A new clinical trial is offering treatment hope for advanced pancreatic cancer patients in Cambridgeshire and is looking fro people who are willing to get involved.

Pancreatic Cancer UK is encouraging patients to find out more about the trial at Addenbrooke’s Hospital which is offering a new combination of treatments which could allow patients to live for longer.

The HALO 301 trial could offer patients with pancreatic cancer, that has spread outside the pancreas, a potential new medical option, for a disease which currently has very few treatments.

Dr Pippa Corrie, a member of Pancreatic Cancer UK’s medical advisory board, who is leading an international trial at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, said: “I’m delighted to be leading this innovative new trial in an area which has historically been neglected in terms of research and investment.

“We hope it leads to a much-needed new treatment option for eligible patients with advanced disease and helps to improve survival rates and quality of life for many patients across the UK in the future.”

Anna Jewell, director of operations at Pancreatic Cancer UK, said: “Clinical trials for pancreatic cancer are always exciting, as new treatment options are urgently needed to allow patients to spend more precious time with their families, and this one shows real promise.

“We are encouraging patients with advanced pancreatic cancer 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.

“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.”

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.

The hope is that the new combination treatment will slow tumour growth, allowing patients to live for longer.

A trial in America has shown that fewer people receiving the combination treatment experienced blood clots in their veins, a common problem for pancreatic cancer patients.

• Find out more at www.pancreaticcancer.org.uk/halo or call the support line on freephone 0808 801 0707.