The Lymphoma Association has launched Lymphoma TrialsLink, an online information service that can help lymphoma patients in the UK find clinical trials that might be right for them.
Lymphoma TrialsLink pulls information from different clinical trials databases and puts it in one place.
Lymphoma TrialsLink also provides information about different types of clinical trials and interviews with clinicians and patients who have participated in trials.
The service is available via the Lymphoma Association website: www.lymphomas.org.uk/TrialsLink.
At Lymphoma TrialsLink, patients can search by their type of lymphoma and geographical location to find easy-to-understand information about trials.
At present, treatment trials (phases 1/2 and 2/3), non-drug and non-treatment trials, and cross-tumoral trials that are currently recruiting participants in the UK are available on the Lymphoma TrialsLink website. Information on phase 1, phase 4, and invitation-only trials will be introduced in 2017.
Trial information, which is searchable by type of lymphoma and location, is sourced from a number of databases, including Cancer Research UK trials, UK clinical trials gateway, clinicaltrials.gov, and the NCRI Lymphoma Clinical Studies Group.
The data is verified by the coordinating trial center to ensure that closing dates and trial centers are up-to-date. The content on Lymphoma TrialsLink will be updated monthly.
“Clinical trials are essential for investigating drugs for the treatment of lymphatic cancer and improving survivorship rates,” said Jonathan Pearce, Lymphoma Association chief executive.
“Clinical trials aren’t right for everyone, but we want people to feel empowered to make an informed decision. Lymphoma TrialsLink will mean that lymphoma patients who aren’t currently aware of clinical trials will have the opportunity to find out more about relevant trials and make the best possible decisions about their healthcare.”
A recent Lymphoma Association survey of more than 3000 lymphoma patients* revealed that 78% were not given the option of participating in a clinical trial. Of those who were, the majority joined a trial.
“Lymphoma is the UK’s fifth most common cancer, yet it is neither well-known nor easily understood,” Pearce noted. “We are committed to supporting clinical research to help improve knowledge of lymphoma, to drive advances in treatments, and to deliver better outcomes for people affected by lymphoma.”
Lymphoma TrialsLink is funded by voluntary donations from Lymphoma Association supporters who responded to a fundraising appeal earlier this year.
*A quality health survey commissioned in 2016 by the Lymphoma Association. The full results of the survey are expected to be published soon.