Treatment ‘revolution’ for aggressive cancer

MEN in Scotland with an aggressive type of prostate cancer will be the first in the UK to receive a targeted new treatment on the NHS.

The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) yesterday approved olaparib, which treats prostate cancer with specific gene mutations.

The pioneering drug can be used in end-of-life treatment and can prolong the time before the disease progresses.

It is able to help men who carry the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations, both of which are associated with an increased risk of developing prostate cancer.

David Ferguson, public affairs manager for Cancer Research UK in Scotland, said: ‘Around one in 400 people in the UK have the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations… Olaparib is a really important tool for treating patients with these mutations who have cancer which has come back after chemotherapy.’

He said the drug had been used routinely to treat ovarian cancer in patients with such gene mutations, adding: ‘It’s really encouraging olaparib can be now be used for more types of cancer.

‘For those advanced prostate cancer patients who can now get olaparib, today’s decision will offer them a treatment option which can give them time to make more memories with their loved ones.’

Dr Matthew Hobbs, director of research at Prostate Cancer UK, hailed olaparib as a ‘revolution in prostate cancer treatment’.

But he said: ‘Without investment in vital genomic testing services, hundreds of men won’t be able to access the tests they need to find out if they could benefit from this drug. Today, we’re urging the Scottish Government to make more funding available for BRCA testing, to ensure no man misses out on the chance of additional months of life.’

The SMC also approved cabotegravir, in combination with rilpivirine, a treatment for adults living with HIV.

It is given by injection every two months, rather than the current regime of daily tablets. In addition, chloroprocaine hydrochloride, a spinal anaesthesia for surgical procedures taking less than 40 minutes, was approved.

SMC chairman Mark MacGregor said: ‘The committee is pleased to be able to accept these three medicines for use by NHS Scotland.’