In November 2024, Okayama University Hospital was added as a participating facility for the investigator-led clinical research PARTNER Study (NCCH1), which utilizes the Patient-Proposed Medical Care System that began at the National Cancer Center Hospital in January 2220. Okayama University Hospital will be the fourth participating facility in Japan, following Hokkaido University Hospital and Kyushu University Hospital, which were registered in September 2024.
In the case of childhood cancer, improving access to drugs is an issue, as even if candidate treatments are found through cancer gene panel testing, there are few drugs that can be used under insurance medical care, and there are few clinical trials that patients can participate in.
To help with this, the National Cancer Center Hospital has launched the PARTNER trial, an investigator-led clinical research study, in January 2024, which allows pediatric and AYA (Adolescent and Young Adult) patients who wish to use off-label or unapproved drugs to use multiple medications using the patient-requested medical care system.
However, patients who wish to participate in this study and receive treatment must visit a limited number of participating facilities, and until now, the only participating facility in Honshu was the National Cancer Center Hospital in Tokyo. From now on, patients will be able to receive treatment at Okayama University Hospital, which is easily accessible from all prefectures in the Chugoku and Shikoku regions, as well as the Kansai region.
In this study, pharmaceuticals are being provided free of charge by companies that support the study's aims, and as of December 2024, eight pharmaceuticals from five companies are being covered. We will continue to work to secure the cooperation of even more companies in the future. The costs necessary to properly run this study will be paid from research funds, so there is no charge to patients, but patients will be responsible for any testing fees or hospitalization fees during the study as long as they are covered by insurance.
Dr. Arakawa Ayumu, chief of the Department of Pediatric Oncology at the National Cancer Center Hospital, commented, "We would like to continue increasing the number of eligible drugs and facilities so that pediatric and AYA patients can receive the medications they need at a facility close to their home, wherever they are in the country."
