As we come to the end of 2023, we reflect upon the achievements of the Immune Oncology Research Institute (IMMONC) throughout the year.
With our first investigator-initiated trial among lymphoma patients on the tracks of success, we are delighted to report that the first patient who joined the clinical trial is doing better, as reported by the PI of the study and the wonderful team at the Yeolyan Hematology and Oncology Center’s hematology department. Approved by the regulatory authorities in just 26 working days, recruitment of participants in this trial (NCT05891821) is running smoothly. We have recruited 20% of the required number of participants in less than 4 months, a shorter time than anticipated.
Additionally, our BPDCN International Registry (NCT05430971) has seen great feedback and engagement by our international colleagues. Fourteen centers from around the world have joined the registry this year, giving it a strong boost ahead. We have presented preliminary data from this registry in the SOHO and ASH Annual Meetings, which has garnered a lot of interest among our peers. With a total of 18 centers and over 30 investigators and sub-investigators on board thus far, we expect 2024 to be a productive year for this study and the community seeking to battle BPDCN.
Another first for this year was our booth in the ASCO Annual Meeting exhibit in Chicago. IMMONC’s booth, in collaboration with the National Oncology Center and Yeolyan Hematology and Oncology Center, was presenting clinical research opportunities in Armenia to experts and professionals from around the world attending one of the largest oncology events globally. We are happy to say that our booth drew significant interest from participants and paved the way for future collaboration.
IMMONC also launched three working groups focusing on lung cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, and breast cancer through collaboration with experts from Armenia and abroad. These groups serve as platforms for professionals to connect, facilitating case discussions and networking, and most importantly, they create the atmosphere for collaboration in research. Our lung cancer working group has conducted more than 70 case discussions this year and wrote a comprehensive review about lung cancer diagnosis and treatment approaches in Armenia, which was published in the Journal of Thoracic Oncology.
IMMONC published 5 articles and presented seven abstracts at the major international congresses this year. With the institute’s support, our team members have participated in the ASCO Annual Meeting, the SIOP Annual Congress, the SOHO Annual Meeting, and several other international conferences, showcasing our activities on a global stage.
This year, we also launched an investigator-initiated trial on the use of first-Generation 5-HT3 receptor antagonists among pediatric patients receiving chemotherapy. In this trial, we reached 40% of our enrollment goal in 6 months. Other ongoing studies by IMMONC are the Rare Embryonal Tumors of the Central Nervous System International Registry (NCT05711992), and an analysis on the real-world experience of immunotherapy use in Armenia. These are promising studies the results of which shall be available in the coming years.
In line with our mission to develop a competent workforce in clinical cancer research in the country, we welcomed five research fellows into the team this year. Our fellows each started their own research project, contributing to the advancement of this field in Armenia and set to become our future leaders.
We close this year with another trial approval pending, which is one of two major trials we hope to launch in 2024 thanks to the efforts of our colleagues in adult oncology and their innovative ideas and proposals.
As we express our gratitude to our team members, board of trustees, advisors, fellows, sponsors, collaborators and partners, and every individual who engaged with IMMONC this year, we remain confident in our mission to achieve impactful advancements in cancer care and outcomes through research and innovation. We extend our heartfelt wishes for a happy and prosperous New Year to all.
About IMMONC
Immune Oncology Research Institute (IMMONC) is dedicated to advancing research aimed at preventing, treating, and ultimately curing cancer while making these innovations accessible to those who need them. If you're interested in joining our team, please feel free to contact us at [email protected] or at +374-41 310-048.