Are you helping kidney cancer research?
BY DR. NAVEEN BASAPPA and RANJENA MALONI
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In April 2017, the pan-Canadian Oncology Drug Review (pCODR) called for submissions on whether Axitinib should be used and funded as an equally accessible second-line treatment for metastatic kidney cancer. pCODR asked Kidney Cancer Canada (KCC), and others, to make submissions to its Expert Review Committee (pERC) for this indication. Using real-world evidence (evidence outside of clinical trials) from the Canadian Kidney Cancer information system (CKCis), KCC was able to provide data supporting the submission to equally fund Axitinib in the second-line setting for patients with metastatic kidney cancer. CKCis is a valuable research tool, used to answer questions about Canadian patients, such as, identifying treatment patterns and outcomes kidney cancer and comparing them on a regional, national and global level. CKCis collects data from 15 different centres across Canada and is a part of the Kidney Cancer Research Network of Canada (KCRNC). CKCis contains de-identified information from thousands of kidney cancer patients from Canada. Dr. Simon Tanguay (McGill University Health Centre) is one of the founding members of CKCis which began in 2009 and it is currently co-chaired by Dr. Rodney Breau (Ottawa Hospital Research Institute) and Dr. Naveen Basappa (Cross Cancer Institute).
CKCis Team Photo (2016) |
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Currently there are over 8000 kidney cancer patients in the database, 1900 of who have metastatic disease. It’s likely that your information is in CKCis but, if you are unsure or want to be part of the project, speak with your doctor to see if you are being treated at one of our 15 sites. In June 2017, pCODR released its recommendation supporting the funding and use of Axitinib without restriction in the second-line setting for patients with advanced kidney cancer across Canada. This is a wonderful example of how this national initiative has helped influence health policy to improve access and care for kidney cancer patients in Canada. Kidney Cancer Research Network of Canada (KCRNC) and the Canadian Kidney Cancer information system (CKCis) have been supported by the Kidney Cancer Canada since inception. |
Dr. Naveen Basappa is Assistant Clinical Professor in the Division of Medical Oncology in the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Alberta and has an active kidney cancer practice at the Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton. He is a member of the Kidney Cancer Research Network of Canada and has been the co-chair for the Canadian Kidney Cancer information system since 2016.
Ranjena Maloni is the Project Manager of the Kidney Cancer Research Network of Canada, a virtual and inclusive network of researchers committed to the facilitation of kidney cancer research across different site in Canada. The Network works to enhance the knowledge of kidney cancer and its treatment. Kidney Cancer Canada is a supporting and founding partner of the Kidney Cancer Research Network of Canada.
