|  |  |  | | | | NOTTINGHAM SCIENTISTS TARGET NOVEL CANCER TREATMENT | | | | |
| |  Myeloma cells
Release Date: 19th January 2004
University of Nottingham scientists are developing a novel treatment for myeloma, a cancer of the blood that affects 3,000 people in the UK each year. Armed with a new grant of £100,000 from Leukaemia Research, they believe a protein produced by the patient's own cancer cells can be used to stimulate an immune response against the disease.
Professor Lindy Durrant, from the CRUK Academic Haematology unit, Nottingham says: "Studies have already shown that this protein is capable of creating a small but significant immune response in patients. So we have developed in the laboratory a simple and effective way of making the protein more powerful."
"This grant from Leukaemia Research will enable us to determine that this technique is safe and effective for patients," she adds.
Myeloma is a distressing disease - related to leukaemia - which affects a very significant number of people. One of the most devastating features of myeloma - a cancer of the plasma cells in the bone marrow - is painful bone destruction and fractures, which significantly affect the patient's quality of life.
Dr David Grant, Leukaemia Research Scientific Director, says: "Learning to manipulate the patient's own immune system to fight their cancer would be an enormous step forward in treating patients with this disease. This commitment to research in Nottingham is a sign of the importance we place on finding better treatments for patients with myelomaa," he adds.
One patient who understands the importance of this research is jessica Knight, a 54 year old patient from Newark. "For someone like me, who in six years has already had four relapses and most of the treatments currently available, it is such a boost to see essential research into myeloma receiving long-term support," Jessica explains.
Her son Sam is aiming to become the youngest person to row solo across the Atlantic. The 23-year-old Oxford graduate will complete the amazing feat when he takes part in the first-ever solo-rowing race across the world's second largest ocean, which begins on the 20th January.
Sam is certainly not afraid of a challenge. Not only will he pull himself across 3,000 miles of open sea but he is also desperate to pull in thousands of pounds for Leukaemia Research.
To enter the Atlantic Rowing Race Sam had to raise a total of £25,000. "But now the real work begins, raising money for charity," says Sam. "This is why I have been training to row 10 hours a day for more than two months."
"Knowing that my efforts will be helping patients with disease such as leukaemia, myeloma and lymphoma, will help me get through the low points of the trip," says Sam.
To sponsor Sam you can do so in a number of ways;
Look up his website on the internet at www.samknightatlanticrow.com
Write to Sam's address; Samson Knight, 11 Beacon Hill Road, Newark, Notts, NG24 1NT (cheques payable to the Leukaemia Research Fund).
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