RESEARCH SAVES LIVES

Research Saves Lives

“Every cancer treatment we have today was made possible by a clinical trial,” says Dr. Bernie Eigl, director of BC Cancer’s Provincial Clinical Trials Office. Not only are the more than 350 clinical trials operating a year in B.C. crucial to advancing care, they’re a lifeline for patients who are out of options. 

For Allan Wolfram, participating in leading-edge research ensured he was there to celebrate the first birthday of his youngest grandson — whom he would not have met without the life-saving opportunity.

Allan was living in Winnipeg when he was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in 2019 and given up to a year on palliative chemotherapy. When he learned of a trial in immunotherapy, a treatment that harnesses the body’s immune system, he jumped at the chance. The only problem, it was at BC Cancer – Kelowna.

“It was the first time in months I had any hope,” says Allan, who days later boarded a plane, and eventually moved, to B.C’s Interior.

Within hours of his first treatment, he regained feeling in his toes which he had lost due to the fact that, unbeknownst to Allan, his cancer had metastasized to his brain. After a CT revealed this, the trial was put on hold and Allan was referred to a neurosurgeon. On the day of the operation, a final scan yielded a surprise: the brain tumour had shrunk and he wouldn’t surgery.

BC Cancer oncologist Dr. Kaethe Clarke was thrilled to inform Allan he could resume treatment on the trial. A month later, she had more good news: the tumour on his esophagus had disappeared. Allan continued treatment for several years, and is still carefully monitored, but shows no signs of cancer. He’s incredibly grateful for the added years and to have played a role in advancing treatment for others.

“Every time we see a patient we should be asking if there’s a clinical trial they can take part in ,” says Dr. Eigl.” Thanks to a province-wide system, BC Cancer is in a unique position to support this. Historically, however, participating in a trial required a patient to travel or temporarily relocate to a major centre.

“Now, there are quite a few initiatives underway, and BC Cancer is a leader in this, to increase access for patients in more remote communities,” says Dr. Eigl.

One example the BC Cancer Foundation is fundraising $2.2 million to support, is SIMPLIFY, a BC Cancer – Prince George-led trial testing a single dose of high-precision radiation in metastatic cancer compared to up to eight weeks of traditional radiotherapy, that will be available at all six provincial centres.

Unlike pharmaceutical-funded trials, which focus on bringing new drugs to market, research with a “less is more” approach, especially in radiation therapy, is almost entirely fuelled by donors, says Dr. Eigl.

“Can we give less treatments to save time and money but also benefit patients in terms of reducing harmful side effects? Philanthropic support is crucial to do this kind of research.”