Around 8,000 people are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer each year in the UK, and very few survive because there are so few effective treatments currently available.
Abraxane has so far been tested in advanced pancreatic cancer patients in other parts of the world, but never in the UK. Results from the recently published MPACT trial reported significantly longer life expectancy in patients who received Abraxane in combination with another drug used to fight some breast cancers – Gemcitabine. This returned better results than using standard Gemcitabine alone and is a major step forward in the fight against the aggressive disease.
Dr Pippa Corrie, from Cambridge University Hospital NHS Trust, said “ Our first trial will involve giving the new Abraxane/Gemcitabine combination using two different treatment schedules. It will be an opportunity to learn how Abraxane works, while giving patients who take part in the trial hope for the future”.
A minimum of 120 patients from across the UK will be offered a chance to take part in the trials which are due to start in December 2013.
Duncan Jodrell, who is Professor of Experimental Therapeutics at the CRUK Cancer Institute, said “So far, the new Abraxane combination has been shown to extend a patient’s life on average from 6 months to 8 months. This may not sound like much, but if we can keep taking small steps, eventually we will make significant progress in the fight against this disease”.
Image: Dr Pippa Corrie, being interviewed by journalists.
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PR & Communications
Cambridge University Hospitals
22 October 2013
For further information, please contact: Louise Gosling
Communications Department, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0QQ
Tel: 01223 274433 Email: press@addenbrookes.nhs.uk
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