Exploring TYA attitudes towards early phase cancer clinical trials
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Exploring the attitudes of teenager and young adults with cancer towards early phase clinical trials
IRAS ID
320035
Contact name
Louise Carter
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The University of Manchester
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 3 months, 1 days
Research summary
Cancer is rare in teenagers and young adults (TYA) and although survival figures are improving, cancer remains the most common disease related cause of death in this age group. There is a major unmet need for new therapies, especially for cancers with historically poor prognoses, such as brain cancers and bone and soft tissue sarcomas. Recent advances in cancer research involve a more targeted and personalised approach to medicine and may provide promise in improving cancer survival where progress is lacking. Early phase clinical trials are the first step in getting new treatments to patients. However, TYA recruitment to trials is historically poor, especially compared with children and older adults. This is one of the factors contributing to the slower progress in improving survival in this demographic. A current focus of TYA cancer research is centered around improving recruitment to clinical trials, which requires further understanding of the barriers surrounding enrolment. The aim of the present study is to better understand the attitudes of TYA towards early phase cancer clinical trials, and to compare these with those of non-TYA cancer patients. Participants will be asked to complete a single anonymous questionnaire which will be completed online, through the Qualtrics tool. This research will take place at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, within both the TYA service and Experimental Cancer Medicine Team (ECMT). There will be three cohorts: cohorts one and two will include TYA (aged 16-24) patients on treatment or under follow up from the Christie TYA service. Cohort one will include patients at initial diagnosis, and cohort two will include patients who have relapsed. The third cohort will include non-TYA patients (aged ≥25) who are being reviewed by the ECMT. This study forms part of a student masters project.
REC name
London - London Bridge Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/PR/1199
Date of REC Opinion
1 Sep 2022
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion