Nova Scotia Health will soon begin enrolling patients in an early-stage clinical trial testing an experimental cancer treatment designed to find cancer cells and deliver radiation directly to the tumour, while limiting exposure to the rest of the body.
The trial is studying a new therapy that combines two pieces:
- a targeting drug that looks for specific “markers” found on some cancer cells, and
- a targeted delivery radioactive medicine that can damage and destroy those cells once it reaches the tumour.
This approach is intended to be more precise than traditional radiation, with the goal of reducing side effects by keeping more of the radiation focused on the tumour.
The study is focused on people with advanced solid tumours who have already tried standard treatment options. It may include patients with cancers such as lung, colorectal, pancreatic, stomach, kidney, and head and neck cancers.
As part of the trial, patients will also receive a special imaging scan to help the research team see where the drug goes in the body — and to help them determine the safest dose levels and which patients may benefit most.
For patients with advanced cancer and limited treatment options, targeted therapies like this represent an important area of research. This trial brings cutting-edge cancer treatment research into the local health system and could help shape future options for care.
