Experts to assess treatment offering cancer patients hope of more time with loved ones

CITY PROFESSOR LEADING STUDY INTO ASBESTOS-LINKED DISEASE

- By STAFF REPORTER

A CLINICAL trial is investigating a new personalised treatment for patients with a rare and aggressive form of cancer, potentially giving them more time with loved ones.

Mesothelioma forms in the lining of the lungs or abdomen and is linked to exposure to dangerous asbestos fibres. About 2,700 people are diagnosed with the disease each year, but outcomes and survival rates are poor.

SELECTmesol is the name of the trial investigating whether a targeted treatment can improve outcomes for patients with a particular genetic biomarker.

The trial is led by Professor Dean Fennell, and Professor Gareth Griffiths from the Leicester and Southampton NIHR Biomedical Research Centres (BRC) respectively and run by the Cancer Research UK Southampton Clinical Trials Unit, with funding from Asthma + Lung UK.