Cancer researches

Tays Cancer Centre's Cancer Medication Research Unit FONK is an internationally respected and high-quality drug research centre. We conduct both academic cancer drug research and cooperation with pharmaceutical companies. With pharmaceutical researches, we increase the patients' chances of getting treatment with new cancer drugs as early as possible.

Nainen tutkii papereita mikroskoopin ääressä.
 

Thanks to high-quality pharmaceutical research, cancer treatment is constantly improving. The research enables cancer treatments for patients that are not yet generally available. At the Cancer Medication Research Unit, FONK, we conduct clinical trials of all cancer types and stages (phases I-IV).

The pharmaceutical researches are strictly supervised and carried out in accordance with good clinical practice (GCP) in compliance with national and international regulations. Bringing new drugs to patients’ use requires extensive research and development prior to their arrival from pharmaceutical companies.

In clinical drug researches, the drug's efficacy, safety and appropriate dosage are investigated. The effect and possible adverse effects of the investigational drug are closely monitored during the treatment with the investigational drug and during the follow-up period following the treatment.

Recruiting clinical trials

By participating in clinical cancer research, you can help develop new drugs and treatments. At the same time, you can get treatments or drugs for your illness that are not yet generally available. You apply for a clinical cancer research with a doctor's referral.

R23009M LD-VenEx, Principal Investigator Johanna Rimpiläinen

Phase II study of Azacitidine in combination with low dose intensity Venetoclax in patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia with integration of explorative multi-omics and ex vivo drug screening data

LD-VenEX - clinicaltrials.gov

R20054M ALL Together, Principal Investigator Johanna Rimpiläinen

A Treatment study protocol of the ALLTogether Consortium for children and young adults (0-45 years of age) with newly diagnosed acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). The treatment protocol collects the experience of previously successful treatment of children and young adults, with ALL from a number of well-renowned study groups into a new platform protocol, which is both a comprehensive system for stratification and treatment of ALL in this age-group as well as the basis for several randomised trials included in the study-design.

ALL Together - clinicaltrials.gov

R18065M ESTO2, Principal Investigator Teemu Murtola

Impact of atorvastatin on prostate cancer progression after initiation of androgen deprivation therapy – lipid metabolism as a novel biomarker to predict prostate cancer progression – phase 3, double-blind randomized clinical trial FinnProstata XV

ESTO2 - clinicaltrials.gov

R21029 TASTEPRO, päätutkija Teemu Murtola

TArgeted STEreotactic radiotherapy for oligorecurrent PROstate Cancer (TASTEPRO) - a randomized controlled pilot trial
TASTEPRO - clinicaltrials.gov

R23012M MK-3475-365 (Keynote-365), Principal Investigator Teemu Murtola

Phase Ib/II Trial of Pembrolizumab (MK-3475) Combination Therapies in Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer (mCRPC) (KEYNOTE-365)

Keynote-365 - clinicaltrials.gov

R23043 SPCG-19, Principal Investigator Teemu Murtola
A randomized, open-label, multicenter, parallel group treatment, phase 3, two-arm study to measure the effect on overall survival and quality of life of immediate curative therapy compared with standard conservative treatment in older male participants aged ≥ 75 years with non-metastatic, high-risk prostate cancer.

SPCG-19 - clinicaltrials.gov

R23097M ARASTEP, Principal Investigator Teemu Murtola

A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Phase 3 Study of Darolutamide Plus Androgen Deprivation Therapy (ADT) Compared With Placebo Plus ADT in Patients With High-risk Biochemical Recurrence (BCR) of Prostate Cancer

ARASTEP - clinicaltrials.gov

R24034M MK-5684-003 (OMAHA-1), Principal Investigator  Mikko Moisander

A Phase 3 Randomized, Open-label Study of MK-5684 Versus Alternative Abiraterone Acetate or Enzalutamide in Participants With Metastatic Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer (mCRPC) Previously Treated With Next-generation Hormonal Agent (NHA) and Taxane-based Chemotherapy

MK-5684-003 (OMAHA-1) - clinicaltrials.gov

R25004M MEVPRO-2, Principal Investigator Teemu Murtola

A Phase 3, Randomized, Double Blind, Placebo Controlled Study of PF-06821497 (Mevrometostat) with Enzalutamide in Metastatic Castration Resistant Prostate Cancer (MEVPRO-2)

MEVPRO-2 - clinicaltrials.gov

R24066M V940-002, Principal Investigator Jarkko Ahvonen

A Phase 3, Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo- and Active-Comparator-Controlled Clinical Study of Adjuvant V940 (mRNA-4157) Plus Pembrolizumab Versus Adjuvant Placebo Plus Pembrolizumab in Participants With Resected Stage II, IIIA, IIIB (N2) Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

V940-002 - clinicaltrials.gov

R25014M GSK222730-BEHOLD-1, Principal Investigator Synnöve Staff

A Phase I Clinical Study to Evaluate the Safety, Tolerability, Pharmacokinetics and Clinical Activity of GSK5733584 for Injection in Subjects With Advanced Solid Tumors

GSK222730-BEHOLD-1 - clinicaltrials.gov

R24086M MK-2870-020, Principal Investigator Synnöve Staff

A Phase 3 Randomized, Active-controlled, Open-label, Multicenter Study to Compare the Efficacy and Safety of MK-2870 Monotherapy Versus Treatment of Physician's Choice as Second-line Treatment for Participants With Recurrent or Metastatic Cervical Cancer (TroFuse-020/GOG-3101/ENGOT-cx20)

MK-2870-020 - clinicaltrials.gov

R23087M GSK219606 AZUR-2, Principal Investigator Tapio Salminen

A Phase 3, Open-Label, Randomized Study of Perioperative Dostarlimab Monotherapy versus Standard of Care in Participants with Untreated T4N0 or Stage III dMMR/MSI-H Resectable Colon Cancer

GSK219606-AZUR-2 - clinicaltrials.gov

R22065M BEXMAB, Principal Investigator Johanna Rimpiläinen

Study to Assess Safety, Tolerability and Preliminary Efficacy of the CLEVER-1 Antibody Bexmarilimab in Combination with Azacitidine or Azacitidine/Venetoclax in Patients with Myelodysplastic Syndrome or Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia or Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

BEXMAB - clinicaltrials.gov

R23070M MERLIN, Principal Investigator Marjukka Pollari

Phase II Multicenter Clinical Trial: Mosunetuzumab for Early Relapse of Follicular Lymphoma in the Nordic
Countries

MERLIN - clinicaltrials.gov

R24020 NLG-PCNSL-01 (CAPCI), Principal Investigator Marjukka Pollari
ctDNA for early response assessment in PCNSL treated with 1st line curative intent (NLG-PCNSL-01) – CAPCI

NLG-PCNSL-01 (CAPCI) - clinicaltrials.gov

R25029M 22262-BANTAM-01, Principal Investigator Minna Tanner

A Multicenter, Open Label, Non-Randomized First-in-Human Phase 1 Dose Escalation and Expansion Study to Evaluate the Safety, Tolerability, Pharmacokinetics, and Antitumor Activity of BAY 3547926, an Actinium-225 Labeled Anti-GPC3 Antibody Conjugate, Alone and In Combination with Atezolizumab and Bevacizumab in Participants with Advanced
Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC)

BANTAM-01 - clinicaltrials.gov

R25002M Grand SLAM, Principal Investigator Tanja Skyttä

A Prospective Randomized International Multicenter Study to Compare Short Versus Long Adjuvant Immunotherapy After Radical Surgery of Stage IIb-c, III and IV Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma (Grand SLAM)

GRAND SLAM - clinicaltrials.gov

R25043M EIK1001-006, Principal Investigator Tanja Skyttä

A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Active Comparator-Controlled, Adaptive Phase 2/3 Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of EIK1001 and Pembrolizumab Versus Placebo and Pembrolizumab as First-Line Therapy in Participants with Advanced Melanoma

EIK1001-006 - clinicaltrials.gov

R25055M PRISM-MEL-301, Principal Investigator Tanja Skyttä

A Phase 3 Randomized, Controlled Study of IMC-F106C Plus Nivolumab Versus Nivolumab Regimens in HLA-A*02:01-Positive Participants With Previously Untreated Advanced Melanoma (PRISM-MEL-301)

PRISM-MEL-301 - clinicaltrials.gov

R23034M HERO, Principal Investigator Annika Auranen

Characterization of High-Grade Ovarian Cancer Patients in Terms of Homologous Recombination Phenotype - A Prospective Observational Study (NSGO-CTU-HERO)

HERO - clinicaltrials.gov

No on-going recruitments.

R24065M MagnetisMM-32, Principal Investigator Marja Sankelo

A Phase 3, Open Label Study of Elranatamab Monotherapy Versus Elotuzumab, Pomalidomide, Dexamethasone (EPd) Or Pomalidomide, Bortezomib, Dexamethasone (PVd) Or Carfilzomib, Dexamethasone (Kd) In Participants With Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma Who Received Prior Anti-CD38 Directed Therapy

MagnetisMM-32 - clinicaltrials.gov

No on-going recruitments.

R24016M WO44263-INAVO-122, Principal Investigator Minna Tanner

A Phase III Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study Evaluating the Efficacy and Safety of
Inavolisib in Combination with Phesgo versus Plcabeo in Combination with Phesgo as Maintenance Therapy After First Line Induction Therapy in Participants with PIK3CA-Mutated HER2-Positive Locally Advanced or Metastatic Breast Cancer

WO44263-InAVO-122 - clinicaltrials.gov

R24028M WO44977-REMERGE, Principal Investigator Leena Tiainen

A Multi Cohort Translational Research Study to Investigate Mechanisms of Resistance to Breast Cancer Therapies

WO44977-REMERGE - clinicaltrials.gov

R24051M CO44657-pionERA, Principal Investigator Leena Tiainen

A Phase III, Randomized Open-Label Study Evaluating Efficacy and Safety of Giredestrant Compared with Fulvestrant, Both Combined with a CDK4/6 Inhibitor In Patienta with Estrogen Receptor-Positive, HER2 Negative Advanced Breast Cancer with Resistance to Prior Adjuvant Endocrine Therapy

CO44657-pionERA - clinicaltrials.gov

R24075M MK-2870-012, Principal Investigator Minna Tanner

A Phase 3, Randomized, Open-label, Study to Compare the Efficacy and Safety of Adjuvant MK-2870 in Combination with Pembrolizumab (MK-3475) Versus Treatment of Physician’s Choice (TPC) in Participants With Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) Who Received Neoadjuvant Therapy and Did Not Achieve a Pathological Complete Response (pCR) at Surgery

MK-2870-012 - clinicaltrials.gov

R25028M C4391024-FOURLIGHT-03, Principal Investigator Minna Tanner

An Interventional, Open-Label, Randomized, Multicenter Phase 3 Study of PF-07220060 Plus Letrozole Compared to CDK4/6 Inhibitor Plus Letrozole in Participants Over 18 Years with Hormone Receptor (HR)-Positive, HER2-Negative Advanced/Metastatic Breast Cancer Who Have Not Received Any Prior Systemic Anti-Cancer Treatment for Advanced/Metastatic Disease

FOURLIGHT-03 - clinicaltrials.gov

R25080M ELEGANT, Principal Investigator Niina Mäenpää

Elacestrant versus Standard Endocrine Therapy in Women and Men with Node-positive, Estrogen Receptor-positive, HER2-negative, Early Breast Cancer with High Risk of Recurrence—A Global, Multicenter, Randomized, Open-label Phase 3 Study (ELEGANT)

ELEGANT - clinicaltrials.gov

R18212M BAYER-16996, Principal Investigator Minna Tanner

A Phase 4 Long-term Follow-up Study to Define the Safety Profile of Radium-223 Dichloride

BAYER-16996 - clinicaltrials.gov

R20125M MK-3475-587 (KEYNOTE-587), Principal Investigator Annika Auranen

A Multicenter, Open-label, Phase 3 Study to Evaluate the Long-term Safety and Efficacy in Participants Who Are Currently on Treatment or in Follow-up in Studies That Include Pembrolizumab

Keynote-587 - clinicaltrials.gov

R21020M MOVES, Principal Investigator Teemu Murtola

Measuring Oncological Value of Exercise and Statin (MOVES)

MOVES - clinicaltrials.gov

R22012M FINPROVE, Principal Investigator Minna Tanner

The Finnish National Study to Facilitate Patient Access to Targeted Anti-Cancer Drugs to determine the Efficacy in Treatment of Advanced Cancer with a Known Molecular Profile

FINPROVE - clinicaltrials.gov

R24019M DAMOCLES, Principal Investigator Jenni Koskela

Monoclonal gammopathies of renal significance (MGRS) in Finland

DAMOCLES - clinicaltrials.gov

R25033M GSK222359-BEHOLD-2, Principal Investigator Annika Auranen

A Phase I/II Randomized Multi-Cohort Study to Evaluate the Safety, Tolerability, Pharmacokinetics and Clinical Activity of GSK5733584 in Combination with Anti-Cancer Agents in Participants with Advanced Solid Tumors

GSK222359-BEHOLD-2 - clinicaltrials.gov

Contact us

tutkimuspotilaaksi@pirha.fi 

Marjo Koivisto, coordinating study nurse, tel. +358 44 472 8004 

The study nurses' reception facilities are located on the 2nd floor of the Radius building at Tays Central Hospital. The medical treatment rooms are at the oncology inpatient ward RS2.

Last modified 14.10.2025