Lung cancer

Programme description

The Christie Hospital registers > 1000 new patients with lung cancer per year. The clinical service is closely integrated with clinical research spanning early to late phase systemic therapy trials with a focus on precision medicines and immune oncology, radiotherapy-related research and translational, biomarker research. There is also a patient experience, supportive and palliative care research group with a focus on validating objective tools for measurement of patient experience and interventions for the respiratory symptom cluster: cough, breathlessness and fatigue.

The Christie lung cancer group was designated joint Cancer Research UK Lung Centre of Excellence Status with University College London in 2014. This status recognised a track record of excellence in internationally leading clinical and translational research; in particular ground breaking research in circulating tumour cells as a biomarker and tool for drug development in small cell lung cancer.

The clinical trials team maintains a portfolio of trials that encompass small cell and non-small cell lung cancer, supporting the studies being conducted by the National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI), Lung Clinical Studies Group, the EORTC Lung and Radiotherapy Groups, working with Pharma on industry- sponsored trials and conducting its own, investigator-initiated studies. Dedicated research clinics facilitate high patient recruitment and delivery of complex study protocols.
Professors Fiona Blackhall (medical oncology) and Corinne Faivre-Finn (radiation oncology) lead the clinical research teams. They work closely with partners at Manchester Cancer Research Centre including Professor Caroline Dive (translational biomarker research), Professor Van Herk Marcel (Chair in Radiotherapy Physics), Professor Janelle Yorke (Chair in supportive and palliative care research).

There are four dedicated research out-patient clinics in the week, and >5 clinics for patients receiving standard of care treatment, one of which is multidisciplinary, where patients are seen by medical oncology and radiation oncology for combined modality treatment.

The Christie serves a population of £3.2 million and also serves 11 peripheral hospitals where patients with lung cancer are diagnosed. Visiting oncologists attend peripheral hospitals and surgery is centrally located at University Hospital South Manchester, where there is an active programme of research in early detection and early disease. Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) Meetings occur four times per week, bringing together respiratory physicians, oncologists, surgeons, pathologists and radiologists from each of four geographically placed sectors. This ensures equal access to treatment and research across the area of the North West served. Lung cancer rates are higher in the North West of England than elsewhere in England. In Manchester, lung cancer is the commonest cause of premature death.
The overall goal of this residency programme is to provide a rich learning environment in all aspects of care and treatment of lung cancer. The fellow will gain knowledge and insight into management of a programme of routine clinical care alongside clinical research. The programme can also be tailored to the specific interests of the individual, depending on experience. All Fellows will have the opportunity to contribute to the research portfolio with an individual project with the aim of leading to published abstracts and papers and will have an active role in the management of patients treated within clinical trials. Fellows will be based at The Christie site.