Pancreatic cancer is notorious for its low survival rate, with fewer than 7% of patients surviving beyond five years in the UK. Surgery remains the only potentially curative option, but about 75% of patients experience recurrence. Current chemotherapy treatments often fail to reach cancer cells effectively, with only about 5% of the drug reaching the targeted cells. The rest of the drug disperses through the body, causing severe side effects such as nausea, infections, and hair loss.
Researchers at the University of Birmingham have received a significant boost for their groundbreaking project aimed at improving outcomes for pancreatic cancer patients. Awarded £87,000 by a charity, the team is set to advance the development of the ChemoPatch, a novel device designed to deliver chemotherapy directly to residual cancerous tissue following surgery.
This targeted delivery aims to enhance the drug’s efficacy while minimizing systemic toxicity. The prototype device, which is patent-pending, will be refined to be implantable during surgery, with chemotherapy released gradually over seven days through a hollow silicone tube.
The funding will support the development of this device, focusing on its design, attachment methods, and patient compatibility. If successful, the device will proceed to clinical trials, offering a promising new avenue for improving survival rates in pancreatic cancer, a condition with limited treatment options and a high recurrence rate. Dr. Chris MacDonald, Head of Research at Pancreatic Cancer UK, emphasized the potential impact of this innovation in enhancing treatment efficacy and reducing side effects, marking a crucial step towards better patient outcomes in this challenging field.
Article written by University of Birmingham
21/08/2024
Source:
University of Birmingham
https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/2024/reseachers-to-develop-chemopatch-in-a-bid-to-prevent-pancreatic-cancer-returning-after-surgery