Cork hospital included in cancer drug trial

Patients who take part in a prostate cancer clinical trial at Cork University Hospital will have free access to a drug that normally costs over €3,500 for a month’s supply.

Consultant radiation oncologist Dr Paul Kelly, who is based at CUH, said the drug that random patients will have access to in the trial — Enzalutamide (brand name Xtandi) — does not have chemotherapy side- effects and is available in tablet form, so patients can take it home.

Dr Kelly said CUH was delighted to take part in the international trial given the high incidence of high-grade prostate cancers in Cork. Figures from the National Cancer Registry show the incidence of prostate cancer was significantly higher in Cork than most of the rest of the country in the period 1994-2012.