CRISTAL-APC Team Secures CRUK Funding to Advance Translational Research in EarlyPhase Clinical Trial
The CRISTAL-APC study team, led by Programme co-lead Dr Bristi Basu, recently secured funding from Cancer Research UK (CRUK) Clinical Research Committee to enable translational research linked to the ongoing multicentre Phase I/II clinical trial of a C-C Motif Chemokine Receptor 1 (CCR1) inhibitor in combination with chemotherapy in patients with pancreatic cancer, which was based on laboratory findings from CRUK Cambridge Institute.
The award of half a million pounds for clinical trial, sample collection and experimental medicine modules will support the collection and multi-omic analysis of patient samples from participating sites across the UK, including biomarkerfocused studies aimed at improving understanding of treatment mechanism and effects. The studies are being performed in collaboration with colleagues at Glasgow and Mo Lotfollahi’s research group at the Wellcome Sanger Institute with plans to apply artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques to -omics data to model therapeutic responses. Co-applicants on the successful grant included Academic Clinical Lecturer in Medical Oncology Alexander Azizi, and a representative of the Patient Public Involvement Group, Sally Pascall.
“The CRISTAL-APC study showcases an example of discovery at the heart of clinical research. We are delighted that the award from CRUK recognises the importance of an integrated approach, bringing together clinical and laboratory expertise so we can translate pre-clinical and earlyphase findings into knowledge that can guide the next research questions and subsequent therapeutic strategies for patients. It will enable us to learn as much as possible from every patient enrolled” said Dr Bristi Basu, Chief Investigator of CRISTAL-APC.
The Phase I/II trial is currently recruiting patients across multiple UK centres and is initially assessing the safety, tolerability, and optimal dosing of CCR1 inhibitor VP-002 when administered alongside standard chemotherapy agents, before assessing its efficacy compared with standard treatment in patients with advanced pancreatic ductal carcinoma.
To learn more about CRISTAL-APC, please visit the website cristal-apc.co.uk.