Regional collaboration to advance data-driven cancer care
A major research initiative will use data to transform the care and treatment of upper gastrointestinal (GI) cancers.
This includes oesophageal, gastric and other abdominal cancers.
The project is being delivered within the Innovation for Translation Research Group (ITRG) at the University of Southampton (UoS).
It is led by Professor Tim Underwood. He is a consultant upper GI surgeon at UHS, where he leads the multidisciplinary team for upper GI cancers. Prof Underwood is also a Professor of GI Surgery at UoS.
Collaborative research
PLANETS Cancer Charity are funding around half of this regional collaboration.
It is also being supported by other organisations in the region. They include Portsmouth Hospitals Charity, University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust and Southampton Hospitals Charity.
PLANETS' support includes the development of a new role. It is held by Matthew Osadebamwen. He is a health data specialist.
The appointment will enable accurate, secure and timely data acquisition. It will be gathered from hospitals beyond UHS. These include the Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth and Royal Bournemouth Hospital.
“This role enables us to link and expand high-quality clinical data across multiple NHS sites. It will support real-time, data-driven cancer care,” said Prof Underwood.
Data-driven care
The project builds on the ITRG’s groundbreaking work in combining clinical, pathological and translational science data. This is improving outcomes for patients with upper GI cancers.
Prof Underwood said: “Thanks to the support of PLANETS Cancer Charity and other partners, we are now able to refine and validate tools that predict prognosis. This assists clinicians in delivering best-practice care.”
Patient benefit
A major milestone of the project so far has been the development of a clinical dashboard. This supports real-time decision making during multidisciplinary team meetings.
The project initially launched using UHS data. The next phase involves integrating updated and external datasets to validate the tool. This will increase its reliability and widen its clinical application.
The project also lays the foundation for enhanced recruitment into clinical trials across the south coast.
Future work will develop AI-based tools to streamline NHS cancer decision making.
Long term, it will expand into neuroendocrine tumour and pancreatic cancer care pathways.
PLANETS is based at UHS. The charity supports people with pancreatic, liver, colorectal, oesophageal, gastric and neuroendocrine cancers. It funds innovative research, treatments and patient support services across southern England.
Layla Stephen is Director of Strategy and Finance at PLANETS.
She said: “This is exactly the kind of forward-thinking, collaborative research that PLANETS exists to support.
“We are proud to have committed funds on behalf of our supporters for this project. It will have lasting, tangible benefits for patients now and in the future.”