'Exciting' Guernsey cancer trial launched

Cancer patients in Guernsey will be able to participate in clinical research in the UK without leaving the island.

A fundraising sub-committee of Cancer Research - Business Beats Cancer Guernsey - has formed a partnership with the universities of Southampton and Sussex, called Island and Institutes.

The initiative allows blood cancer patients in the island to give permission for excess blood and tissue samples taken as part of their treatment to be collected and transported to the UK for use in ongoing clinical trials.

Peter Gomes, lead medical oncologist at Bulstrode Oncology Unit said it would be "very positive" to have patients contribute to research that would improve treatments for all.

Neale Jehan from Business Beats Cancer said travelling during treatment was difficult, so this "new initiative, which is still aligned to our focus on clinical research, transports samples from the patients, without them needing to travel".

David Dutton, honorary clinical senior lecturer at the University of Southampton said the partnership would provide "opportunities for the people of Guernsey to be involved in exciting clinical and scientific research".

The charity said results would be bespoke to the island and would be shared with the relevant oncology team as part of larger research initiatives, which could lead to more targeted treatments being available in the island.

Currently, on-island treatment includes chemotherapy, targeted drugs, immunotherapy and antibody-drug combinations.

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