NHS Lothian clinical cancer trials back on track - despite challenge of Covid-19 pandemic

Recently, with pandemic restrictions easing, more patients have resumed participation in cancer trials. And today (July 29) teams in the South East Scottish Cancer Research Network (SESCRN) are pleased to announce that any remaining trials that had been on hold in the region are all now able to reopen, offering reassure to patients that all trial options will be available to them.

The SESCRN teams – based in the Edinburgh Cancer Centre at the Western General Hospital – are also recruiting patients to take part in a series of new clinical trials.

Stefan Symeonides, a Consultant Oncologist and Clinical Lead for SESCRN, said: “Covid-19 presented us with significant challenges – and still does – but our teams have worked hard to minimise disruption caused by the pandemic.

“We’ve had to adapt how trials are delivered to patients, implementing a range of infection prevention and control measures required as a result of Covid-19, including social distancing.

“This enabled all patients already started on clinical trials for cancer treatment to remain on those trials.”

However, Covid-19 has restricted access to clinical trials for other patients who would have started treatment during the peak of the Covid-19 challenges.

“We share the concern and frustration experienced by these patients,” said Stefan Symeonides.

“Which is why we are pleased that the recent easing of pandemic restrictions has allowed us to open trials back up again and widen patient access to other trials. We are now able to reopen all remaining studies and we are excited to have started recruiting patients to new clinical trials.”

Dot Boyle, network manager with SESCRN, said: “Colleagues across the network have made monumental efforts to continue clinical trials. For example, we were able to keep some trials running, where there were no safety concerns for patients and, since June, a range of other trials have resumed.

“We are currently engaged in over 100 clinical trials, half of which are open, with the other half now due to open imminently.

“In addition, every day, our teams work in collaboration with a range of partners to help facilitate more and more new trials, the first of which have opened, covering a range of different areas, including cancer of the bladder, breast and kidney.”

Professor Charlie Gourley, Professor and Honorary Consultant in Medical Oncology, Western General Hospital, said: “Clinical trials offer cancer patients new opportunities, either in addition to standard treatments, or after standard therapies have failed.

“They provide patients with hope and are a vital part of our armoury. The South East Scotland Cancer Research Network is rapidly reinstating these studies in order to offer our patients the best possible treatment options.”