Effect of COVID-19 on cancer research nursing services

Abstract

BackgroundEarly phase clinical trials in cancer care are the cornerstone of future developments in treatment and are critical to enhancing the therapies available for patients. Phase 1 and 2 clinical trials provide evidence of safety and efficacy that is critical to drug licensing. Treatments in phase 1 and 2 clinical trials have not yet been approved for use in humans and represent the first phase of testing to ascertain if a new treatment is effective, safe, if there are side effects and optimal dose. Only when these criteria have been established can such treatments progress to phase 3 clinical trials and thereafter gain approval through the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) to be used in the NHS. However, in situations where no further treatment options are available to a patient with cancer, treatments being tested in phase 1 and 2 clinical trials can be made available and offer these patients a chance to continue treatment against the disease (Cancer research UK 2021).Across the UK, a network of 18 adult and 11 children's experimental cancer medicine centres (ECMCs) support phase 1 and 2 clinical trials research. Cancer research nurses have a vital role in the care of patients in early Citation