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17th November - Children's University Day
The Centre held it's first Children's University Open Day on Saturday 12th November, with families from local schools visiting cancer awareness stalls and spending time with our scientists in the labs. The children also took away information about how to support the charity through volunteering and we made over £50 on our toy and book stall.
Thanks to researchers Neville Cobbe, Violaine See, Jemma Blocksidge, Joe Slupsky, Mike Davies, Silviya Balabanova, to Research Nurses Lorraine Turner, Laura Borwn, Pembe Yesildag and Helen Jeffrey and to Tom Kearns, Gemma Barnett and Kathryn Marley from LCTU.
8th November - NCRI Conference in Liverpool
This week sees the return of the NCRI conference in Liverpool. The Centre is well represented again this year including, Prof Andy Pettitt in the Clinical Trials Showcase for the CLL206 Trial, Prof John Neoptolemos highlighting the ESPAC-3 trial in the proffered paper session, Prof John Ellershaw is hosting and presenting a session on Prognastication in advanced cancer: How and why?, and Richard Shaw is co-hosting a Head and Neck Cancer Research Workshop, not to mention numerous posters from research groups across the Institute.
NCRN Training Events
For up to date information on training courses run by the National Cancer Research Network please visit the NCRN training page (link below).
Training courses cover a wide range of areas including GCP training, Cancer and anatomy courses and communication of Clinical trials.
5th October - Richard Shaw on Radio Merseyside
On Radio Merseyside's Breakfast Show this week, there has been a focus on Aintree Hospital and they have been on site each morning interviewing various staff and patients.
This morning was the turn of the Head & Neck Cancer Unit Consultant Richard Shaw, who was interviewed alongside a patient. The interview is available to listen to here (please allow a few seconds for media player to appear):
Liverpool Research Nurses raising money for CRUK
On Saturday 17th September a group of nurses and researchers from the Royal Liverpool University Hospital will be undertaking a 55km walk to raise awareness of the Pancreatic Biomedical Research Unit at Liverpool, and to raise funds for CRUK. Taking part are Research Nurses Helen Jeffrey, Laura Brown, Lorna Fleming, Mercy Mbuyongha, Pembe Yesildag and Lorraine Turner. Also taking part are researchers Jane Armstrong and Diane Latawiec. Our supporters include David Fleming-Bird, Brian Hennie, Ann Leech, Christina Rigby and Clare Reid. Any donation you can afford will help us with our life saving work in Liverpool. If you are UK tax payer, then please remember to tick the Gift Aid box, as this increases the value of your gift at no extra cost to you. Please help us raise as much money as possible by spreading the word to your friends, colleagues and family. Together we will beat cancer.
The Story of Henrietta Lacks
Liverpool Cancer Research UK Centre in celebration of Black History Month presents:
The Story of Henrietta Lacks. Read the attached flyer for more information.
On 4th October 1951 a black American woman died of cervical cancer.
Her loving but impoverished family buried her in an un-marked grave.
Cells taken from her body before she died would change the course of medical research forever.
Amanda Harrington visits the Liverpool Cancer Centre
LIVERPOOL model and ECHO columnist, Amanda Harrington visited the Centre to learn about cancer research in the city. The mum-of-one took part in the Knowsley Race For Life earlier this month and urged women to return their sponsorship cash yesterday as she spoke to researchers. She said: 'Taking part in Race For Life was enormous fun, but thousands of women taking part in events all over Merseyside were also making a big difference to the work of Cancer Research UK. “The money raised by Race For Life is vital to helping fund the research which will make a difference to future generations affected by cancer.' Professor John Neoptolemos said: 'More people are now surviving cancer thanks to the work of Cancer Research UK, which in turn relies on everyone who raises money through Race for Life.'
Charlotte begins her long journey!
Charlotte has now completed 4 of her 10 Race for Lifes; Southport (34:05), Wrexham (46:39)and Wigan (23:09), Chester (22:52), Aintree (21:31), Aintree (37:15), Blackpool (21:49) and Blackpool (21:38). Also racing with Charlotte was Laura Marsh, Sarah Jones and Lynn Edwards. Charlotte's estimated time to complete all ten races is now 4 hours 45 minutes. (people taking part in the "time" sweepstake will be keen to keep an eye on this average time!). Her next 2 races will be Aintree.
Liverpool's Superlambanana gets a makeover
Liverpool's Superlambanana has been painted bright pink to promote Cancer Research UK's Race for Life. Logos have also been added for the Race for Life and also for the Liverpool Cancer Trials Unit.
Several members of the LCTU are running the Race for Life and earlier this week had a photoshoot in front of the statue. These pictures can be seen in some local papers - see links below for details. Pictures were also taken of Charlotte Rawcliffe who is bravely running 10 races across the north west!
There are several Race for Lifes happening around the north west. For more information visit the link below.
- Race for Life
- Laura Marsh in the Widnes and Runcorn World
- All the girls in the Liverpool Echo
- Wirral doctor needs you to run the Race For Life
- Sponsor Charlotte at justgiving
- More superlambanana pictures
16th March 2011 - Find out more about cancer
Liverpool Cancer Research UK Centre is hosting an open event on Wednesday 16th March 2011 between 2 and 4 pm.
This event is for anyone interesting in finding out more, or getting involved in, cancer treatment, trials and support services in Liverpool.
- We are looking for people who have experience of cancer to sign up to our new Buddy Scheme.
- We are also looking for people to join the steering groups of Liverpool Cancer Trials Unit, Liverpool Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre and Liverpool Cancer Research UK Centre.
The afternoon includes the chance to meet some of our scientists, doctors and nurses, and to have a look behind the scenes in one of our laboratories. More info Contact emma.squibb@cancer.org.uk or call 0151 794 8823 to confirm your place.
15th February 2011 - Charlotte Runs Ten
Deputy Operational Director of Liverpool Cancer Trials Unit, Charlotte Rawcliffe will be running an incredible ten Race for Life events (that's 50k) this summer, to raise funds for CRUK. Charlotte will be running at events in Merseyside, Cheshire and North Wales and would like a member (or members) of staff to run with her at each event. You can show your support by sponsoring Charlotte on her Just Giving page.
15th February 2011 - Pancreatic Cancer on BBC Radio 4
Case Notes is a medical programme on BBC Radio 4 exploring a different topic each week, with reports and input from experts. This week Case Notes explores why Pancreatic Caner remains so difficult to treat. Every year about 8000 people in the UK are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and the five year survival rate remains depressingly low. Dr Mark Porter investigates. The programme will be on BBC Radio 4, February 15th at 9pm.
ESPAC-4 on Cancer Research UK Website
Each year, around 7,800 people in the UK are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Sadly, the disease is difficult to treat and survival rates are poor.
We urgently need to find better treatments for pancreatic cancer to help beat the disease.
8th September -Chemotherapy Drug Does Not Improve Overall Survival After Resection of Pancreatic Cancer Compared to More Common Treatment
Use of gemcitabine, a drug that can be effective in treating advanced and resected pancreatic cancer, did not result in improved overall survival after pancreatic cancer resection (surgical removal) compared to patients who received fluorouracil and folinic acid, another treatment regimen that has shown effectiveness, according to a study in the September 8 issue of JAMA.
“Pancreatic cancer is one of the major causes of cancer death globally, with a 5-year survival rate of less than 5 percent. The outlook for those patients who can undergo surgical resection is better, and in specialized centers, resection rates greater than 15 percent can be achieved. Although surgery cannot guarantee a cure, the 5-year survival does improve to around 10 percent following resection. There is a clear need to improve long-term survival in these patients,” the authors write.
John P. Neoptolemos, M.D., of the University of Liverpool, U.K., and colleagues conducted a study to determine whether fluorouracil or gemcitabine is superior in terms of overall survival as adjuvant (supplemental) chemotherapy treatment following resection of pancreatic cancer. The European Study Group for Pancreatic Cancer (ESPAC)-3 trial was conducted in 159 pancreatic cancer centers in Europe, Australasia, Japan, and Canada. Included in ESPAC-3 version 2 (the trial was modified) were 1,088 patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma who had undergone cancer resection; patients were randomized between July 2000 and January 2007 and underwent at least 2 years of follow-up. Patients received either fluorouracil plus folinic acid (leucovorin, an active metabolite of folic acid, which counteracts some of the toxic effects of some chemotherapy drugs) (n = 551) or gemcitabine (n = 537) for 6 months.
During the trial, 753 patients (69 percent) had died at the time of analysis (388 [70 percent] in the fluorouracil plus folinic acid group and 365 [68 percent] in the gemcitabine group). Median (midpoint) length of follow-up of 335 living patients was 34.2 months, equal across treatment groups. Overall, 282 of patients remaining alive (84 percent) had undergone follow-up for more than 2 years. Median survival for patients treated with fluorouracil plus folinic acid was 23.0 months and for patients treated with gemcitabine was 23.6 months.
Estimates of survival at 12 and 24 months were 78.5 percent and 48.1 percent, respectively, for the fluorouracil plus folinic acid group and 80.1 percent and 49.1 percent for the gemcitabine group. Analysis indicated no statistically significant difference in survival estimates between the treatment groups.
“Seventy-seven patients (14 percent) receiving fluorouracil plus folinic acid had 97 treatment-related serious adverse events, compared with 40 patients (7.5 percent) receiving gemcitabine, who had 52 events. There were no significant differences in either progression-free survival or global quality-of-life scores between the treatment groups,” the authors write.
“In conclusion, gemcitabine did not result in improved overall survival compared with fluorouracil plus folinic acid in patients with resected pancreatic cancer.”
There is a link to the paper "Adjuvant Chemotherapy With Fluorouracil Plus Folinic Acid vs Gemcitabine Following Pancreatic Cancer Resection" below
19th July - Egerton School of Dance Lab Tour
Members of the Egerton School of Theatre Dance visited the Centre for a Lab Tour on Thursday 15th July. The group raised £2,200 for Cancer Research UK with a musical and dance extravaganza. The group met with Professor Ross Sibson, Professor Neoptolemos, and members of Professor Barr's Group.
17th June - Liverpool Carer's Day
LEAD Manager Emma Squibb, Alan English of Liverpool Cancer Trials Unit and fundraiser Bernie Singleton represented the Centre at Liverpool Carer's Day today. Around 1,000 people attended the event at St. George's Hall. Lady Mayoress of Liverpool Hazel Williams stopped at our stall and wished us well in our work. Our stall received a great many visitors, where we were able to tell people about the work of the Centre, hand out leaflets and posters, and Bernie collected on behalf of Cancer Research UK.
Pancreas Club Meeting 2010
In May, the Pancreas Club held its 44th annual meeting. Douglas B. Evans, MD, from Medical College of Wisconsin presents Adjuvant Therapy for Pancreatic Cancer: Is there a role for radiation therapy?
14th April - Shine walk
On 14th April three members of the LCTU (Seema Chauhan, Charlotte Rawcliffe and Sarah Jones) took part in the Cancer Research UK Shine walk around Manchester City Centre, raising over £2000 between them.
Alison Scott awared Presidents Prize at IPM
Alison Scott, Principal Physicist at Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology, was recently awarded the Presidents prize at the IPEM (Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine) MPEC conference for her presentation on “Modelling and measuring small radiotherapy photon fields”.
Alison has been using Monte Carlo modelling to examine the way small photon fields differ from the larger (>3 cm) fields use more commonly for radiotherapy. These small fields are being used in more centres to treat tiny lesions in the brain and also as part of a composite intensity modulated field which aims to treat the tumour to a high dose whilst sparing abutting organs at risk.
Alison presented work on the variation with density of detector response for very small fields at both the ESTRO conference (where her paper was selected as one of the highlights of the Tuesday) and at The IPEM (Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine) MPEC conference, where her presentation was awarded the Presidents prize.
Professor Francis Barr elected to EMBO
Professor Francis Barr, NWCRF Chair of Molecular Oncology at the University of Liverpool Cancer Research Centre is one of ten CR-UK-funded scientists to be elected to the European Molecular Biology Organisation (EMBO).
EMBO is a prestigious body that promotes excellence in molecular life sciences that recognises and promotes internationally renowned leading life scientists.
Professor Barr is one of 66 leading life scientists who have been awarded membership of EMBO this year. They join a select group of 1,420 of the world’s most prominent molecular biologists.
This award is a further indication of the excellence of the work carried out by the Liverpool CR-UK Centre which will further serve to promote awareness of Cancer Research within the region, nationally and internationally.
PACIFICO trial now open
PACIFICO trial now open. The first patient was recruited on the 10th October 2009. For more information visit the PACIFICO page
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"The experience and treatment I received at the Royal Liverpool Hospital was so fantastic that I had to tell the people involved with my treatment how marvelous they were, so please would you pass on my thanks and gratitude to Professor Neoptolemos and his team of surgeons, the wonderful doctors and nursing staff" - Anon (Participant in ESPAC-3(v2) trial)
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