Improving patient care for older men/adults with metastatic prostate cancer
January 24, 2023
The Rising Tide Foundation for Clinical Cancer Research (RTFCCR) is supporting the opening of a new clinical trial at the University Health Network in Toronto, Canada. The trial, led by Dr Shabbir Alibhai, aims at improving the care of older patients suffering from metastatic prostate cancer and undergoing androgen receptor axis-targeted agents (ARATs) therapy.
The new class of therapeutics improves survival but causes substantial side effects, particularly in older men, reducing the quality of life, and potentially leading to the premature stopping of treatment. Current care consists of access to a nurse triage telephone line and clinic visits once every 1-3 months.
Dr Alibhai will test the feasibility and efficacy in improving quality of life and reducing severe side effects of treatment (including hospitalization) of two different types of care, alone and in combination: remote symptom monitoring (RSM) and geriatric assessment and management (GA+M). “I am really excited to launch this trial to test two innovative supportive care strategies to improve the cancer journey for older men with advanced prostate cancer with the help of Rising Tide Foundation,” says Dr. Alibhai.
Men who receive GA+M will get recommendations and monthly follow-ups from an oncology nurse. The nurse will also connect them to community resources if needed (e.g. physiotherapy, dietitian). Men assigned to RSM will have weekly symptom monitoring online or by telephone as well as symptom management provided by an oncology nurse, if needed. The control group will receive usual care. 168 patients, aged 70 or older, will be recruited at 2 centers in Canada.
RTFCCR strongly believes in improving treatment options and quality of care for cancer patients, in particular for more vulnerable populations. This grant has the potential to have direct, significant impact on the quality of life of older men dealing with metastatic prostate cancer. “This clinical trial represents a further step in RTFCC
R’s commitment to supporting the care of elderly people through their journey against cancer,” says Rising Tide CEO, Wendelin Zellmayer.
About the Rising Tide Foundation for Clinical Cancer Research
Rising Tide Foundation for Clinical Cancer Research is a charitable, non-profit organization established in 2010 and located in Schaffhausen, Switzerland. RTFCCR’s primary consideration in granting support is given to innovative, patient-centered clinical research. The long-term ambition of the foundation is to bring the maximum benefit in the shortest time possible to cancer patients. The foundation works towards this objective by fostering partnerships and striving to attract and support the best in Phase I to Phase III clinical trials. The foundation efforts are focused on the creation of less toxic therapeutic approaches, better disease burden management, earlier cancer detection, and innovative intervention strategies that will lead to increased quality of life and survival for patients.