A patient at the North West Cancer Centre (NWCC), Altnagelvin Hospital, has become the first in Northern Ireland to enrol in a major clinical study for late-stage lung cancer — a significant milestone for cancer services across the Western Health and Social Care Trust.

This is the first radiotherapy research trial to open at the NWCC, underscoring the Trust’s commitment to bringing advanced treatments and clinical research opportunities closer to patients in the North West.

The participant has joined the TOURIST platform trial, described as the world’s largest lung cancer study examining the use of radiotherapy in advanced disease. Supported by a £3.4 million grant from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the research is assessing whether modern radiotherapy techniques can improve outcomes for people with late-stage advanced lung cancer.

TOURIST is sponsored by The Christie NHS Foundation Trust in Manchester and run by the Southampton Clinical Trials Unit, with the Western Trust playing a key role in delivering the study locally.

Speaking about the development, Malek Raafat, Consultant Clinical Oncologist at the Western Trust said: "We are delighted to see the first patient recruited to this important clinical trial at the North West Cancer Centre. This reflects the dedication of our multidisciplinary teams in bringing innovative research opportunities closer to home for our patients.

"Participation in trials such as TOURIST ensures that patients in the Western Trust area can access the very latest developments in cancer treatment, while also contributing to research that has the potential to improve outcomes for patients worldwide."

The Western Trust has expressed its gratitude to local charity Friends of the Cancer Centre, which has funded a Clinical Trials Radiographer to support this research. Ana Wilkinson, Chief Executive of Friends of the Cancer Centre, said: "Friends of the Cancer Centre is incredibly proud to be part of the very first radiotherapy clinical trial at the North West Cancer Centre. It is an important milestone for the hospital and the dedicated team who are striving for the best treatment and care for their patients. Most importantly, the trial also marks a milestone for patients in the North West and West, who now have access to the latest lung cancer trial at a hospital closer to home.

"I would like to thank our wonderful supporters, as without them we would not be able to fund the vital member of the radiotherapy team who was instrumental in bringing the trial to the North West Cancer Centre. Their support is helping to shape treatment for cancer patients today and in the future."

Lung cancer is the UK's third most common cancer but remains the leading cause of cancer death, accounting for around 21% of cancer-related fatalities each year. Between 85% and 90% of cases are non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and almost half are diagnosed at a late stage when the disease has already spread. TOURIST is the first study in 20 years to explore how radiotherapy might benefit patients with late-stage advanced lung cancer.

The trial uses an advanced radiotherapy method called volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT), delivered via a linear accelerator (LINAC), enabling highly targeted treatment of tumours while minimising exposure to surrounding healthy tissue.

The TOURIST platform currently has two trials open to recruitment — PRINCE and QUARTZ LUNG — designed to determine whether adding radiotherapy to other treatments can improve outcomes and quality of life for patients with lung cancer. The NWCC patient has been enrolled to PRINCE.

PRINCE aims to recruit 472 patients with newly diagnosed advanced-stage non-small cell lung cancer from hospitals across the UK. It opened to recruitment in autumn 2024, with this patient among the first to take part at the North West Cancer Centre.