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Friday 24 March, 2017
GLASGOW SCIENTISTS SET TO LEAD NEW ERA IN PANCREATIC CANCER
TREATMENT
GLASGOW scientists are set to receive up to £8 million from Cancer Research UK to lead a
project that could transform pancreatic cancer trials in the UK, with patients being selected
based on their individual tumour.
The charity is investing a total of £10 million in the PRECISION Panc* project which aims to
develop personalised treatments for pancreatic cancer patients, improving the options and
outcomes for a disease where survival rates have remained stubbornly low.
In Scotland, pancreatic cancer incidence rates have increased by 12 per cent over the past
10 years.** Around 620 people were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer 10 years ago, today
around 790 people are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.***
Over this same period in Scotland, pancreatic cancer mortality rates have increased by 6 per
cent.**** Around 610 people died from pancreatic cancer in Scotland 10 years ago, today
around 730 die from pancreatic cancer.*****
Professor Andrew Biankin at the University of Glasgow, who has pioneered the project along
with researchers across the UK******, aims to speed up recruitment and enrolment of
pancreatic cancer patients to clinical trials that are right for the individual patient.
The researchers will use the molecular profile of each individual cancer to offer patients and
their doctor a menu of trials that might benefit them.
The first wave of research will establish the best way to collect and profile patient tissue
samples. Each patient will have up to five samples taken from their tumour at diagnosis for
analysis at the University of Glasgow.
The results will guide clinical trial options in the future.
The three trials******* planned as part of this initiative will recruit a total of 658 patients in
centres across the UK – with the scope to add more trials in the future. Patients will also be
helped onto suitable clinical trials that are already up and running.
The trials will be led by the CRUK Clinical Trials Unit at Glasgow’s Beatson West of Scotland
Cancer Centre.
Professor Andrew Biankin, a Cancer Research UK pancreatic cancer expert at the University
of Glasgow, said: “PRECISION Panc aims to transform how we treat pancreatic cancer by
matching the right treatment to the right patient.
“Because the disease is so aggressive, patients may receive no treatment at all or if they are
given an option it will be for just one line of treatment, so it’s essential that the most
suitable treatment is identified quickly. It’s important we offer all patients the opportunity
to be part of research alongside their standard care.”
The programme will ensure discoveries from the lab rapidly reach patients, and that data
from clinical trials feed back into research of the disease.
Professor Biankin, who relocated to Glasgow from Australia in 2013, added: “PRECISION
Panc has been developed over the course of three years through the unwavering
commitment of pancreatic clinicians and researchers across the UK who see that the
patients deserve much more than is currently available to them.
“I’m fully committed to this project and I believe we’re on the cusp of making some
incredible advances which will provide therapeutic options to help people affected by this
terrible disease.
“This investment from Cancer Research UK, together with the commitment from our other
stakeholders, puts Glasgow at the centre of pancreatic cancer treatment and research in the
UK, if not the whole of Europe.”
Victoria Steven, Cancer Research UK’s spokesperson in Scotland, said: “This ambitious
project marks a new era for pancreatic cancer and puts Glasgow at the forefront of
pancreatic cancer research.
“Little progress has been made in outcomes for pancreatic cancer patients, and PRECISION
Panc will reshape how we approach treatment development.
“Scots have every right to feel proud of the ground-breaking research into cancer taking
place on their doorstep and of their fundraising efforts that allow us to bring forward the
day when we can beat this devastating disease.”
ENDS
For media enquiries contact Lisa Adams in the Cancer Research UK press office in Scotland
on 07713 687200 or email [email protected]
Notes to editor:
* https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/funding-for-researchers/applying-for-funding/how-to-make-asuccessful-application/successful-applicant-case-studies/case-studies-of-major-researchprogrammes/precision-panc
** Annual average age-standardised incidence rate for pancreatic cancer (ICD10 C25) in Scotland
between 2002-2004 and 2012-2014 (14 and 16 per 100,000 people respectively.)
*** Based on average annual number of new pancreatic cancer (ICD10 C25) cases in Scotland
between 2002-2004 and 2012-2014.
**** Annual average age-standardised mortality rate for pancreatic cancer (ICD10 C25) in Scotland
between 2002-2004 and 2012-2014 (14 and 15 per 100,000 people respectively.)
***** Based on average annual number of deaths from pancreatic cancer (ICD10 C25) in Scotland
between 2002-2004 and 2012-2014.
******Joint Lead Applicants: Professor Andrew Biankin, University of Glasgow; Professor Owen
Sansom, Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute; Dr Jeff Evans, Cancer Research UK Glasgow Clinical
Trials Unit; Professor Juan Valle, University of Manchester, Professor Caroline Dive, Cancer Research
UK Manchester Institute, Dr Claus Jorgensen, Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, Dr
Christopher Lord, The Institute for Cancer Research, Dr Eric O’Neill, Cancer Research UK/Medical
Research Council Oxford Institute for Radiation Oncology, Professor Duncan Jodrell, Cancer Research
UK Cambridge Institute
Cancer Research UK’s investment will support two of the three clinical trials, preclinical work, assay
development, biomarker work and the huge amount of molecular sequencing.
The charity’s funding will also provide overarching support though project management, funding
staff, and a steering committee.
Precision Panc has also received funding and support from the University of Glasgow, Celgene,
Wellcome Trust, Chief Scientist’s Office, Scottish Genomes Partnership, MRC/ESPRC Glasgow
Molecular Pathology Node,NHS Scotland, The Howat Foundation, Pancreatic Cancer UK, The Scottish
Precision Medicine Ecosystem/Stratified Medicine Scotland Innovation Centre,
AstraZeneca/MedImmune, NCRI and ECMC
*******Three trials include
PRIMUS 001: Cancer Research UK funded. Drug from Celgene. A trial for this with advanced disease
comparing FOLFOX-A (FOLFOX and nab-paclitaxel) versus GA (gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel (SOC).
PRIMUS 002: Cancer Research UK and Celgene funded. Drug from Celgene. For patients where their
disease can be surgically removed.
PRIMUS 003: Supported by AstraZeneca/Medimmune. Immunotherapy for patients with advanced
disease.
About Cancer Research UK
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Cancer Research UK is the world’s leading cancer charity dedicated to saving lives through
research.
Cancer Research UK’s pioneering work into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of
cancer has helped save millions of lives.
Cancer Research UK receives no government funding for its life-saving research. Every step it
makes towards beating cancer relies on every pound donated.
Cancer Research UK has been at the heart of the progress that has already seen survival in
the UK double in the last forty years.
Today, 2 in 4 people survive their cancer for at least 10 years. Cancer Research UK’s
ambition is to accelerate progress so that by 2034, 3 in 4 people will survive their cancer for
at least 10 years.
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Cancer Research UK supports research into all aspects of cancer through the work of over
4,000 scientists, doctors and nurses.
Together with its partners and supporters, Cancer Research UK's vision is to bring forward
the day when all cancers are cured.
For further information about Cancer Research UK's work or to find out how to support the charity,
please call 0300 123 1022 or visit www.cancerresearchuk.org. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.