pancreatic cancer from University of Glasgow, CRUK Beatson Institute, CRUK Cambridge Institute, CRUK Manchester Institute, the Institute of Cancer Research in London, the University of Oxford and the NHS.
The Master Protocol is a trial in which patients donate tissue and blood sample for genetic analysis to see what mutations their cancer has. These genetic results then feed into many trials called PRIMUS trials where patients are given anti-cancer treatments based on the genetic results from the Master Protocol.
How could the outcomes of this project make a difference to people with pancreatic cancer?
Current therapies for pancreatic cancer have extreme toxicities associated with them as well as poor response rates. There is an urgent need to both optimise the use of current treatments and to develop new therapeutic approaches. The hope is that this personalisation will improve patients’ response to treatment and their overall outcomes.
These trials will lead to advancing the knowledge of how pancreatic cancer can be treated in a more personalised way for each patient based on their individual cancer. By providing more targeted treatments the study hopes to improve the overall outcomes and quality of life of pancreatic cancer patients.
Join the project on the steering committee
The Precision-Panc steering committee ensures that the trials run successfully and continue to be relevant for patients. The committee consists of a Chair (Pancreatic Surgeon), an independent cancer doctor, independent statistician and an PPI Representative. They all work in cancer care with the exception of the PPI Representative who comes with experience of cancer care.
The team are looking for an ‘observer’ on the committee that reviews the clinical trials by sharing opinions on the progress of the trial and being involved in discussions. They work with another patient representative already on the committee who has voting rights and can make decisions on the study continuing or not.
What does the opportunity entail?
Meetings are on a yearly basis virtually via MS Teams and last for around 2 hours. The committee looks at progress reports provided by the clinical trial teams who run the trials, these reports are presented at the meeting by each trial team.
It is good to take time to ready the reports and any other documents prior to the meeting, around 1 hour should be sufficient. The committee then discusses the progress and running of the trial and will recommend if the study should continue as it is, with a change suggested or stop recruitment.
You do not need to have any background clinical knowledge as the role is to provide input on how a patient and their families might feel about the trials. Support will be provided as well as explanations on what the trials involve.
Next steps
If you are interested in being on this steering committee, please contact the Laura Cunningham (laura.cunningham.2@glasgow.ac.uk) quoting the involvement reference ‘Precision-Panc steering committee’ along with a brief background on what made you apply and how cancer has impacted you. Please also include any other commitments you might have, so the team can work around these for planning meetings if needed.
