Words by Isabel O’Brien
A new report from Phesi has revealed that colorectal cancer now boasts the largest volume of real-world patient data. The study, based on 167 million patient records from Phesi’s clinical trial database platform, found nearly six million records for colorectal cancer – outpacing breast, lung, liver and prostate cancers.
Despite this surge in new information, the company warns that trial design and execution have not kept pace with advances in biomarker science and patient profiling. “Oncology R&D is increasingly defined by a more precise understanding of the molecular mechanisms of cancer and of individual patients. But clinical development operations, from planning to implementation, are yet to reflect the same level of precision,” said Dr Gen Li, CEO, Phesi. “The fact is, the data haystack is growing as our knowledge of cancer expands, but the needle is shrinking as we understand the critical role patient genetics play in cancer outcomes.”
The report also uncovers persistent inefficiencies in trial operations. A significant proportion of investigator sites contribute only a handful of participants, while a small number of high-performing locations account for almost half of all enrolments. This imbalance, according to Phesi, represents a missed chance to bring greater precision and speed to clinical development.
Jonathan Peachey, Chief Operating Officer, Phesi, added: “Historically, sponsors have taken a scattergun approach to oncology development that results in costly and poorly performing trials – but with the right data and technology, they can be laser guided. There are four elements to achieving greater precision that sponsors need to optimise – the targeted patient profile, the program, the protocol and the operations plan.”
The push for modernisation comes as regulators in the UK are actively encouraging the use of real-world evidence and digital health tools. The MHRA launched its Real-World Evidence Scientific Dialogue Programme in 2025, aiming to help innovators refine evidence generation strategies and clarify regulatory expectations for using real-world data.
The full report ‘Leveraging Data Science to Power Precision Oncology’ is available now.
