Pictured: Tomas participated in the clinical trial at Epworth.
Three young Victorians involved in a clinical trial of a new treatment for early-stage Hodgkin lymphoma all remain in remission with no cancer detected around three years on.
As part of the trial, researchers from across the world – including the Epworth Centre for Immunotherapies and Snowdome Laboratories in Melbourne – tested replacing two of the four conventional chemotherapy drugs traditionally used for Hodgkin lymphoma with targeted immunotherapy drugs.
The trial study, published in the prestigious journal Blood, showed that around 96 per cent of the 154 patients who received the treatment combination had their cancer disappear on scans and still remain free of disease.
This included patients treated at Epworth, the only Victorian hospital involved in the global study.
Hodgkin lymphoma is a type of blood cancer where cancer cells grow in lymph nodes and other parts of the lymphatic system, and it most commonly develops in younger people. Around 830 people are diagnosed each year in Australia, with half of those aged 15-39.
Internationally recognised haematologist, Prof. H Miles Prince AM, is Director at the Epworth Centre for Immunotherapies and Snowdome Laboratories and one of the clinical trial study authors.
He said this groundbreaking study is a major step towards the ultimate goal of improving treatment and care for Hodgkin lymphoma patients across Australia and the world.
“Our immune system is ultimately what cures us of cancer, and immune based therapies will be critical to the future treatment of blood cancers including Hodgkin lymphoma,” Prof Prince said.
“These results are incredible with virtually all patients put in remission, and with the long follow up we have, we can be confident that they are likely cured. Not only are these the best results ever seen for this group of patients, it was better tolerated than the usual chemotherapy cocktail of drugs we have had to give.
“This clinical trial study gives us confidence to continue to do further studies to reduce the amount of chemotherapy more and accelerate new treatments for Hodgkin lymphoma patients in Australia.”
Prof Prince said this study also showed how clinical trials can benefit cancer patients today while testing ‘the treatments of tomorrow’.
“Clinical trials have the power to change lives. They provide eligible patients with an opportunity to receive cutting-edge treatments they otherwise would not be able to access in Australia,” he said.
Tomas Parrish-Chynoweth was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma at just 26 years of age, with doctors discovering an 11-centimetre tumour pressing up against their heart and lung.
After just two months on the clinical trial, the cancer was no longer active within the body and Tomas was classed as being in remission. They described the trial as a “lifeline” compared to their experience with standard chemotherapy.
The Epworth Centre for Immunotherapies and Snowdome Laboratories is a Centre of Excellence in blood cancer patient treatment and care, made possible through a partnership of Epworth Medical Foundation and Snowdome Foundation.
