Develop activities in two new areas relating to brain tumour research

End of project summary

Main Messages 

Within this clinical research time award I conducted research activity in the field of neuro-oncology (the treatment of patients with brain tumours). Brain and central nervous system (CNS) tumours are the thirteenth commonest cause of cancer in Wales but the tenth commonest cause of cancer death. In Wales, the mortality:incidence ratio is high (65.2%), reflecting generally poor outcomes and incidence is increasing (Welsh Cancer Intelligence & Surveillance Unit, Cancer in Wales, 2016). 

There is an urgent need to improve both survival and the quality of life of patients living with brain tumours and to limit the morbidity from treatment. The work conducted within this clinical research time award was aimed at building on the existing academic links between Velindre Cancer Centre (VCC) and the Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC) by developing clinically-relevant and patient-centred neuro-oncology radiotherapy research and also working with national neuro-oncology teams to develop new brain tumour clinical trials addressing these important questions. 

The research conducted within this clinical research time involved three main areas: 

• Measuring changes in tumour blood flow using MRI in patients with primary brain tumours. 
• We applied for and obtained a funding grant, in collaboration with CUBRIC, to conduct a study measuring metabolic changes in blood flow and oxygen levels within brain tumours using MRI scans in patients with primary brain tumours. This study is currently being set-up and is due to open to recruit patients at the end of 2022 and we hope that this study will provide important new understanding of brain tumour metabolism and response to therapy. 
• Developing proton beam radiotherapy research in patients with brain tumours. 
• I worked as part of a national collaborative team developing the second UK national randomised clinical trial comparing proton beam therapy with photon radiotherapy. This trial is being led by the Leeds Cancer Centre in collaboration with VCC, is funded through the NIHR and is due to open to recruitment in early 2023.  

COVID-19 related research work also became an important focus during the period of this award and I was principal investigator for several national COVID-19 clinical trials within VCC.