Charles Craddock, CBE, FRCP, FRCPath, DPhil from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, UK discusses the significance of the IMPACT Trials Network for improving outcomes for stem cell transplant patients. Stem cell transplantation is important in the treatment of many hematological malignancies. However, more than 50% of patients who undergo a transplant either die of transplant-related complications or disease recurrence and the causes of transplant failure need to be addressed. Prof. Craddock points out that this can only be done through prospective, randomized trials. Anthony Nolan, Leuka, and NHS BT are investing in a pilot transplant trials network called IMPACT. It will be a hub that is going to facilitate rapid workup of trials that have been approved. Prof. Craddock believes that this represents an opportunity for the UK to lead practice-informing transplant studies in patients undergoing autologous and allogeneic transplants in a range of mostly malignant diseases. This will allow for the development of strategies to reduce relapse and reduce the toxicity associated with transplant.
Leuka: http://www.leuka.org.uk/
Anthony Nolan: https://www.anthonynolan.org/
Recorded at the 2016 American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting, held in San Diego, CA.
