High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) in Late Pelvic Cancer
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A Phase II feasibility study of High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) in late stage pelvic cancer
IRAS ID
243585
Contact name
Jamie Murphy
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Imperial College London
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 5 days
Research summary
There are about 40000 new cases of colorectal cancer each year, with rectal cancer accounting for 30% in men and over 20% in women. Annually in the UK, approximately 250 vaginal cancer, 7000 ovarian cancer, 8000 endometrial cancer and 3000 cervical cancer diagnoses are made, with some being incurable at the time of presentation. Treatment for non-resectable pelvic cancer is increasingly challenging and not without its complications including severe pain, stomas and fistula formation. Cancer recurrence at the site of surgical resection or nearby lymph nodes can also reduce further curative options, due to non-response to chemotherapy and reaching the maximum safe radiotherapy limits or unsuitable surgical options. These various issues create the need for alternative therapies. High intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) has been used in the treatment of prostate cancer, as a non-invasive treatment for the disease. Given the close proximity of the prostate and the rectum, vagina and cervix it follows that investigation of using HIFU on other pelvic cancers is a logical next step. To evaluate the suitability of HIFU to treat pelvic cancer, we propose to propose a study involving patients within the NHS with late stage non-resectable pelvic cancer. We will offer them HIFU and monitor their response over the following months. We will monitor the patients for any side effects and problems from the HIFU, as well as any improvements of their symptoms from the cancer. We will perform MRI scans after 30 days to see if there has been any change in the size of the cancer. We will monitor the patients closely every 30 days until 3 months, and then review them regularly at 3-month intervals.
REC name
London - Dulwich Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/LO/1426
Date of REC Opinion
5 Nov 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion