Two cutting-edge blood cancer treatments have been approved on the NHS, giving "renewed hope" to hundreds of patients for whom other therapies have failed. A pill called dabrafenib treats rare and deadly blood cancers called histiocytic neoplasms and can be taken at home. It blocks proteins that help cancer cells grow, slowing or stopping the disease.
Impact of Histiocytic Neoplasms
Without effective treatment, around one in 10 children with high risk histiocytic neoplasms die within one year of a diagnosis, while seven in 10 adults die within five years. The approval of dabrafenib offers a new option for these patients.
New Treatment for Hodgkin Lymphoma
Meanwhile, a new drug combination targeting Hodgkin lymphoma will be offered to children as young as eight whose cancer has returned or not responded to initial treatment. Administered through a drip, it binds to a protein on the surface of cancer cells before delivering a killing dose directly into them.
Number of Patients Benefiting
NHS England said around 200 patients per year were expected to benefit from the two treatments.
Expert Reactions
Professor Peter Johnson, the health service's national clinical director for cancer, said: “This is a landmark moment for people with histiocytic neoplasms and Hodgkin lymphoma, giving them access to new treatment options they might not otherwise have had. For people living with the uncertainty of these rare cancers, these innovative therapies could offer something that can be hard to find — renewed hope.”
Dr Rubina Ahmed, director of research, policy and services at Blood Cancer UK, said: "Today's announcement is welcome news for people affected by some of the rarest blood cancers. Blood cancer is the UK's third biggest cancer killer, and some of the rarest forms can be particularly hard to treat, with few options available if the disease comes back or stops responding to treatment. Every new treatment offers renewed hope for patients and their families. We're entering a remarkable era for blood cancer treatment, with research transforming what's possible for patients. It's vital that people can benefit."
