The main aim of this project is to establish an innovative model of a comprehensive precision oncology platform to help individualizing drug therapy for patients with advanced cancers at The Chinese University of Hong Kong. The other objectives include to optimize the genomic matching and access of patients with unique cancer subtypes to the relevant clinical trials of novel therapies, and to construct a personalized drug screening platform for individuals using novel cancer models established from patient-derived cancer cells and tissues. Other objectives include to investigate the utility and feasibility of genomic sequencing using circulating tumor DNA(ctDNA), and to establish a biobank of tumor tissues derived from patients with unique cancer subtypes.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years – 75 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Must be aged between 18 to 75 years
* Must have ECOG performance status of 0 to 1
* Must have histologically/cytologically confirmed cancers of certain subtype
* Medically fit patients who would need systemic therapy as part of their oncological treatment in any one or more of the following oncological setting(s): palliative, neoadjuvant, adjuvant, concurrent with radiotherapy. This includes patients who have limited systemic therapeutic options for their cancers and are candidates for clinical trials.
* Able to give written informed consent
* Willing to have blood samples taken.
* Availability of an archived paraffin-embedded tumor block
Exclusion Criteria:
* Patients who refuse or are medically unfit for systemic therapy for their cancer
* Patients with more than one invasive cancers diagnosed over the last FIVE years.
* Patients without measurable tumor lesions on radiological imaging
* Patients who are unable to give written informed consent.
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Establishment of an innovative model of a comprehensive precision oncology platform
Timeframe: 4 years
2
Construction of a personalized drug screening platform for individuals using novel cancer models established from patient-derived cancer cells and tissues.