Chair: Dr Claire Barton

The Oncology Expert Group covers the development of treatments for all types of cancers—both haematological and solid tumours—including systemic anti-cancer agents, immuno-oncology, targeted radio-isotope therapy, symptomatic support, the application of artificial intelligence algorithms to cancer care, oncology-related devices and diagnostics, and drug-device combinations. This includes exploratory and translational research. The group also considers associated public and clinical issues around cancer, for instance, prevention (for example, in individuals with rare inherited cancer-predisposition syndromes) and screening.

The group also considers patient issues, such as participation in clinical trials, and issues around informed consent of particular relevance to cancer patients e.g. need for/legitimacy of mandatory biopsies, risk-benefit in subjects with very short life expectancy, availability of standard/approved therapies in different geographic regions, and patient support and guidance, including palliative care. Marketing and access to treatments for cancer and the development of regulatory guidelines in oncology also fall under the group’s remit.