Icon Cancer Foundation is proud to announce the activation of the COMPRES clinical trial at Icon Cancer Centre Hobart
Awarded the Icon Cancer Foundation Research Grant, the COMPRES study was conceived by Icon Cancer Centre Hobart oncology nurse Georgina Douglas and developed in collaboration with Principal Investigator and Icon Group’s Director of Medical Oncology, Associate Professor Louise Nott.
The study exemplifies how Icon Cancer Foundation’s support of investigator-initiated trials (IIT) empowers clinicians across Icon Cancer Centre Australia's national network, transforming ideas from everyday clinical practice into research that has the potential to improve patient care.
About the COMPRES clinical trial
The COMPRES study (CoMpression to Prevent Oxaliplatin induced Peripheral Neuropathy Symptoms) explores whether compression therapy can be used to help prevent and reduce oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy side effects for people receiving chemotherapy for gastrointestinal cancers.
Oxaliplatin is a commonly used chemotherapy treatment for a range of gastrointestinal cancers, including bowel, stomach, pancreatic and oesophageal cancers. While it is an effective treatment, many patients experience nerve damage during treatment, leading to symptoms such as numbness, tingling, sensitivity to cold, pain and loss of feeling in the hands and feet. For some people, these symptoms can continue long after treatment has finished and can affect everyday activities and quality of life
At present, there are very few proven ways to prevent these symptoms. COMPRES aims to explore whether wearing compression garments during chemotherapy could offer a simple, low-cost way to reduce their impact.
The COMPRES study will evaluate whether wearing compression gloves and stockings during chemotherapy can reduce the severity of these symptoms over a 12-week treatment period. Researchers will assess how practical and comfortable this approach is for patients while also evaluating whether it helps reduce nerve symptoms and supports patients to continue their treatment as planned. Participants will also provide feedback about their symptoms, quality of life and experience with the compression garments.
Patient-centred, clinician-led research
The idea behind COMPRES is based on encouraging early evidence that compression therapy may help reduce the risk and severity of chemotherapy-related nerve damage. If successful, this approach could provide a practical and affordable way to help people maintain their quality of life during cancer treatment
Seeing the promising results of that work, Georgina recognised an opportunity to explore whether a similar approach could benefit patients receiving oxaliplatin – a chemotherapy treatment she sees causing debilitating neuropathy in her own patients every day at Icon Cancer Centre.
“Peripheral neuropathy is one of the most common side effects related to this particular chemotherapy,” said Georgina.
“It can be very painful and for many patients these symptoms can significantly affect everyday activities and quality of life, while also leading to chemotherapy dose reductions or treatment being stopped early.”
Working together, Georgina and Associate Professor Nott developed the COMPRES study, combining frontline nursing insights with medical oncology research expertise.
“The promising results seen with compression therapy in other chemotherapy settings inspired us to investigate whether the same approach could benefit patients receiving oxaliplatin,” Georgina said.
A/Prof Nott said COMPRES demonstrates the value of clinician-led research, where ideas arise from the questions clinicians encounter every day in practice.
“These are usually questions that investigators come up with because they’re observing their patients every day and listening to them. These are the things that keep clinicians awake at night. We go home thinking, ‘How could we make that better?’,” said A/Prof Nott.
A/Prof Nott believes Icon Cancer Foundation’s Investigator-Initiated (IIT) research program, enables these important questions to become the basis of research.
“The studies being funded by the Foundation, like COMPRES, aren’t going to happen through other means. They’re not necessarily questions that pharmaceutical companies are going to answer, but they’re questions that really matter to patients,” said A/Prof Nott.
“Thousands of patients receive oxaliplatin and many live with lifelong neuropathy, which really impacts their quality of life and ability to continue with appropriate treatment.”
A/Prof Nott believes patient-centred research doesn’t have to be complicated to have an impact.
“If we can prevent patients from developing lingering neuropathy, that’s a meaningful way to help. This can make a difference and improve patient outcomes and reduce the impact cancer has on our patients and their families,” said A/Prof Nott.
The activation of the COMPRES study is an important step towards improving the treatment experience for people receiving the chemotherapy drug oxaliplatin.
If successful, the findings could provide a simple, low-cost intervention to reduce one of the treatment’s most debilitating side effects, helping more patients maintain their quality of life and continue treatment with confidence.
Research like COMPRES is only possible through the support of Icon Cancer Foundation and its community of donors and partners. Together, we can continue research that answers the questions that matter most to patients and improves cancer care for future generations.
The COMPRES clinical trial is proudly funded by Icon Cancer Foundation.
Disclaimer
The statements and opinions presented in these articles are those of the individuals featured and may not represent the experiences of others. They do not constitute endorsements or necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Icon Cancer Foundation (ICF), Icon Cancer Centres, or their affiliates. This information is general and does not replace medical advice. ICF is not responsible for any loss or damage resulting from the use of this information and does not guarantee its completeness, accuracy, or reliability.