TYPE: New Zealand Research Study
STATUS: In recruitment
GCF CONTRIBUTION: $58,932

PALEO is a Phase II clinical trial of chemoradioimmunotherapy for the alleviation of oesophageal cancer complications. Gut Cancer Foundation supporters are funding access to the trial for 6 patients.

Cancer of the oesophagus is often first detected due to swallowing problems. Unfortunately, for many people diagnosed with oesophageal cancer, the cancer has already spread and is incurable. In this scenario, one of the key aims of treatment is to improve swallowing function with the aim of restoring the patient to eating normally. Therapy also aims to provide cancer control for the longest duration possible while maintaining quality of life.

The PALEO clinical trial uses two courses of radiotherapy given at different times. The first is directed to the oesophageal cancer to relieve the swallowing obstruction. To improve the radiotherapy effect, low dose chemotherapy and immunotherapy (a drug to induce immune system attack of the cancer) are given at the same time. The second course of radiotherapy is focused to an area of cancer spread elsewhere in the body to better help the patient’s immune system recognise and attack the cancer. The immunotherapy drug then continues for up to 2 years to continue the cancer control. This combination of treatments is new and is being tested for its effectiveness.

The immunotherapy drug used in this trial is not currently funded by PHARMAC for oesophageal cancer patients in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Gut Cancer Foundation supporters have also supported this trial by funding the shipment of the trial treatment from Australia to New Zealand.