- A new £6.9 million programme of clinical trials, EPIC-GB, will be launched in Sheffield to help improve survival and quality of life for people living with glioblastoma
- The trials will allow patients to receive treatments before surgery, helping researchers quickly identify which drugs reach the tumour and are most effective
- Patients in Yorkshire, who often have lower survival rates and fewer opportunities to take part in research, will gain improved access to innovative treatments closer to home
- The trials will bring together the NHS, researchers and people affected by cancer across multiple UK centres, with individual experiences helping shape how the trials are designed and delivered
New ground-breaking clinical trials designed to improve survival and quality of life will be available in Sheffield for people with glioblastoma, the most common type of brain cancer.
Funded by Yorkshire Cancer Research, EPIC-GB is a £6.9 million programme led by experts at the University of Sheffield and the University of Glasgow, which aims to transform how drug treatments are tested for people with recurrent glioblastoma, helping patients access new and potentially life-extending treatment options.
Glioblastoma is the most common and fastest-growing brain cancer, with most patients experiencing recurrence within the first year. Unfortunately, many cancer drugs are ineffective at treating glioblastoma as they are unable to pass through the blood-brain barrier, a protective layer around the brain, and reach the tumour.
Survival rates for patients in Yorkshire are often lower than the national average with individuals also having fewer opportunities to take part in clinical trials.
The EPIC-GB trials will enable people to trial treatments before surgery. Tumour tissue removed during the operation can then be studied, creating a valuable 'window of opportunity' to quickly understand which drugs reach the tumour and are likely to be effective.
This approach enables patients with recurrent glioblastoma to continue promising treatment or stop ineffective ones early, reducing unnecessary side effects and allowing quicker access to alternatives.
Delivered through dedicated Centres of Excellence for brain cancer, the trials will be available in Sheffield, Leeds, Hull, Edinburgh, Manchester and Nottingham. These centres will bring together the NHS, researchers, pharmaceutical companies and people affected by cancer, helping people access new treatments closer to home.
Those affected by brain cancer are at the heart of decision-making throughout the trial. By sharing their perspectives, whether living with glioblastoma themselves, or supporting a loved one, they play a vital role in shaping how EPIC-GB will be designed and delivered
In Sheffield, 72-year-old Polly is sharing her experience after her sister, Sue, sadly died from brain cancer aged 69.
Sue was diagnosed with a grade 4 glioblastoma in December 2020 after experiencing unusual symptoms, including episodes of shaking and difficulties with her spatial awareness.
Due the tumour's location and fast-growing nature, surgery was not possible and treatment options were very limited. Sadly, her health declined quickly and she died just months later, a few days before her 70th birthday and the birth of her first grandchild.
Reflecting on her sister's diagnosis, Polly said the speed at which events unfolded was devastating for her and her family: "It felt unbearable that Sue had only just received a diagnosis and already we were talking about end-of-life care. There simply wasn't anything they could offer to help her. No family should have to face that with so little hope.
"Cancers don't behave the same in everybody, and that's especially true with glioblastoma. Cells respond differently to different drugs, which makes it incredibly complex. There is still so much we don't understand about this disease, so it's encouraging to see the EPIC-GB trials involve people from all kinds of backgrounds. Finding treatments that work for different people is vital, especially when time is so critical.
"If supporting more research into brain cancers means other families have more time and more hope, then my sister's legacy lives on."
Dr Ola Rominiyi, Clinical Lecturer in Neurosurgery at the University of Sheffield and Neurosurgical Resident at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "Despite our best efforts, current treatments for fast-growing brain cancers are not good enough to resist the aggressive nature of the disease and they remain challenging to treat. People in Yorkshire have also historically faced fewer opportunities to take part in research for glioblastoma. Boldly supported by Yorkshire Cancer Research, we're optimistic this new study is a vital step forward, ensuring more people can access promising new treatments and giving hope where options have too often been limited."
Dr Stuart Griffiths, Director of Research, Policy and Impact at Yorkshire Cancer Research said: "For far too long, people with glioblastoma have faced limited treatment options and there remains an urgent need for more research. EPIC-GB opens new opportunities for people with recurrent glioblastoma, including those underrepresented in research, to trial potentially life-extending treatments. These advancements have the potential to give people in our region more years of life, resulting in more time spent with loved ones.
"This ground-breaking study shows the charity's commitment to bringing innovative clinical trials to Yorkshire, so people in the region can be among the first to benefit from pioneering cancer breakthroughs. Yorkshire Cancer Research hopes this vital work will help position Yorkshire as an attractive region for future investment in clinical trials."
The research reflects the University of Sheffield's commitment to independent thinking and a shared ambition, demonstrating how creative minds at Sheffield are helping to shape solutions to global challenges.
