Radiotherapy uses ionizing radiation to cure cancer or help surgery and/or chemotherapy cure cancer. Previous trials have shown that by using radiotherapy instead of surgery, patients can be cured of cancer and avoid disfiguring, high risk surgeries which may require removal of swallowing structures, voice box, breast, prostate or lungs. Radiotherapy also relieves symptoms of cancer when cure is not possible. It is highly cost-effective, and nearly half all patients require radiotherapy during their cancer journey. This is why a dedicated national radiation oncology trials cluster is needed in Ireland. IRROG comprises five public radiotherapy centres (Cork, Galway and three in Dublin:SLRON Rathgar, SLRON@St James, SLRON@Beaumont) and collaborating private centres. IRROG will make high quality clinical trials in radiotherapy available to all patients, and improve outcomes by increasing cancer cure rates and reducing side effects from radiotherapy. It has been proven that research performing hospitals have better outcomes. IRROGs principal source of funding is through this HRB grant as the majority of radiotherapy trials are academic and unfunded.
Radiotherapy is a complex, technologically advanced treatment –requiring multi-disciplinary teams of highly skilled staff such as: physicists, doctors, radiation therapists, nurses and allied health professionals. IRROG brings together a critical mass of people with expertise in clinical research, trial coordination, data management and methodology to ensure that trials of uniform high-quality and safety are available to all patients in Ireland.
IRROG activities include: national and international radiotherapy trials; investigating new technologies and combinations of drug therapy with radiotherapy; quality assurance, education and training; co-ordination with national and public-patient groups to ensure that relevant important trials are performed for the benefit of Irish patients.
IRROG represents one piece of the Irish cancer research jigsaw, along with NCCTN, NCCP, CRFs and patient-public interaction groups, which together will build a better future for cancer patients.
