Log in
Bowel cancer is the third most frequently diagnosed cancer worldwide. University of Glasgow researchers have established Xeloda (an oral 5-fluorouracil precursor) and XELOX (a chemotherapeutic regimen combining Xeloda with oxaliplatin) as highly effective, targeted therapies for patients with bowel cancer. Since 2008, European regulatory approval of these therapies has been incorporated into major international clinical guidelines. The research has transformed patient care by improving the treatment experience, with more convenient dosing schedules and fewer side effects compared with previous chemotherapy procedures. Xeloda and XELOX have transformed chemotherapy for bowel cancer and decreased therapeutic costs, potentially saving around £4,762 (Xeloda) and £947 (XELOX) per patient for the NHS.
University of Glasgow research has led to the adoption of first-line chemotherapy for ovarian cancer, which has improved patient survival by 11% and has been used to treat 66% of women with ovarian cancer since January 2011 in the West of Scotland Cancer Care Network alone. These therapies are recommended by guidelines for ovarian cancer treatment in the USA, Europe and the UK. The USA guidelines are disseminated to 4.3 million people worldwide and the European guidelines reach 15,000 health professionals. The UK guidelines are used to identify those drugs that are funded by the NHS and used in NHS hospitals.
Cancer is a widespread deadly disease; annually, one million new breast cancers are diagnosed globally. Endometriosis is a poorly understood disorder, with 80 million patients worldwide. Current therapies for both are inadequate and discovery of new drugs is critical. The Bath group has pioneered identification of new targets and designed two "first-in-class" clinical drugs. The Bath/Imperial College spin-out company Sterix (subsequently acquired by a major pharmaceutical company) has translated them into patients and to the pharmaceutical industry. The steroid sulfatase inhibitors, Irosustat and J995 have entered eighteen clinical trials worldwide in patients with these hormone-dependent diseases, with several ongoing since 2008. Disease was stabilised for cancer patients; the advanced clinical evaluation of both drugs is in progress.
Bladder cancer is the fifth most common form of cancer, with over 70% of cases presenting as non-muscle invasive bladder carcinomas (NMIBC). Research in the Institute of Cancer Therapeutics at the University of Bradford led to the evaluation of Apaziquone (EO9) in phase II clinical trials against high risk NMIBC in The Netherlands, and two multi-centre phase III clinical trials involving 106 centres across the USA, Canada and Europe. A total of 1,746 patients with low or high risk NMIBC received EO9 and significant reductions in the rates of recurrence at two years have been reported. Our research has impacted upon the health and welfare of patients with NMIBC.
Newcastle University research discovered the first potent inhibitors of the DNA repair enzyme poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP-1) through medicinal chemistry and preclinical work leading to first-in-man clinical studies. This research led to the development of Rucaparib, an agent that inhibits the ability of cancer cells to survive drug treatments or radiotherapy. As a result of Newcastle's research a further 8 PARP inhibitors are in development. Major pharmaceutical companies have invested an estimated $385 million in clinical trials, with at least 7000 patients enrolled in PARP inhibitor trials since 2008. Cancer patients worldwide have already been successfully treated with these new anti-cancer drugs.
Newcastle research selected the DNA repair enzyme poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) as a promising target for cancer therapy. The first-in-class PARP inhibitor, rucaparib, was developed at Newcastle, in collaboration with Cancer Research UK and Agouron Pharmaceuticals, and subsequently became the first PARP inhibitor to be used to treat a cancer patient in a clinical trial. Currently, at least 8 PARP inhibitors are being developed and major pharmaceutical companies have to date invested around $385 million in clinical trials, and over 7,000 patients worldwide have been treated with PARP inhibitors in trials since 2008, demonstrating the importance of basic and translational research in universities to drug discovery by pharmaceutical companies.
Eculizumab has transformed quality of life and life expectancy for patients with PNH and led to major economic impacts with global drug sales of $1,134 million in 2012 and to Alexion Pharmaceuticals being worth over $19 billion. PNH is a disabling blood disorder that was previously fatal in 50% of patients but with eculizumab survival is comparable to the normal population as well as returning patients to having a normal quality of life. Research in Leeds led to the introduction of eculizumab in 2007. Eculizumab is now approved for clinical use in over 40 countries and for another life threatening disease, atypical haemolytic uraemic syndrome.
Researchers at the University of Leeds have designed and developed new approaches and technologies for cancer patients to self-assess their symptoms and quality of life. The work focused on electronic methods for collecting patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), developing PROMs for neglected areas of patient care, and running trials of these techniques. These approaches produced sizeable patient benefits including improved symptom control and better quality-of-life. These findings have influenced clinical guidelines in the UK and Canada, NHS policy and the endorsement of PROMs in the Health and Social Care Act (2012). Electronic PROMs systems based on the Leeds research have been implemented locally, nationally and internationally, making measurable improvements to patient welfare and health, such as a reported significant increase in completion of chemotherapy treatment.
Collaborative research conducted by the Biological Sciences Research Group (BSRG) has brought considerable benefits for the treatment of cancer patients. Experimental research has shown that the shelf-life of the biological cancer drug Herceptin can be greatly extended thereby bringing significant economic benefit through cost savings. A clinical trial has demonstrated that yoga benefits the health and well-being of patients with gynaecological cancer leading to prospects of improved cancer survivorship. Sowter provides research-informed oncology training for NHS clinical trials staff throughout the National Institute of Cancer Research UK network (NCRN), and has supervised two senior registrars through their MD qualifications.
Colorectal cancer is a common disease, which frequently causes death or morbidity, either because of failure to control the primary tumour or failure to prevent distant metastases. Leeds researchers have devised new treatment approaches using chemotherapy and radiotherapy and tested them in large randomised controlled trials which have led to major changes in clinical practice in the management of rectal cancer and advanced colorectal cancer (aCRC), driving clinical decision-making and improving outcomes for patients. This includes better-evidenced treatment for elderly patients and patient stratification on the basis of molecular biomarkers.