Trials and Tribulations | Oncology Trials Podcast

Tune in to this insightful episode featuring Dr Ash Tewari, leading urologist and prostate cancer expert from Mount Sinai, New York. He discusses the complexities of prostate cancer management, highlighting the role of biology, genomics, and AI in diagnosis and treatment. Dr Tewari stresses the importance of personalised care and tackling health disparities. He also shares his experience in robotic surgery and advocates for a more refined, patient-centred approach to treatment.

Tune in to this exciting episode with Dr Alison Tree, Consultant Clinical Oncologist at The Royal Marsden and ICR. We explore the successful delivery of the PACE umbrella trial, with a focus on PACE A and B. Dr Tree shares insights on radiotherapy quality assurance and cost-effectiveness. She also discusses the federated trial model through her role as chair of the MR Linac consortium.

Tune in to this must listen episode with Professor Shankar Siva from the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. We revisit the role of radiotherapy in renal cell cancers, focusing on stereotactic radiotherapy. We discuss the set up of a phase III clinical trial , the importance of collaboration and patient involvement as well as clinically relevant endpoints, patient reported-outcomes and health economics.

Tune in to this must listen episode with Professor Kevin Harrington, Head of Radiotherapy and Imaging at the Institute of Cancer Research and Consultant Clinical Oncologist at The Royal Marsden Hospital. We explore the challenges of conducting clinical trials in cancer research, with a special focus on oncolytic viruses. Professor Harrington delves into the intricacies of trial design, the balance between safety and efficacy, and the patient-centric approach shaping the future of oncology. He also discusses regulatory and funding obstacles and offers valuable insights for early-career researchers navigating this complex landscape.

Tune in to this must-listen episode with Dr. Anna Kirby, Consultant Clinical Oncologist at the Royal Marsden Hospital and Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK. She shares insights into the challenges and successes of designing and conducting breast cancer radiotherapy trials, including FAST-FORWARD Boost, and highlights the crucial role of patient and public involvement. As a past president of ESTRO, Dr. Kirby also reflects on the impact of international guidelines, discussing both their successful implementation and the challenges faced in ensuring widespread adoption.

Join us for an engaging episode with Professor Declan Murphy, Co-host of the GU Cast Podcast, Director of GU Oncology and Robotic Surgery at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia. We explore the challenges of surgeon heterogeneity, the critical role of equipoise, and why involving urologists early is essential for the success of clinical trials. Discover how multidisciplinary collaboration, cutting-edge innovation, and advanced imaging are transforming the landscape of urological surgical trials!

Join us for this must-listen episode with Dr. Renu Eapen, co-host of GU Cast podcast! She shares insights on balancing clinical practice and research and navigating PhD challenges. We discuss the importance of good mentorship and women’s representation in the field. We also hear about her exciting work on the Lutectomy trial.

In this episode, Mr Ashwin Sachdeva, Consultant Urologist and Academic Clinical Lecturer at the University of Manchester discusses the following: 00:00 Introduction 02:10 Utilising NHS Data for long-term follow-up 04:40 Fracture rates and hormone therapy in prostate cancer 07:05 Challenges in trial follow-up and data collection 11:18 Imaging and its role in prostate cancer 17:58 Prospective imaging collection in the STAMPEDE trial 22:32 Balancing surgery and research 26:31 Future directions in prostate cancer research

In this episode, Professor Michael Hofman shares his experience with PSMA theranostics trials in prostate cancer, particularly focusing on the ProPSMA and TheraP trials. He emphasises the advancements in PSMA PET imaging, highlighting its prognostic and predictive significance, as well as the importance of accurate imaging in guiding treatment decisions. He also addresses the challenges of conducting imaging clinical trials and discusses the importance of industry collaboration in research.

In Episode 8, featuring Professor Udai Banerji, we discuss the set up of early phase clinical trials.

In Episode 7, featuring Professor Neha Vapiwala, we discuss the strengths and challenges of clinical trial setup in the US, the intricacies of international collaborations, and provide an overview of next-generation imaging with PSMA PET in the STAMPEDE2 and INDICATE clinical trials.

In episode 6, featuring Professor Piet Ost, we explore what works well and the challenges with international clinical trial collaborations.

In episode 5, featuring Professor Silke Gillessen and Professor Vedang Murthy, we explore what works well and the challenges with international clinical trial collaborations. Timestamps: (00:00)- Introduction (00:28) - Silke Gillessen (05:02) - Interlude (05:05) - Vedang Murphy

In Episode 4, featuring Professor Silke Gillessen, we explore the STAMPEDE trial’s Metformin comparison, discussing its rationale and predicted outcomes. We also tap into challenges with access to routine data and clinical trial regulation.

In episode 3, we discuss the set-up of the STAMPEDE2 trial database and the first site initiation visit (SIV). We also give an overview of the STAMPEDE2 trial design.

In episode 2, we discuss the challenges that clinical trials face in accessing routinely collected data.

In episode 1, we discuss the STAMPEDE2 trial site set-up, ethics and MHRA issues.