Active Monitoring of Cancer AS an AlTernative To Surgery
The goal of CAST is to implement a paradigm change for a novel approach in deciding when or whether cancer surgery is needed. The approach of the consortium has been to design cutting-edge Work packages (WP) and Early Stage Researcher (ESR) projects.
Scientific need:
CAST is to implement a paradigm change for a novel approach in deciding if cancer surgery is needed. Therefore, our aim will be to clinically translate innovative new monitoring technologies from the industry. This will provide better patient selection and increase the surveillance window to allow for better treatment options over time and avoid surgery. This will involve developing new ‘watch and wait’ strategies to study the behaviour of the cancer so that any risks can be minimized. This would lead to a better clinical outcome and quality of life (QOL) for the patient and maximize the benefits of an active monitoring policy for both the patient and the healthcare system.
WHY do we propose CAST?
To scientific aims are to
- Better understand the importance of watch and wait and to estimate the risks to either perform or not to perform cancer surgery;
- Address how the implementation of a more patient-tailored approach in cancer treatment may be utilised;
- Address how the implementation of novel monitoring technologies for the surgeon may be utilised to open-up a risk-free window of opportunity for active surveillance; and
- Even if surgery is determined to be needed, what are the alternative interventions to preserve the quality of life in patients.
How do we implement CAST?
- Implement watch and wait protocols as a valid option for more patient-tailored cancer monitoring and treatment;
- Develop in vivo imaging methods and hybrid probes that allows for more accurate multimodal (optical, PET, MRI) visualisation of new tumour growth;
- Develop specialised assays based upon liquid biopsies for active monitoring of patients; and iv) Implementation of novel approaches for localised therapy.
Training need:
- Train the next generation of researchers and clinicians to advance the concept of watch and wait so that no unnecessary surgical resections will be performed;
- Improve the career perspectives of researchers to continually develop and implement new technologies that will allow for surgeons to perform active monitoring for patients;
- Demonstrate to clinicians that surgery is not only an issue of precision but also of timing and to determine the optimal window, if any at all, to perform cancer surgery;
- Maximising the inter-disciplinary need to bridge novel technology with new surgical innovation; and
- Deliver academic and industrial excellence in early-stage research training across key sites in Europe.
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