Digital management of advanced prostate cancer
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A feasibility study for digital management of advanced prostate cancer. Increasing clinical productivity and capacity and empowering patients through digital health.
IRAS ID
296017
Contact name
Alec Maynard
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 8 months, 2 days
Research summary
Prostate cancer is the commonest male cancer worldwide and incidence has increased by 41% since the early 1990s. Hormonal therapy and early chemotherapy led to improved patient outcomes and survival has been further extended for patients, even with advanced disease, by tablet-based treatments (e.g. enzalutamide, abiraterone or apalutamide).
During much of this time, prostate cancer behaves like a chronic disease, requiring stable medication and regular monitoring, but the undoubted patient benefits come at a cost, placing major strains on the health service. The personal and financial cost to men and their families is also substantial, requiring more frequent appointments for blood tests, toxicity monitoring and up to 15 clinic visits per year. These issues have encouraged exploration of alternative strategies to deliver care in line with the 2019 NHS long-term plan, which aims to reduce outpatient attendances by up to one-third.
We plan to use an innovative digital platform (Ascelus) which can potentially address this demand, especially when patients are on oral therapy, by reducing the requirement to attend hospital whilst maintaining full communication between patient, GP and the hospital. This platform integrates with NHS IT systems and allows patients to be securely linked via their smartphone or tablet with their existing clinical team, allowing some face-to-face outpatient appointments to be replaced by a convenient mobile interaction. Patients can record symptoms, receive clinical advice and test results, check for medication interactions and book appointments via their device. This project, funded by NIHR, will assess the feasibility of using Ascelus in 25 patients receiving abiraterone, enzalutamide or apalutamide treatment for prostate cancer, through a clinical feasibility and safety study, patient focus groups, and an economic analysis, to support a future, larger, definitive patient study. Patient and public involvement and engagement has been embedded in our approach and will continue throughout the project.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Leeds West Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/YH/0308
Date of REC Opinion
19 Jan 2022
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion