Hospital recruits for breast cancer trials

The L&D’s Clinical Trial Team is involved in several projects aimed at improving treatments and survival rates from cancer.

Senior breast trials nurse Louise Rivett said: “Patients view participation in a clinical trial as a positive experience which may potentially offer them access to newer drugs.”

She added: “Being part of a trial can also give patients a sense of satisfaction that they are helping to shape the treatments of the future.”

The hospital is the sixth highest recruiter in the country.

Its latest programme, Persephone, is going particularly well, according to a hospital spokeswoman.

It is looking at the optimum use of the drug Herceptin. This is currently given for a period of 12 months to patients with a type of early breast cancer.

But there is growing evidence that suggests a shorter duration of the drug may be just as effective.

Patients who enter the trial will be randomly chosen to receive either six or 12 months of the treatment.

If the shorter period proves to be as effective in reducing the return of the disease, with fewer side effects, this will be a major benefit to future patients.

The Breast Cancer Multidisciplinary team see trials as an integral part of standard care and feel that offering one to a patient can give an additional choice in the treatment they receive.

Luton patients who took part in a pioneering trial several years ago proved that Herceptin can reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence by almost 50 per cent.

> The L&D is to start offering breast screening to women aged 43 to 75. At present it is 50 to 70.