World-first clinical trial will study specialized ‘poop pills’ to improve treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer
LONDON, ON – Scientists at Lawson Research Institute (Lawson) of St. Joseph’s Health Care London and London Health Sciences Centre Research Institute (LHSCRI) are the first in the world to study capsules containing microbes from the gut of healthy volunteers to improve the response of patients with advanced pancreatic cancer to chemotherapy.
“Pancreatic cancer has a poor survival rate of approximately 10 per cent over five years and is expected to be the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Canada in the next few years,” says Dr. John Lenehan, Scientist at LHSCRI and Medical Oncologist at the Verspeeten Family Cancer Centre at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC). “Through this study, we aim to offer a new, innovative treatment to patients.”
Research has shown that cancerous tumours have their own microbial community of bacteria, viruses, and fungi that helps the cancer defend itself from conventional treatments like chemotherapy. Early preclinical evidence studies suggests that fecal transplants delivered via the innovative capsules - known as LND101 - could alter the microbial composition of the tumour and make it more receptive to conventional therapy.
The Phase I safety trial will test the procedure over two years in a small group of cancer patients recruited from the Verspeeten Family Cancer Centre at LHSC. The process, called fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), involves taking stool from carefully screened healthy donors, processing it in the lab, and creating tasteless, odourless capsules, which are provided to patients participating in the study. The goal is to enhance the patient's microbiome (the collection of healthy microorganisms in the human body) which will boost the body's immune response and potentially make chemotherapy more effective.
“We will study how the gut bacteria of pancreatic cancer patients change after treatment with fecal transplants and how this affects their immune system. Our goal is to determine whether a successful shift in the gut microbiome is connected to a better response to chemotherapy,” says Saman Maleki, PhD, Scientist at LHSCRI.
The LND101 pills were pioneered and are produced at Lawson and are showing promise in the treatment of various cancers, including melanoma, through studies at Lawson and LHSCRI. The trailblazing FMT team at St. Joseph’s is led by Lawson Scientist Dr. Michael Silverman, Medical Director of the Infectious Diseases Care Program, and Lawson Associate Scientist Seema Nair Parvathy, PhD.
“Earlier studies led by Lawson and LHSCRI have demonstrated that the treatment is safe in other cancers and appears to result in better responses to conventional therapies among patients with advanced melanoma, lung cancer and renal cell carcinoma,” says Parvathy, Research Director of the FMT program at St. Joseph’s. “The research teams believe they can achieve similar success with patients who have advanced pancreatic cancer,” Parvathy adds.
Parvathy emphasizes the critical role of poop donors in this groundbreaking field of cancer research. Suitable donors are healthy adults ages 18-50 who: have not taken antibiotics in the past six months; are not immunocompromised; and do not have chronic gastrointestinal disorders, such as inflammatory bowel disease. More information on eligibility and how to donate is available by calling 519-646-6100, ext. 65739 or emailing Liesl De Silva at @email.
The FMT pancreatic cancer study is being funded by the London Health Sciences Foundation and the Weston Family Foundation.
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About Lawson Research Institute
Lawson Research Institute, the health innovation arm of St. Joseph's Health Care London, is committed to making and sharing discoveries that improve lives locally and internationally. Every day, Lawson researchers work to transform imagination to innovation to patient impact. Lawson leads health-care research. Find us online at sjhc.london.on.ca/research and on social media @stjosephslondon.
About London Health Sciences Centre Research Institute: At London Health Sciences Centre Research Institute (LHSCRI), our teams pioneer discoveries that transform the health of adult and paediatric patients around the world. As the research institute of London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC), we conduct research where patient care is delivered, working alongside patients, families, health-care providers and academic partners like Western University. We are leaders in advancing the understanding, diagnosis, treatment and management of diseases and health conditions through a diverse research program that ranges from laboratory-based science to clinical trials. Our research has a global impact as we build on LHSC’s 150-year legacy of health innovation and drive forward medical breakthroughs that make a difference in the lives of patients and their families. Find us online at www.lhscri.ca and on social media @LHSCRI
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