• Grace Meijuan Yang, Wah Ying Ong, Jasmine Tan, Jiayan Ding, Shirlynn Ho, Daniel Tan, and Patricia Neo.
• Division of Supportive and Palliative care, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore.
• Palliat Med. 2023 Feb 1; 37 (2): 257264257-264.

BackgroundPersons with advanced cancer may participate in Phase 1 clinical trials - first-in-human trials that are conducted with the main objectives of safety and dosing. The motivations for participation are not well understood and may include hope for cure.AimTo explore the perspectives of persons with advanced cancer in order to understand the motivations for participating in Phase 1 clinical trials, experiences while being on trial and views on palliative care provision.DesignQualitative study with a constructivist stance, using thematic analysis based upon the grounded theory approach.Setting/Participants20 persons with advanced cancer who were participating in a Phase 1 clinical trial.ResultsMany participants described how Phase 1 clinical trial participation was their last hope, as they were cognisant of their advanced disease. Information-seeking needs differed - some needed comprehensive information while others relied on the doctor's recommendation. Participants experienced varied negative and positive physical and psycho-emotional concerns, and needed to draw on multiple sources of support such as family, friends and healthcare professionals. Some could list potential benefits of palliative care but felt they did not require it yet. The overarching theme was hope and positive thinking as a way of coping.ConclusionsThe concepts of hope as a way of coping and the supportive presence of healthcare professionals could be weaved into a future model of palliative care to improve the illness journey for patients considering Phase 1 clinical trial participation and other persons with advanced cancer.

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