Starving leukaemia

Research has been conducted into the use of a new drug which blocks nutrient uptake in cancer cells to allow doctors to offer a less-aggressive treatment option for children and young people diagnosed with leukaemia.   

The research was led by our hospital’s Honorary Consultant in Paediatric Oncology, Dr Francis Mussai, and funded by one of our fabulous oncology supporters, fundraising group Carter the Brave, in honour of former patient, Carter Chatting (pictured).  

Cancers, including leukaemias and solid tumours, often require multi-drug chemotherapies to treat high-risk patients. Sadly, overall survival for these patients, particularly those with leukaemias or neuroblastoma, remains poor.  

While clinical trials into additional therapies for these cancers have taken place, investigations into other treatments aren’t as common as they should be.  

Adult clinical trial research into this new drug showed anticancer activity with minimal side effects, compared to standard chemotherapies which result in much harsher and long-term after-effects. 

Thanks to Carter the Brave, who donated £107,000 to this research, Dr Mussai and his team discovered that removing an amino-acid called arginine from cancer cells can kill them. They tested their treatment in adults and the results were extremely promising. Now, they’re ready to take the treatment into clinical trials for children with relapsed cancers, for whom other treatment options have failed.