The UKCCP is one of the longest running and most successful UK pandemic response programme. Thanks to its innovative use of clinical expertise linking with academic expertise, the programme has delivered several high-profile flagship research projects.
“The ability of a cancer research programme to consistently deliver high impact publication is remarkable. The UKCCP has successfully delivered 15 academic evaluations since 2020 across 12 research projects”
Our COVID pandemic projects over the length and breath of the pandemic response. They include
- The 3 UK Coronavirus cancer monitoring projects (UKCCMP)
- The 2 paediatric cancer monitoring projects (UKPCCMP)
- The UK blood cancer project (UKCCHP1)
- The Birmingham Coronavirus Cancer Monitoring project (BCCMP)
- The 2 vaccine effectiveness project (UKCCEP)
- The National COVID Cancer Antibody Survey (NCCAS).
- The safe prescribing project (COV-SPOT)
- The global analysis pipeline (systematic reviews)
The project was commended by the inquiry report of the All Party Parliamentary Groups for Vulnerable groups. It noted the importance and benefit of our research in delivering important data on vulnerable groups very quickly. Our data also formed the basis of the May 2022 independent government report identifying cancer patients most in need of further protection.
None of this is possible without the extensive support from our 69 networked cancer centres, charity supporters, patient supporters and academic collaborations.
We look forwards to working to support and launch more projects until we have established our aim to safeguard, evaluate and protect cancer patients and the risk to cancer patients is markedly reduced.
Headline findings: “that chemotherapy can be safely delivered during the COVID-19 pandemic during wave 1”
Impact: A strategic change in thinking about cancer care during the coronavirus pandemic leading to increased chemotherapy prescribing globally.
Commentary: Clinical Oncology, Lancet Oncology, BJC
Published report: The Lancet
Headline findings: “that blood cancer patients are at significantly increased risk. That ITU admissions for cancer patients were significantly low”
Impact: A landmark shift in terms of COVID/cancer strategy to protect those most at risk and the creation of a shielding list for blood cancer patients. Additionally, significant momentum generated to enable cancer patients with coronavirus to access ITU care.
Published report: The Lancet
Headline findings: “children with haematological malignancies who have not had an allogeneic stem cell transplant are not at greater risk of severe infection with COVID-19 than other children with cancer”
Impact: “. Children with haematological malignancies need not be considered extremely vulnerable and should continue with standard of care therapy without modification attendant on the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.”
Published report: BJC
Headline findings: “Screening cancer patients for coronavirus prior to chemotherapy is an effective strategy to keep cancer units coronavirus free”
Impact: “Increase in screening for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. This now forms the standard first line protective measure for UK chemotherapy centres”
Published report: Cancer Cell
Headline findings: “children with cancer with SARS-CoV-2 infection do not appear at increased risk of severe infection compared to the general paediatric population”
Impact: “Essential to continued routine cancer care for children and young patients with malignancy”
Published report: BMJ
Headline findings: One of the largest blood cancer coronavirus studies of its kind analysing risk factors for coronavirus death. Uncontrolled disease is a major driver of risk, conferring greater risk than recent anticancer treatment”
Impact: “A renewed focus to ensure that disease control for blood cancer patients”
Published report: BJH
Headline findings: “Immunotherapy and chemotherapy are not driving excess coronavirus deaths in cancer patients”
Impact: “Confirmation to the clinical community of the importance of ongoing cancer care to ensure that all patients come forwards and can access UK cancer services”
Published report: Jama open
Headline findings: “Vaccine effectiveness in cancerpatients wanes at 3-6m”
Impact: “Prioritisation for cancer patients to get booster programmes”
Commentary: eCancer
Published report: Lancet Oncology
Headline findings: ““Third dose booster work for most cancer types, but cancer patients remain at higher risk of severe COVID-19 hospitalisation and death than the population”
Impact: “Re-shaping of UK priority lists to have a more comprehensive list of cancer patients ”
Published report: European Journal of cancer
Headline findings: “Antibody responses are correlated with levels of protection”
Impact: “First identification of clinical utility of antibody tests”
Published report: Jama Oncology
Headline findings: “Project due to report Q3 2022″
Impact: “Project due to report Q3 2022″
Published report: “in progress”
Global analyses 1
October 2022-Ongoing
Adult cancer patients
Headline findings: “Boosters work though not for everyone”
Impact: “Patients with blood cancer need additional protection measures beyond a vaccination strategy”
Published report: BJC