Mike Peters (65), frontman for internationally acclaimed rock band THE ALARM, who was diagnosed with a rapidly progressive blood cancer earlier this year, has seen his cancer melt away after taking a new combination of blood cancer drugs being trialed at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust in Manchester, UK.
The Welsh musician was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia* (CLL) more than 29 years ago. CLL is the most common type of leukemia and is usually slow growing. It normally responds to treatment however cannot be cured. Mike had received four courses of chemotherapy since he was first diagnosed.
In April this year, just before he was about to embark on a 50-date tour of the United States, he felt a lump in his neck whilst shaving which had appeared overnight. A biopsy of the lump showed that he had developed Richter’s Syndrome where his CLL changed into an aggressive fast-growing lymphoma. Mike was forced to cancel his tour and disappoint thousands of fans.
The North Wales-based father of two sons, Dylan and Evan and married to Jules, was referred from The North Wales Cancer Centre to The Christie where he agreed to take part in a randomised phase II clinical trial investigating the combination of a targeted therapy called acalabrutinib, in combination with standard chemotherapy. Although acalabrutinib is already approved for CLL, it has not been tested in combination with chemotherapy for Richter’s Syndrome. The aim of this new combined therapy is to increase both the chance of the cancer responding to treatment and the duration of the response.
Two weeks after diagnosis Mike started the first of five cycles of chemotherapy and a scan in August showed that there are currently no signs of cancer which doctors describe as ‘complete remission’. The plan is now to go ahead with a donor stem cell transplant which will offer Mike the chance of finally being cured of the disease.
Commenting on the trial, Mike Peters said: “I went to the doctor just five days before I was due to fly to Chicago for the first date of a three-month North American tour. It’s been a tough few months to say the least. I can’t thank The Christie enough for getting me on this clinical trial. I consider myself lucky I discovered the lump before I’d left for the States, as I might not be here now if I hadn’t. Doctors told me without treatment I only had a couple of months to live which was a huge shock. The drugs worked so quickly, and the lump disappeared as fast as it appeared. I’d encourage anyone to consider taking part in a clinical trial if that is a viable option for them.
“When I was first diagnosed with cancer in 1995, I decided that I would not let the disease rob me of a single minute of my life. I have continued to perform as The Alarm at many UK festivals through-out the summer including a couple of big shows with Status Quo. The nursing staff think I’m crazy, but playing music keeps me mentally strong and able to face the ordeal of chemotherapy. I also make sure I stay as fit as I can, walk five miles a day with my dog Ziggy, and DJ every Friday at my wife, Jules’ bar The Red in our village of Dyserth. I now need to find the right match for the stem cell transplant** and if it’s successful, and with the incredible help of the team at The Christie, endeavor to find a way to be cured once and for all.”
Professor Adrian Bloor, consultant hematologist at The Christie, and leading the STELLAR trial at The Christie said: “Richter’s Syndrome is a rare disease affecting a small percentage of patients with CLL. There are still very few effective and well tolerated treatments with patients that develop this condition. It is hoped that the combination of acalabrutinib with chemotherapy will be effective in treating Richter’s Syndrome and stopping it coming back. Once Mike has completed his course of chemotherapy, we will be looking to do the stem cell transplant in the autumn.”
Blood Cancer UK funds the research through part of the Trials Acceleration Program (TAP). Dr Richard Francis, Deputy Director of Research at Blood Cancer UK, said: “Blood cancer is the UK’s third largest cancer killer, and our latest research shows blood cancer survival lags behind countries of similar wealth and health. All of us at Blood Cancer UK are pleased to hear that Mike has responded well to treatment so far and continues to make good progress. It’s further proof clinical trials designed to rapidly assess what treatment combinations work, improves people’s lives. Yet more must be done for those affected by leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma, and that’s why we’re committed to improving access to blood cancer clinical trials across the UK, regardless of where people live or who they are.”
Between two and ten out of every 100 people (2-10%) with CLL develop Richter’s Syndrome. This means the CLL changes into a type of lymphoma and can happen quite quickly.
Blood Cancer UK Clinical Trials Support nurses are available between 10am and 4pm Monday to Friday (except Bank holidays). They can help by providing personalized support around understanding if participating in a blood cancer clinical trial could be right for you. For more information see:https://bloodcancer.org.uk/understanding-blood-cancer/treatment/clinical-trials/clinical-trials-support-service/
AstraZeneca provided the drug for the study, and the pharmaceutical company has also provided an educational grant to cover the cost of the laboratory work.
This STELLAR trial aims to recruit 60 participants across the UK, and is run by the Dr Toby A. Eyre in Oxford. The trial is coordinated via the Cancer Research UK Clinical Trials Unit at the University of Birmingham and is still open to recruitment. Any patients interested in taking part in clinical trials should discuss this option with their consultant or GP. Not all patients will fit the criteria for a specific trial. While clinical trials can be successful for some patients, outcomes can vary from case to case. More information about taking part in clinical trials can be found here.
*CLL or chronic lymphocytic leukemia is a type of cancer of the blood and bone marrow.
**A stem cell transplant is a procedure that infuses healthy blood-forming stem cells into the body to replace bone marrow that’s not producing enough healthy blood cells.