Cancer patients given a boost; A new treatment could give patients in the North East with certain types of cancer a greater chance of survival. Health Reporter HELEN RAE explains.

Byline: HELEN RAE

APPROVAL has been given for the use of a new drug which will give patients with certain types of blood cancer an increased chance of survival.

The North of England Cancer Drug Approvals Group has agreed a drug called Plerixafor should be made available for patients with lymphoma, cancer of the immune system, and myeloma, which affects white cells in the blood.

Patients will only be eligible if, while using other treatments, they have not been able to harvest stem cells, a necessary move before a potentially lifesaving stem cell transplant can take place.

People taking the drug will be able to have a transplant and increase their chance of survival.

The cancer drug approvals group agreed to the request from clinicians who treat patients in the region with blood cancer.

It took three months for the drug to be given the go-ahead by the North of England Cancer Drug Approvals Group, following results of a trial of 115 patients worldwide.

The use Steve Williamson, consultant pharmacist with the North of England Cancer Network, said: "A small number of patients with lymphoma and myeloma are not able to harvest stem cells which means they are not able to have a transplant which would increase their chance of survival.

"This drug, Plerixafor, has " survival lymphoma to 50% overall rate, being the in been shown to be effective for this particular group of patients." which shown sur Stem cells therapies are used to treat people with cancer of the blood. The cells are collected and reintroduced to a patient after chemotherapy.

Doctors often encounter problems collecting enough stem cells from about one in 10 cancer patients to undergo treatment.

Plerixafor has, so far, had a high success rate in allowing doctors to collect enough cells from patients who fall into this category.

Mr Williamson added: "In patients previously unable to mobilise enough stem cells for harvest, any intervention that allows stem cells to be harvested will allow patients to proceed to stem cell transplantation.

"The use of transplantation improves survival in relapsed lymphoma from 25% to 50% for a five-year overall survival rate, as well as being the only treatment in myeloma which has been shown to prolong survival.

"This is an exciting development as it really is a life-saving treatment for people with certain types of blood cancers."

of transplantation improves relapsed from 25% It is estimated the lives of up to 12 patients a year could potentially be saved in the North East through the use of Plerixafor.

for a fiveyear survival well as only treatment The cost of the drug is pounds 5,000 per dose and each patient would be given two to three doses.

myeloma has been prolong vival The cancer drug approvals group is a subgroup of the cancer network and comprises doctors and other professionals involved in the care of patients with cancer, public health doctors and senior managers from primary care organisations and trusts.

Once they make a decision on a new drug it is made available for patients across the North East to ensure equity of access throughout the region.

LYMPHOMA is a type of cancer involving cells of the immune system, called lymphocytes. Just as cancer represents many different diseases, lymphoma represents many different cancers of lymphocytes - about 35 different subtypes, in fact. Lymphoma is one of the most common types of blood cancer.

Myeloma is a cancer of certain white blood cells, called plasma cells.

The cancerous plasma cells build up in the bone marrow. Myeloma is sometimes called multiple myeloma or myelomatosis.

CAPTION(S):

CONSULTANT - Steven Williamson, of the North of England Cancer Network