We are delighted to share that recruitment for our Phase II VADER trial for bowel cancer is now complete, at nine centres across Australia.
This means that nearly 40 patients in Victoria, South Australia, New South Wales and Queensland are receiving an innovative combination treatment for their advanced bowel cancer.
The VADER trial is assessing the effectiveness of adding a medicine called sodium valproate (VPA) to first treatment with cetuximab or panitumumab for patients with bowel cancer that has spread (or metastasised).
VPA is not a new drug: it has been used to treat epilepsy and mood disorders for several decades.
Cetuximab and panitumumab are known to potentially slow down or stop the growth of cancer cells. This trial is investigating whether adding VPA can help these drugs kill cancer cells.
Professor Niall Tebbutt, VADER Trial Lead, said:
“We will follow up the outcomes of patients in the trial to assess how well the treatment worked over time.”
Prof John Mariadason, trial Co-Chair and Translational Lead, said:
“We will also be analysing blood and tumour samples from these patients to gain new insights into the biology by which this treatment impacts tumour growth.”
The team hope that results from this trial could create more effective treatment avenues for patients.
According to Bowel Cancer Australia, stage IV or metastatic bowel cancer has a 13.4% 5-year survival rate, and more effective treatment solutions are urgently needed.
ONJCRI is proud to be the coordinating centre for this important trial, sponsored by the Australasian Gastro-Intestinal Trials Group (AGITG).