Pioneering radiotherapy breast cancer trial opens in Guildford | News

Royal Surrey has been selected as one of the first centres in the UK to take part in a ground-breaking clinical trial that could significantly reduce radiotherapy treatment time for breast cancer patients.

The FAST-Forward Boost trial, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research and led by The Institute of Cancer Research, London, will look at whether the full course of treatment, including the tumour site boost dose, can safely be delivered in just five days, cutting treatment time by up to 75 per cent.

Currently, some patients receive radiotherapy to the whole breast for up to three weeks, followed by an additional week of targeted treatment to the area where the tumour was removed. 

The final ‘boost’ dose is designed to further lower the risk of the cancer coming back.

The new trial will test if giving an equivalent dose to the whole breast with the boost in just five days, is as safe and effective as the current method.

Sandra Dymond, Advanced Radiotherapy Practitioner, said: “This is ground-breaking research that has the potential to transform breast cancer care.

“We hope that it will show that we can make treatment quicker and more convenient, without compromising on outcomes or increasing the side effects for our patients.

“Ultimately, we believe this will enable women to resume their lives more quickly, while also allowing centres, like the one here in Guildford, to treat even more patients.

“At Royal Surrey we are passionate about research and participation in this study shows once again that our teams really are at the forefront of cancer care.”

Royal Surrey currently sees around 150 breast cancer patients a year, who could benefit from the research findings.

Charlene Coetzee is the first patient the trust’s Research Team has signed up to the trial. She underwent surgery in April this year after finding a cancerous lump in her breast.

The 49-year-old Audiological Scientist from Farnham, Surrey, said: "I was deeply aware that all the treatment I had received up to this point was only possible because, at some stage, other brave women had put their hands up and agreed to take part in research trials.

“Signing up was a bit of a no-brainer for me, and I was keen to be part of something that might make the road a little easier for the women who come after me."

The study, led and sponsored by The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), has been described as the largest radiotherapy trial for breast cancer ever run in the UK and aims to recruit a total of 4,830 participants from more than 40 hospitals.

Dr Nita Patel, Consultant Clinical Oncologist and Principal Investigator for the trial at Royal Surrey added: “We were handpicked as one of the first centres in the country to take part in the trial, due to our strong track record in radiotherapy research and high patient numbers. 

“We were the fifth cancer centre to open, which demonstrates that Royal Surrey Cancer Centre is at the forefront of cancer care. This achievement is a testament to all the hard work the Radiotherapy team has put in. I am proud to be part of such an amazing team.”

Dr Anna Kirby, Chief Investigator of FAST-Forward Boost, based at the Royal Marsden and The Institute of Cancer Research, said “We are delighted that the Royal Surrey County Hospital are participating so actively in the FAST-Forward Boost Trial. By working together with motivated and dedicated teams such as theirs, we will be able to deliver this trial promptly with the ultimate aim of being able to offer shorter treatment schedules to as many patients as possible needing breast cancer radiotherapy.”