The Christie Charity
Press release posted 13 December 2024
A 69-year-old granddad from Stockport is showing no signs of cancer nearly six years after he first started on the FLAIR clinical trial at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, a specialist cancer centre in Manchester.
The aim of the trial was to see whether newer targeted drugs were more effective than existing chemotherapy in treating people with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) who had had no previous treatment.
The results showed that a combination of venetoclax and ibrutinib – 2 targeted drugs that work by blocking the chemical signals that tell the cancer to grow – increased the time that people lived without their cancer progressing and improved overall survival, with more than 19 in 20 patients in remission three years after starting treatment[1].
As well as being highly effective, the combination of ibrutinib and venetoclax was generally well tolerated and not associated with some of the serious side effects that can be caused by chemotherapy. This not only results in a better quality of life for patients, but it also means that older people, who may not have been able to tolerate the previous drugs, can now receive more effective treatment. According to Cancer Research UK, incidence rates for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia in the UK are highest in people aged 85 to 89[2].
“Wherever possible, we want to be able to offer patients personalised treatments that not only effectively attack the cancer, but also come with fewer side effects and are kinder on the body. This is especially important for older, frailer people who may not be able to tolerate chemotherapy,” comments Professor Adrian Bloor, consultant haematologist at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust and principal investigator of the FLAIR trial.
The study was a phase III randomised controlled trial for untreated CLL led by investigators at the University of Leeds. Around 1500 people took part at more than 100 hospitals across the UK, including The Christie. It was funded by Cancer Research UK, Janssen Research & Development, LLC, and AbbVie Pharmaceutical Research and Development.
William’s story
William Bennett, who works in a warehouse and whose granddaughter Tegan is a goalkeeper for Stockport County Football Club, was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) 12 years ago. CLL is a type of blood cancer where the body produces too many abnormal white blood cells. Symptoms include infections that won’t get better, bone pain and night sweats.
CLL is often picked up incidentally and many patients have few if any symptoms when they are diagnosed. In William’s case, it discovered by chance after having a blood test as part of treatment for a prolapsed disc. He was referred to his local hospital, where he was put under surveillance as he didn’t immediately need treatment.
Around 6 years ago, his white cell count started to rise more quickly, and he started to develop night sweats associated with his cancer. He now needed to start treatment and was keen to explore all options. He was referred to The Christie, where he met Professor Adrian Bloor and was offered the opportunity to take part in the FLAIR trial.
William started on the trial in January 2019. He was on the drugs for 3 years as per the trial protocol, but his lymphocyte count started dropping almost immediately, and within 3 months it had returned to normal levels.
His trial medication was given as tablets taken every day at home. At the start of his treatment, he was monitored closely for any side effects but after the first few weeks on trial he only needed to come to The Christie every three months for a check-up.
William has needed no further treatment since he finished the trial nearly 3 years ago, and his latest tests show that he still has no evidence of disease.
“When you first hear that you’ve got cancer, it’s really scary, but I know my team at The Christie are with me every step of the way,” comments William. “My family and the people I work for were also brilliant, their support has meant the world to me.
“When I was told I could go on the trial, I felt like I’d won the lottery. The treatment made me feel a bit weak, but apart from that, I had no side-effects. I could live my life as normal and do all the things I love, including spending time with my 2 daughters and watching my granddaughter play football. Now that I’m three years on, I still feel so lucky. I can’t thank my team at The Christie for what they’ve done for me.”
FLAIR trial Chief Investigator Dr Talha Munir, Consultant in Clinical Haematology at the University of Leeds and Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "William's story shows that fantastic advances are being made in cancer research all the time, thanks to trials such as ours. We're very proud of the results of FLAIR, which has made such a difference to William's life, and other patients' lives, too. Today's cancer treatments are not just about saving lives, they are about preserving quality of life too, and FLAIR did just that for the patients taking part."
Dr Iain Foulkes, Executive Director of Research and Innovation at Cancer Research UK, said: “William’s story shows how effective tailored cancer treatment can be. The results of the FLAIR trial have shown that we can provide treatment for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia which is kinder and offers people more precious time with their loved ones.
“We’re hopeful that the results of the FLAIR trial will power new treatment options for leukaemia and other blood cancers, thanks to the efforts of researchers at The Christie, Leeds and across the UK working together on this trial.”
[1] 'Remarkable' results in Leeds leukaemia trial | University of Leeds
[2] Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) statistics | Cancer Research UK