Conference: 5th Canadian Cancer Research Conference (CCRC), November 3–5, 2019. Ottawa, Canada
Conference Highlight: The 2019 CCRC hosted scientists, clinicians, trainees and patient advocates from across the country to share updates and future directions of Canadian cancer research.
Conference Summary: The 2019 CCRC showcased advances in cancer research that is being conducted from coast-to-coast across Canada. A highlight of this year’s conference was the inclusion and emphasis on patient involvement in the design of clinical trials, treatment decision-making and quality of life following treatment. One speaker suggested that nearly all patients undergoing cancer treatment should be enrolled in clinical trials; yet, only a small fraction—about 5% of patients—consent to participate in at least one trial. This small proportion can be partially attributed to poor clinical trial design, which occurs when patients are not involved in the study design from the onset. Methods that incorporate patient-centred endpoints and patient focus group sessions can potentially increase the number of those who participate in clinical trials. Another strategy is to work directly with patients to help them identify clinical trials that they may be eligible for.
Real-world evidence following clinical trials was another major topic at the conference. Dr. Annette Hay, a Hematologist at Queen’s University, explained that real-world evidence could provide data on long-term follow-up and resource utilization from patients on clinical trials. This information could then be used to design better trials for increased patient enrollment and to enhance post-treatment quality of life. Conference attendees also heard touching stories from patient advocates who reinforced the importance and impact of patient involvement on treatment and the use of long-term real-world evidence to assess the efficacy of clinical trials.
Finally, another team from Québec presented an application currently in development, which aims to connect patients to their medical data by linking their mobile devices with their hospital’s administrative infrastructure.
Together, these studies illustrate the overall theme of this conference, which focused on the patient at the centre of care, and the vast range of research that Canadians are devoting to this area.