|
The Primrose Oncology Clinical Research Unit |
A
core clinical research team has been created, led by Dr Thomas entirely self
funded entirely from commercial, lottery and charitable sources. Translational
research projects have been established via the appointment of Dr Naderi, a
Medical Oncologist who also runs a Lab in
We are now recruit 38% of patients into home grown, NCRN or commercial trials annually. A source of funding in addition to the 100k raised form Dr Thomas leading a team in the London Marathon each year. All team members, including our receptionist, participate in clinical research and have presented work in international meetings each year.
Summary
of completed projects
|
Title
|
Publication:
Journal & date |
Key
improvements |
|
Patient’s
preferences for video recorded information.
Effect of age, sex & ethnic group. |
Thomas
R, Deary A, D. Stockton, |
We learnt from patients how they want information
and discovered deficits in our service.
|
|
Patient
information satisfaction following a diagnosis of cancer. |
Deary
A, Thomas R. Annuls of Oncology. 1999, 9, S4, p143. |
This is initial survey showed that patient were
dissatisfied |
|
Anxiety
& Depression - Effect on patient’s preferences for info. |
Thomas
R, Brown C, Stockton D. Anns of Onc 9, S4, pp 141. |
Poor information is associated with Anxiety and
depression |
|
Epo
for anaemia & qol in patients undergoing chemotherapy |
H
Thomas, R Thomas, K McAdam, |
Epo improved anaemia and qol |
|
Epoeitin:
Attitudes of community and hospital nursing staff. |
A
Deary & R Thomas. EJC. Vol.35. Suppl.4. p.30
(ab. 92). |
Epo use is well accepted by nursing staff |
|
Do
patient's want the same information as the GP? |
Kaminski
E, Deary A, Thomas R. EJC. 1997. 33, S8, 1391. |
Most but not all and may frighten some. |
|
Patient
preferences for a breast care nurse specialist. |
Shingler
G, Smith S, Thomas R. EJC. 1997. Vol. 33, S8, 1397. |
Accepted greater responsibilities of
breast care nurses |
|
Patients
attitudes to a bespoke filofax information system. |
Kaminski
E, Balusu R, Thomas R. EJC.
1997,. 33, S8, 1401. |
Highly acceptable |
|
Patient
information: A new structured information package. |
DeZeeuz
N, Bulusu R, Thomas R. EJC.
1997. 33, S8, 1400 |
Feed back from patients helped us design this file |
|
Where
do patients seek additional information after a diagnosis? |
Shingler
G, Bulusu R, Thomas R. EJC. 1997. Vol. 33, Sup8, 1426. |
Interesting insight into patient behaviour – word
of mouth |
|
Why
Oncologist should provide a web site for their patients. |
L
|
Uncontrolled internet sites. We developed
cancernet.co.uk |
|
Forewarned
is forearmed – preparatory information on video cassette for
chemotherapy & radiotherapy - a randomised trial. |
Thomas
R, Daly M, Perryman B, |
We developed, then evaluated an information film,
free at |
|
Developing
and evaluating a regional information strategy. |
R
Thomas, C.Lockery. EJC 2001 vol 37, supp.2 pp 62 |
This review summarised our information strategies |
|
Lyphpoma
Chemotherapy – an audit of neutrpenia, dose intensity, and gcsf use in
the |
R
Thomas, J.Sweetman, P Hoskins. EJC 2001 vol 37, supp.2 pp119 |
Showed the lack of maintaining dose intensity in
the |
|
Adjuvant
|
R
Thomas and R Leonard. EJC 2001 vol 37, supp.2 pp61 |
Showed the diverse choice of regimens and lack of
maintenance of dose intensity |
|
Lessons
Learnt from Raltitrexed – QA, Patient Education and Intensive Supportive
Drugs |
R.J.
Thomas, M. Williams, J. Garcia-Vargas Clinical Oncology (2003) 00:1-6 |
For
colorectal cancer - Showed how to optimize tolerability, now
AstraZeneca guidelines |
|
Examining
quality of life issues in relation to endocrine therapy for breast cancer. |
Robert
Thomas. American Journal of Clinical Oncology 2003. Vol. 26, No. 4, p
S40-44 |
Showed the importance of letting patients have
greater input into their management. |
|
RTO1
(MRC) |
National
publication |
Conformal Rxt better |
|
Viktor
study (MRC) |
National
Publication |
Trial stopped - cardiac morbidity |
|
Measuring
information strategies – developing an information satisfaction
questionnaire |
Thomas
R, Kaminski E, Stanton E and Williams M. EJCC, 2004, 13, 65-70. |
This questionnaire is now used internationally to
measure patient satisfaction to information |
|
Giving
patients a choice improves qol: A multi-centre, investigator-blind, RCT of
letrozole v anastrozole |
R.
Thomas, S. Godward, A. Makris, D. Bloomfield, A.M. Moody, M. Williams.
Clinical Oncology (2004) 16: 485-491. |
Qol and tolerability can be improved by giving
patients a choice. |
|
Patient
Information materials in Oncology: Are they needed and do they work? |
Thomas
R, and H Thorton. Clinical
Oncology 1999;11: 225-231. |
This review helped us understand the available
literature and improve our service |
|
How
to deal with the complexities of patient consent? |
Robert
Thomas. Pulse Clinical pp42-43
Dec2003. |
This review helped us re-write our consent sheet. |
|
The
changing face of informed consent |
R
Thomas. B Journal of Can |
This review also helped us re-write our consent
sheet. |
|
What
are the costs of not using rhEPO to treat anaemia in cancer. |
R
Thomas. Focus on anaemia in cancer. 2002, 3, 2, pp52-53. |
This review identified the most cost effective
patients for epo |
|
NICE
guidance on supportive and palliative care – Implications for Oncology
Teams. |
Dr
R Thomas and Professor Alison Richardson. Clinical Oncology (2004) 16: 420-424. |
Summarised the NICE guidelines for oncologist |
|
The
NICE guidance on supportive and palliative care. |
R
Thomas and Prof A Richardson. B J CM2004. 1. 3 |
Summarised the NICE guidelines for managers |
|
Anaemia
fatigue and Epoeitin in Oncology |
R
Thomas. British Journal of Cancer Management. April 2005. |
A summary of the evidence helped us write the epo
guidance |
|
PET
saves man |
R
Thomas, M Williams & S Old. BJCM 2004 Vol. 1 No. 1 |
Highlighted the advantages of PET in colorectal
oncology |
|
Information
– Local policies or a national strategy? |
Thomas
R, British Medical Journal, 1999, vol 318. page 462 |
Comment on the importance of give local info for
local patients |
|
The
Role of an Italian Volunteer Organisation. |
F.
De lorenzo, R. Thomas,. L. 1998. Health communications. |
Evaluated the Italian translation of our patient
information film. |
|
An
open randomised trial of second-line endocrine therapy in breast cancer:
comparison of the letrozole and anastrozole. |
C.
Rose, O. Vtoraya, A. Pluzanska, N. Davidson, M. R. Thomas, S. Johnson, et
al. EJC 39 (2003) 2318-2327 |
This head to head comparison suggested letrozole
has some advantages in terms of response. |
|
Dietary
advice combined with a salicylate mineral and vitamin supplement (CV247)- a phase II study |
R
Thomas, M Blades, M Williams Nutrition & Food Science. 2005 35 ,6,
436-451. |
One of the first studies to suggest dietary
intervetion after cancer may affect progression |
|
Avastin
saves the day |
R
Thomas, A Eldin, BJCC, 2006, vol.2,no.2,
20-21 |
Interesting case report on the use of Avastin |
|
Erbitux
the new team player |
Y
Habba, R Thomas, D Skipper, M Rees, BJCM Jan 2006 |
Highlights a potential new role for erbitux |
|
Complementary
& alternative medicine- evidence online |
J
Richardson, K Pilkington R Thomas, BJCM 2005, 2;2,10-14 |
Reviewed the evidence for |
|
Can
we move to a paperless information system? |
A
Deary, R Thomas, M Williams ESMO 2005 |
Evaluated the attitudes & costs of an online
only system |
|
Patients
in trials are more satisfied with their received info |
R
Thomas, M Williams ESMO 2005 |
Reassures patients they are well informed in
clinical trials |
|
Phase
111 study of gemcitabine and capecitabine for pancreas |
National
publication |
Help understand the chemo responsiveness of
pancreatic ca. |
|
Can
switching to letrozole improve hot flushes, qol and patient preference |
R
Thomas, L Walker, C Marshall, |
This study, with Hull & Cranfield Universities
highlights the qol benefits of changing to letrozole |
|
Adjuvant
breast cancer drugs – blockbusters or bankrupters |
R
Thomas, J Green, M Callam. BJCM Jan 2006 |
Reviewed evidence & cost of
Rx for our health economics study with |
| Cost effectiveness of adjuvant exemestane | R
Thomas, M Williams, J Glen |
|
| Cost effectiveness of adjuvant arimidex | R
Thomas, M Williams, J Glen - ongoing |
|
| Cost effectiveness of adjuvant taxotere | R
Thomas, M Williams, J Glen - ongoing |
|
|
Can
switching to exemestane improve hot flushes, qol and patient preference |
R
Thomas, L Walker, C Marshall, |
This study, with Hull & Cranfield Universities
highlights the qol benefits of changing to exemestane |
| Double blind randomised trial of CV247 v sodium salicylate in men with indolent prostate cancer | R Thomas, M Williams etc - ongoing | NCRN trial designed at Bedford. completed and being analysed. |
Further general information Your doctors and specialist nurses are in an ideal position to give you relevant information on your disease and treatment as they know your individual circumstances. Cancerbackup has a help line (0808 800 1234) and a prize winning video available in English, Italian, Urdu, Bengali, Gujarati & Hindi explaining Radiotherapy & Chemotherapy. Cancernet.co.uk has over 500 pages describing cancer, its management, practical tips and tool which patients, their carers and their doctors have found helpful during the cancer journey.