Blood cancer, the fifth most common cancer and the third leading cause of cancer-related death in the UK, has seen a new treatment option approved. Epcoritamab, a drug designed for patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) that has returned or not responded to other treatments, represents a significant advancement. DLBCL is an aggressive form of blood cancer, with nearly 5,500 new diagnoses in the UK each year. For about 700 of these patients who have the severest form of the disease, treatment options were previously limited to intravenous drugs.
Epcoritamab works by stimulating the body's immune system to attack cancer cells and is administered as a simpler injection. This new treatment has been welcomed by both patients and the clinical community. Prof Chris Fox from the University of Nottingham highlighted the importance of this development, noting the limited treatment options for this hard-to-treat group of patients and the poor prognosis many faced.
Jane Thacker, a 79-year-old from Mansfield in Nottinghamshire, shared her experience with DLBCL. Diagnosed in 2006 after discovering a pea-sized lump on her eyelid, she underwent surgery to remove the lump, which revealed her aggressive form of blood cancer. Despite relapsing four times, Ms. Thacker is now in remission thanks to the new treatment and has returned to her "energetic self".
The approval of Epcoritamab by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is a beacon of hope for patients with DLBCL, offering a new lease on life for those who previously had limited options.
