Cancer Research UK to support Precision Panc project for pancreatic cancer

Cancer Research UK has announced an investment of £10m to support the Precision Panc project, which aims to develop personalised treatments for pancreatic cancer patients.

As part of the project, the molecular profile of each individual cancer will be used by the researchers to offer a menu of trials to patients and their doctor that might benefit them.

Initially, the researchers will establish the best way to collect and profile patient tissue samples.

Up to five samples will be taken from each patient’s tumour for further analysis at the University of Glasgow.

University of Glasgow Cancer Research UK pancreatic cancer expert professor Andrew Biankin said: "Precision Panc aims to transform how we treat pancreatic cancer by matching the right treatment to the right patient.

"Because the disease is so aggressive, patients may receive no treatment at all or if they are given an option it will be for just one line of treatment, so it’s essential that the most suitable treatment is identified quickly."

Three trials have been planned as part of this initiative, for which a total of 658 patients would be recruited from various centres across the UK.

Investment from Cancer Research UK will also support two of the three clinical trials, preclinical work, assay development, biomarker work and the molecular sequencing.

Cancer Research UK clinical research director Dr Ian Walker said: "Little progress has been made in outcomes for pancreatic cancer patients over the last 40 years, and we believe that Precision Panc will reshape how we approach treatment development."