A new drug which helps reduce the chance of renal cancer returning in patients who have had cancerous kidneys removed, has been approved following a trial involving NHSGGC patients.
The approval by the SMC means upwards of 100 patients in Scotland every year will benefit from the drug.
Kidney cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in the UK and usually affects adults in their 60s and 70s. It can often be cured if it’s found early, however there remains a threat of the cancer returning following treatment.
NHSGGC patients took part in the ‘KEYNOTE-564 trial’ and were among a cohort from 213 hospitals around the world feeding into the study.
A drug called Pembrolizumab was given to patients at the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre over a 12 month period following kidney surgery to remove cancerous tissue.
Thanks to volunteers like Chrisanne MacGill, 59, the drug will be now available on the NHS in Scotland for the first time.
For Chrisanne, who was diagnosed with kidney cancer by chance, life has taken on a new meaning. Chrisanne remains cancer free nearly five years after undergoing surgery.
She said: “You realise every moment is precious and you appreciate everyone you have in your life more. I was healthy all my life. I rarely visited a doctor, so it was a huge shock that my back pain – which I mentioned just as an aside to the doctor – eventually led to the diagnosis and follow up treatment.
“I jumped at the chance to come on to the KEYNOTE-564 trial. On one level, it meant I was getting regular ongoing treatment and monitoring, and this gave me reassurance as I recovered after the surgery. On another level it’s given a real appreciation of these clinical trials and of the added value they bring to myself and other patients in the long term.
“The nurses and staff at the Beatson have been amazing. It was an emotionally difficult time for me but they were there the whole way, answering any questions I had and the care which came alongside the trial was fantastic.”
Dr Balaji Venugopal, Consultant in Medical Oncology and Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer at the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre Glasgow, led the study at NHSGGC. He said:
“Many patients who have a cancerous kidney removed at surgery will be cured, but, in some, the cancer will recur, and it may spread to other parts of the body. The Keynote 564 trial has shown that patients who receive an immune-stimulating drug called pembrolizumab for a year after surgery have a significantly lower risk of recurrence. This is the first time an immune-stimulating drug has been shown to do this. A team of dedicated patients and staff at The Beatson took part in this trial, which was conducted all over the world, and the results of the trial are promising for our patients. It is exciting to note that Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has now approved pembrolizumab to be available to all patients in this situation in NHS Scotland.”
ENDS