Clatterbridge launches pioneering cancer research study

New research at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre (CCC) is set to improve understanding and treatment of an aggressive blood cancer.

The ALMANAC study is looking at Large B-cell Lymphoma (LBCL), which affects around 5,500 people in the UK each year and is characterised by uncontrolled disease growth.

The clinical trial, which has just opened and signed up its first patients, aims to address gaps in the care of patients who are either ineligible for full-dose first-line treatments, experience relapses in their disease or find that the treatment stops working.

Professor Nagesh Kalakonda, the study’s lead investigator at CCC said:

“LBCL is a complex and aggressive cancer, and while some standard treatments have transformed outcomes for many patients, there remains a significant group for whom these therapies are unsuitable or ineffective. ALMANAC will help us gather real-world data and experiences of treatments and outcomes needed to improve care for these vulnerable patients.”

LBCL represents 30-40% of non-Hodgkin lymphoma diagnoses, with treatment usually involving a combination of anti-cancer drugs. However, around half of newly diagnosed patients cannot tolerate standard therapies due to age or other health conditions. For those who do receive treatment, 30-40% experience relapse or resistance to the therapy and face a poor long-term outlook with limited options.

The ALMANAC study aims to recruit 800 patients from 50 hospitals in the UK, split equally into two groups: those ineligible for full-dose first-line treatments and those whose disease has come back or stopped responding to treatment.

Researchers will analyse patient demographics, treatment pathways and journeys, as well as clinical outcomes. Additionally, blood and tissue samples will be collected for future research.

By providing a comprehensive overview of the challenges faced by these patients, the study aims to lay the foundation for future research and innovation in LBCL treatment.

“Primary and secondary care registries often provide incomplete data, leaving us with an unclear picture of how best to manage these patients,” explained Prof Kalakonda. “By addressing this gap, ALMANAC has the potential to identify new treatment strategies and better ways to personalise care.”

He said: “The study would not be possible without the hard work of two of our talented trainees and early career researchers at Clatterbridge, Dr Andrew Ross and Dr Indrani Karpha, who have created the website for real-time data entry. Both are clinical PhD fellows funded by The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre and their research is focused on the understanding of therapy resistance in lymphomas.”

ALMANAC is a collaboration between CCC, which acts as sponsor, and the Clinical Trials Unit at London’s Royal Marsden Hospital, through a Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), where Prof Kalakonda also serves as academic lead. CCC is an Associate Partner in the National Institute of Health Research-funded BRC, awarded to The Royal Marsden and the Institute of Cancer Research.

Dr Gillian Heap, CCC Director of Research and Innovation Operations, said:

“Our partnership in the BRC exemplifies the importance of collaboration in driving progress in cancer research. We are delighted ALMANAC is now open as it has the potential to influence and improve outcomes for LBCL patients with an unmet need.”