Leanne Duggan, a domestic violence counselor with advanced pancreatic cancer, has experienced a remarkable turnaround thanks to a targeted drug therapy addressing a KRAS mutation. Despite facing significant barriers due to her congenital blindness, the medical team at the Kinghorn Cancer Centre successfully advocated for her inclusion in a clinical trial, leading to significant improvements in her condition.
Overcoming Barriers to Clinical Trial Access
Patients with disabilities often encounter obstacles in accessing clinical trials. Dr. Anthony Joshua, Head of Oncology at the Kinghorn Cancer Centre, notes both "real and imagined" barriers, including concerns about potential harm or complications. In Ms. Duggan's case, her medical team, led by medical oncologist Jia "Jenny" Liu, proactively addressed these challenges to ensure her successful enrollment.
Tailoring Treatment for Individual Needs
Ms. Duggan's blindness required specific accommodations. The team implemented a stringent process to ensure accurate medication management, utilizing braille labels and a portable braille notetaker for recording instructions. Her extreme needle phobia was managed by installing a Hickman's line, allowing for blood draws and medication administration without injections.
Positive Response to KRAS-Targeted Therapy
Since starting the trial in September, Ms. Duggan has experienced a significant reduction in tumor protein markers, from 13,200 to 160. Recent scans indicate that the cancer activity is no longer active. "She's no longer on any pain relief, apart from paracetamol," Dr. Liu stated, highlighting the dramatic improvement in Ms. Duggan's quality of life.
Implications for Inclusive Clinical Trials
Ms. Duggan's case underscores the importance of inclusive clinical trial practices. The willingness of her medical team to advocate for her inclusion and address her specific needs was crucial to her positive outcome. Her experience demonstrates that patients with disabilities can benefit from clinical trials when appropriate accommodations are made. "If my trials team hadn't had the willingness to so strongly advocate for me, I may not have got on," Ms. Duggan said. "It would have cost me my life."
