Southampton Clinical Trials Unit
The Centre for Cancer Immunology is home to the Southampton Clinical Trials Unit (SCTU), which has the overall responsibility for the design, recruitment, data management, publicity and analysis of randomised controlled trials taking place in Southampton and further afield.
Many of the trials managed by the SCTU are investigating new ways to treat people with cancer, some of which, involve immunotherapy.
Being located within the Centre for Cancer Immunology, the SCTU works alongside scientists in the laboratories and clinicians on the wards in Southampton General Hospital, which allows more clinical trials to take place with results going from bench to bedside at a faster rate. Take a tour.
Professor Gareth Griffiths, SCTU DirectorOur role is to develop clinical trials that will investigate new cancer therapies, in the hope we can find new treatments that will benefit patients.
SCTU immunotherapy trials
ARGO
ARGO is a phase II trial evaluating the addition of Atezolizumab to current therapy of Rituximab, Gemcitabine and Oxaliplatin (R-GemOx) for patients with relapsed or refractory Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) who are not candidates for high-dose therapy.
Read more here.
ACCEPT
ACCEPT is a phase Ib and II trial testing a combination of acalabrutinib with rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisolone (R-CHOP) for patients with Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma (DLBCL).
Read more here.
CONFIRM
CONFIRM is a double blind randomised phase III trial comparing nivolumab (anti-PD-1 antibody) monotherapy to a placebo, in patients with mesothelioma.
Read more here
RiVA
RiVa is a phase IIA clinical trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of combining a direct tumour targeting antibody (rituximab) with an immunostimulatory antibody (varlilumab) for the treatment of patients with relapsed or treatment-refractory B-cell lymphoma.
Read more here.
HARE 40
HARE-40 is a phase I and II trial evaluating a vaccine called RNA for people with cancer that tested positive to the human papilloma virus (HPV positive). HPV cancers include head and neck and cervical cancer.
Read more here.
How do I get on a clinical trial?
We know that people affected by cancer will have many questions, particularly about how to join a clinical trial.
Our advice is always, speak to your cancer specialist, GP or treating physician He/she will either refer you to the SCTU or, if appropriate, help you find another centre where the trial is open.
Once you have been referred, the specialist centre will screen patients for eligibility through various tests, in accordance with strict protocol. If the you meet all the relevant criteria and your physician agrees with you that participation is in your best interest, you will be able to participate in a trial. You will, of course, be asked for your full consent.
Professor Gareth Griffiths , SCTU DirectorWe are so grateful to the patients who consent to be part of clinical trials. If it wasn’t for the patients, we just wouldn’t be able to do them.