Cancer drug trial appeal

Oct 6 2007 by Audrey Barton, The Journal

THE family of a cancer drug campaigner who enjoyed two extra years with his family thanks to treatment with Alimta is urging people to volunteer for a Newcastle-based study into the drug.

The study, by Dr Albiruni Ryan Abdul Razak, specialist registrar in medical oncology at Newcastle General Hospital, is researching who will benefit most from the drug, which is used to treat patients with asbestos related cancer mesothelioma.

At the end of the project it is hoped physicians will be able to prescribe the drug more accurately, saving money and improving the quality of life for those afflicted with malignant pleural mesothelioma.

It is believed scores of North-East patients could eventually benefit from the work after recent statistics showed hundreds of people in the region are diagnosed with mesothelioma every year.

Steve Tiffin lost his father Arthur, 53, from North Walbottle, in June to the disease. The grandfather-of-four campaigned for Alimta and was given another two years with his family thanks to the drug and other anti-cancer treatments.

Steve, 30, encouraged volunteers to take part in the research.

“It’s a chance for someone to further the advances of mesothelioma treatment at a time when the illness has a great lack of research compared to other cancers.

“Dad wanted to give other people a chance by taking part in trials, unfortunately the trials came too late for him but I would ask that people take part to help themselves and others,” he said.

Dr Albi hopes to study fresh lung tissue from more than 100 mesothelioma sufferers, but has found it difficult getting patients to agree to the research.

Patients must give approval to the use of their lung tissue while they are undergoing a Video Assisted Thoracoscopy (VAT).

However, approaching patients for consent at this stage has proven difficult, mainly due to the difficult time patients are experiencing coupled with the uncertainty of a particular diagnosis.

Dr Albi said: “I understand the concerns faced by patients who are about to receive the procedure, as they do not know what their medical results will be.

“However, by allowing us to use their tissue, they would be helping us to make massive strides towards finding a more effective treatment for a disease which affects hundreds in the region.”

Chris Knighton, founder of the Mick Knighton Mesothelioma Research Fund, added: “This research will mean doctors can be more strategic when prescribing the drug to make sure it helps the right patients.”

For more information about the research contact Dr Albi at albiruni.ryan@ncl.ac.uk