New combination treatment for blood cancer may 'dramatically improve' patients' chances of survival when the disease has spread to their brains

• The treatment offers hope for patients whose cancer has spread to brain or spine
• Trial patients received combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy drugs
• Results showed that it prevented the cancer from worsening in 58% of the patients for at least a year after registering to take part in the A new treatment may offer hope for blood cancer patients whose disease has spread to their brains or spines.  

  Researchers say that an intensive combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy may double the remission time for these patients.

  Blood cancer is a condition that affects around 40,000 people in the UK every year. 

  The team hopes the findings could help in changing the international guidelines on how to treat patients after their cancer spreads.

  

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  Blood cancer is a condition that affects around 40,000 people in the UK every year, but now a new study may offer hope for patients whose cancer has spread to their brain or spine

  HOW CAN CANCER SPREAD THROUGH THE BLOOD?

  Cancerous tumours are made up of living cells which multiply uncontrollably. 

  While most of these new, dangerous, cells stick to the original tumour, some are released and can travel round the body through the bloodstream.

  Moving cancer cells can, if they survive the journey, become lodged in another part of the body and start one of their own tumours – called a satellite tumour.

  These metastatic tumours are typically the most dangerous and form secondary cancers which are harder and sometimes impossible to cure.

  However, only a few of the thousands of moving cancer cells in the blood will survive. They can be destroyed by the immune system or smashed up by other blood cells. 

  But some may be able to stick to platelets – clotting ingredients – to form clumps which, if stuck in the blood vessel, might buy time for the cancer cell to travel out of the blood and into the body.

  Scientists are looking into ways of measuring circulating cancer cells as a way of testing different types of cancer and working out which treatments might work best.

  
  

  In a study part-funded by Cancer Research UK, researchers have found the treatment regime was more effective in patients who had lymphoma – a type of blood cancer – where the disease had already spread when first diagnosed.

  This was when compared with those who had previously been treated for lymphoma and the disease had spread after their cancer had returned.

  The researchers said their findings, published in the journal Lancet Haematology, could help in changing the international guidelines on how to treat patients after their lymphoma spreads to their brain or spine, known as secondary central nervous system lymphoma.

  While secondary central nervous system lymphoma is rare, it can potentially be lethal.

  A team of researchers led by Dr Kate Cwynarski from University College London Hospital in the UK, and Professor Andres Ferreri in Milan, Italy, assessed 75 patients across four countries.

  Known as the Marietta study, it is thought to be the largest clinical trial ever to look at secondary central nervous system lymphoma.

  Patients on the trial received a combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy drugs in treatment regimens, known as Matrix and Rice.

  It included three courses of Matrix followed by three courses of Rice, before a stem cell transplant using cells taken from the patients themselves.

  Of the 75 patients assessed, 32 were initially diagnosed when their lymphoma had already spread to their brain or spine and had not received treatment, and 43 had previously been treated for lymphoma and the disease had spread after their cancer came back.

  The researchers said the intensive Matrix/Rice treatment prevented the cancer from worsening in 42 (58%) of the patients for at least a year after registering to take part in the trial.

  

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  Researchers say that an intensive combination treatment of chemotherapy and immunotherapy may double the remission time for these patients (stock image)trialPatients whose lymphoma had spread to the brain or spine when first diagnosed were found to respond to the combination treatment far better than those who had been treated for lymphoma already.

  In those patients, two-year progression-free survival was reported to be 71%, which, the researchers said, has never been achieved before.

  They said the results are 'extremely impressive' because they are similar to those who have lymphoma that has not spread to the brain or spine.According to the researchers, their findings suggest the Matrix/Rice treatment could 'dramatically improve survival for patients with secondary central nervous system lymphoma'.

  Dr Cwynarski said: 'The Marietta trial has meant patients who may have had just months to live are alive and living well years after being diagnosed.

  'It is incredible to be able to sign DVLA forms for many of my patients treated with this approach, as you can't drive until you have been clear of treatment for two years and are well, which really brought home the impact this study has had.'

  HOW TO TELL IF A LUMP COULD BE CANCER 

  Cancer Research UK says all lumps or swellings which don't go away should be taken seriously and deserve a doctor's opinion.

  Most cancers produce tumours, which are growing lumps of cells which can produce noticeable lumps if they're close to the surface of the skin.

  If you cannot explain where a lump has come from and it's not connected to a physical injury like a bruise, it may be cause for concern.

  Cancerous lumps are usually hard and painless to touch, although they may ache at times. Lumps which can be felt usually appear in the breasts, testicles, neck or armpits, but potentially also on the arms or legs.

  If the appearance of the lump is accompanied by feelings of severe tiredness, night sweats, breathlessness, or unexplained weight loss it could be a sign of cancer.

  Always visit a doctor if you are worried about a lump or the symptoms above.