Understanding patient perspectives on a novel cancer treatment

University College London required a Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement exercise to inform the development of a potential new cancer therapy.

Patient and public involvement is increasingly recognised as essential in medical innovation, particularly for novel cancer therapies where patient acceptance and quality of life considerations are critical to successful translation. For early-stage technologies, understanding patient perspectives can guide development priorities and inform future clinical trial design.

Researchers at University College London are developing a novel approach to cancer treatment and required a structured Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement exercise to assess the acceptability of this novel therapy approach, explore how patients perceived its role alongside existing cancer treatments, and capture lived experiences that could inform translational planning. The exercise also needed to produce professional outputs that would strengthen future translational grant applications and support clinical engagement.

Accelerate Associates has previously conducted extensive market research with clinical key opinion leaders across multiple cancer types, which had identified breast cancer as a key indication for the technology. The PPIE exercise therefore focused on gathering insights from breast cancer patients to complement the clinical perspective already obtained.

Accelerate Associates designed and delivered a The PPIE exercise provided UCL with valuable patient insights that will inform ongoing technology development and future clinical trial planning.

Key findings included:

• Patients indicated a potential strong acceptance of the treatment approach.
• Key drivers of interest emerged, particularly around potential impacts on chemotherapy treatment.
• The emotional impact of cancer diagnosis and treatment was profound and long lasting, with patients reporting that support needs extended well beyond the treatment period into remission.
• Design features of therapy equipment and delivery systems are valued by patients who discussed concerns about claustrophobia (e.g. experienced during imaging procedures) and use of cannulas, PICC lines etc.

The research highlighted the importance of addressing common sense patient questions around safety, efficacy and likelihood of achieving cancer free status in all future patient communications and clinical trial materials. programme engaging UK based breast cancer patients, all of whom were currently in remission. Participants had diverse treatment experiences including surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and hormone therapy, providing a comprehensive range of perspectives.

Depth interviews explored patients’ experiences of diagnosis and treatment, their emotional responses to cancer, and their reactions to the novel therapy concept presented through specially developed patient information materials.

The research captured both rational considerations around safety and efficacy, and emotional responses relating to their lived experience of cancer treatment.

“The PPIE exercise provided us with valuable patient insights that will encourage and inform our ongoing development work. Understanding how patients may respond to the technology concept and what considerations are most important to them has been extremely helpful in planning our next steps.”

Professor Nguyen T. K. Thanh, University College London

The PPIE exercise provided UCL with valuable patient insights that will inform ongoing technology development and future clinical trial planning.

Key findings included:

• Patients indicated a potential strong acceptance of the treatment approach.
• Key drivers of interest emerged, particularly around potential impacts on chemotherapy treatment.
• The emotional impact of cancer diagnosis and treatment was profound and long lasting, with patients reporting that support needs extended well beyond the treatment period into remission.
• Design features of therapy equipment and delivery systems are valued by patients who discussed concerns about claustrophobia (e.g. experienced during imaging procedures) and use of cannulas, PICC lines etc.

The research highlighted the importance of addressing common sense patient questions around safety, efficacy and likelihood of achieving cancer free status in all future patient communications and clinical trial materials.