Phase 1 population

Approximately 10,270 solid tumours (adults) new cases per annum.
Approximately 1000-1500 new cases of haematological malignancy per year.
Approximately 65 new cases of paediatric cancer diagnosed annually.

Phase 1 Mechanisms

We have examined the mechanism of action of purine analogues and glucocorticoids in CLL (Andrew Pettitt) as well as the mechanism of action of bcr-abl inhibitors in chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML, Richard E Clark).

First-in-Man studies

Yes.

Centre specific translational research interest

The centre currently has two pancreatic cancer-related translational research projects. One is aimed at the characterisation of tumour molecular response predictors of chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments for pancreatic cancer in patients in the European Study Group for Pancreatic Cancer (ESPAC) Trials.

The second study (the translational research associated with the TeloVac trial) will examine the immune response of advanced pancreatic cancer patients following their treatment with a vaccine against a protein (telomerase) that is widely expressed in pancreatic cancers.

A third trial, which investigated GDEPT gene therapy approach using regional vascular viral vector delivery (in conjunction with Oxford Biomedica), has now closed.

Richard Clarke has developed a peptide vaccine for CML which is currently under phase I evaluation.

Multi-centre Phase 1 studies

Yes.

CT, PET, MRI, EUS, spectroscopy, advanced mass spectrometry, cell imaging facilities, proteomics, genomics and metabolomics.

Biomedical Research Centre - Clinical Research Facility.

Tissue Banking Activities

We have our own very extensive tissue bank: Cancer Tissue Bank Research Centre covering all solid tumour sites.

Centre contact responsible for sample collection

Dr. Helen Kalirai, Tissue Bank Research Centre, Division of Pathology, University of Liverpool.
For CLL and CML samples, please contact Andrew Pettitt and Richard Clarke respectively.