Rural and regional Queenslanders receiving end-of-life care will soon have the opportunity to participate in medicinal cannabis trials aimed at managing pain and other symptoms, thanks to a new research initiative.
The program, spearheaded by Mater’s Director of Palliative and Supportive Care, Professor Phillip Good, seeks to address the limited access to clinical trials and new medications faced by patients in remote areas of the state.
According to Prof. Good, palliative care patients often experience severe and difficult-to-manage symptoms, with those in rural regions having fewer options for both general and specialised healthcare services.
Access to trials of new medications, such as medicinal cannabis, to reduce symptom problems, has been limited in regional, rural, and remote Queensland to date,“ said Prof. Good, who also serves as Mater’s Director of Cancer Services.
“Our aim is to establish a Queensland Palliative Care Research Tele-trial Platform that enables all Queenslanders, irrespective of their geographical location, equitable access to clinical trials during palliative care.“
The new tele-trial platform will be developed in collaboration with the Australian Tele-trials program and the Queensland Regional Clinical Trial Coordinating Centre (QRCCC). This platform, traditionally used for cancer patient trials, will be adapted for the first time in a palliative care setting.
“This would mean that patients across regional Queensland will be able to participate in this and future palliative care clinical trials,“ Prof. Good explained.
Research has shown that patients with advanced cancer who receive early access to palliative care tend to have better outcomes, including improved survival rates, well-being, and symptom control.
The introduction of the tele-trial platform is expected to deliver significant benefits, such as:
Equitable access to clinical trials for all Queensland palliative care patients, including early access to novel treatments.
Invaluable insights from patients into the role of medicinal cannabis in palliative care, which will guide education for patients and families, enhancing end-of-life care options.
Evidence to support clinicians in prescribing medicinal cannabis.
Improved access to symptom control medications and potential changes to clinical care and health policy.
Since 2018, Mater has been at the forefront of studying medicinal cannabis in palliative care patients with advanced cancer. The organisation currently leads a national collaborative research program, supported by grants from the Medical Research Future Fund and the National Health and Medical Research Council.
Three randomised placebo-controlled trials (RCTs) using various formulations of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) have been initiated as part of this research. The first RCT, which tested a CBD oil formulation, found that the product was safe and well-tolerated by patients but did not significantly relieve overall symptom distress compared to a placebo.
Prof. Good emphasised the need for further research into different medicinal cannabis formulations before a product can be registered and made affordable for patients. The recruitment for the third RCT will be conducted through the new tele-trial platform, allowing patients outside of Brisbane to participate for the first time.
“Previously, recruitment has been limited to patients in Brisbane due to resource constraints, lack of infrastructure, and logistical challenges such as transporting investigational products,“ Prof. Good said.
“The tele-trial platform will close this equity and access gap and enable all Queenslanders to benefit from innovative healthcare options and novel treatments.“
This groundbreaking initiative marks a significant step forward in making advanced palliative care treatments more accessible to all Queenslanders, regardless of where they live.
