A CTC study investigating the treatment of recurrent ovarian cancer has opened to recruitment at UCLH and Hammersmith Hospital.
PROMPT is a phase II trial which will give an immunotherapy drug to patients who have previously received chemotherapy for an ovarian tumour. The drug, which is called pembrolizumab, works by stimulating the body’s immune system to fight cancer cells. Researchers are looking to find out whether this treatment can help prevent the return or growth of a patient’s tumour.
The study also involves two biopsies for the patients who participate, the first taken after a patient is recruited, and the next taken before their fourth dose of immunotherapy treatment. The biopsies are intended to help researchers better understand the effects pembrolizumab has on the immune system. Analysing these samples will also create data which might provide further help in selecting suitable candidates for treatment in the future.
Trial coordinator Anne-Marie Mullin was happy to see the first sites on board: ‘This is a very promising study, and it’s great to have both hospitals taking part in a trial which could have such an influence on the future treatment of ovarian cancer’.
PROMPT is now recruiting patients and will soon be open to a further hospital in London. It is supported by Merck Sharp & Dohme Ltd.