1998/1999 Annual Review - Research and Development

Clinical Trials
Clinical trials work continues to provide a major platform for research activities. There are presently about 50 trials within the Centre actively recruiting patients, with a number of other trials for which patients continue to be followed up.

44 of the clinical trials being undertaken at CCO are multi-centre national trials. A further 8 clinical trials have been commissioned by CCO. The total numbers of patients entered into trials has remained relatively constant at about 300 over the year, although it is hoped to increase recruit-ment in future years.

New Research projects and Undertakings
Project proposals for work associated with conformal radio-therapy for a number of clinical sites have been initiated, with funding by Clatterbridge Cancer Research Trust (CCRT). Radiography and Physics staff have been appoint-ed to carry out these studies which are sched-uled to run for 2-3 years. A further project has commenced to compare different methods for treatment planning of breast cancer. (Photo: Setting-up the multi-leaf Collimator)

CCO has obtained a research agreement with an equipment manufacturer in order to test treatment planning facilities relating to a new form of radiotherapy and has agreements with Swiss and Italian research institutes for the development by CCO of some pro-ton therapy facilities.

Work to develop cyclotron facilities to produce radioactive isotopes (for use in imaging research) has been undertaken jointly by Christie Hospital and CCO. The installation of iso-tope targets and automatic transfer systems has been com-pleted and the system is currently undergoing testing. This forms part of an ongoing multi-centre research initiative involving various hospitals in the North West.

Research Links with Clatterbridge Cancer Research Trust (CCRT)
CCO is working with CCRT into research in the genetics of certain types of common cancers. This type of research, Setting-up the multi-leaf Collimator Flourine-18 Target assembly on the Cyclotron introduced into CCRT over the last 3 years, is producing new information on genetic deformations within cancers and their association with tumour development and treatment outcome, leading ultimately to better treatment for patients.

Future Developments
CCO expressed its interest in submitting a new bid for funding from the NHS R&D; Budget 1 funding mechanism in 1999/00, taking into account significant changes which have taken place in the levels of activity relating to R & D in the Centre. (Photo: CCRT laboratories)