A PIONEERING cancer treatment is being trialled at a North East hospital in a bid to extend the life expectancy of sufferers.

Pancreatic Cancer UK is encouraging people with severe symptoms of the disease to seek treatment at Middlesbrough’s James Cook University Hospital as part of the HALO 301 trial.

The clinical trial aims to allow people with advanced pancreatic cancer with high levels of a substance called hyaluronan (HA), a group which makes up about 40 per cent of patients, to live for longer.

Dr David Wilson, who is leading the trial at the hospital, said: “I am very happy and excited to be involved in this international trial in Middlesbrough. We are coming to understand more that pancreatic cancers are not all the same, but differ in their genetics and biochemistry.

“This trial offers us the opportunity to potentially exploit this understanding and offer at least some pancreatic cancer patients treatment that may be more targeted and potentially more successful for their particular type of pancreatic cancer.”

The earlier HALO 202 trial in America has already shown real promise and the results have shown that the new treatment has delayed tumour growth and disease progression in advanced patients.

Anna Jewell, director of operations at Pancreatic Cancer UK, said: “We are encouraging patients with advanced pancreatic cancer in Middlesbrough to find out whether the HALO trial might be an option for them from their consultant, or by calling one of our nurses on our Support Line.

“Patients and families can find out more about this and other clinical trials which may be available in the Middlesbrough area by looking at our online Trial Finder. They can also talk to our nurses to find out more about taking part in a trial and whether it would be right for them. We are absolutely determined to take on this tough cancer by ensuring that patients have access to new, effective treatments on the NHS to allow them to live longer and have a better quality of life.”

Patients and families can find out more about the HALO trial at www.pancreaticcancer.org.uk/halo and can call Pancreatic Cancer UK’s specialist nurses for more information on the charity’s Support Line, on freephone 0808 801 0707.