New cancer research centre closer to reality

Immunotherapy is a revolutionary treatment, supercharging the body’s natural defences to find and destroy cancer. The new treatments being developed by Southampton scientists, in the form of vaccines and antibodies, direct special immune cells against cancers. These ‘killer’ cells can control and shrink cancer and give long-lasting protection. The University is developing treatments to target some of the most aggressive forms of the disease including cancers of the lung and skin, and childhood Neuroblastoma.

For decades Southampton scientists have made a number of advances in tumour immunology and immunotherapy research with a reputation for its ‘bench to bedside’ results.

The generous donation was given by a Guernsey resident who has a personal connection to the disease and is a lifelong supporter of medical research. Speaking on the donor’s behalf, their accountant John Bracegirdle said: “Cancer is a horrible disease that affects so many of us but immunotherapy is an exciting area of treatment which is gaining momentum. The University of Southampton has made major advances in tumour immunology and immunotherapy research and the new Centre will enable its world-leading scientists to continue the fight on a bigger scale and help many more people with cancer become free of the disease.”

The gift will fund a specialist laboratory suite on the third floor of the Centre, which is based at Southampton General Hospital. It will be home to five groups of scientists researching ways antibodies can be used to attack cancer and boost natural immunity to tumours. The teams investigate how immune cells interact with anticancer antibodies and engineer new and better versions of these antibodies to ensure a lasting protection from cancer.

Professor Sir Christopher Snowden, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Southampton, adds: “We are extremely grateful for this significant donation which puts us in reach of our goal allowing the University to continue its pioneering work in immunotherapies for cancer.”

Cancer knows no boundaries and two people that know that all too well are John and Hilary Course, from Chandlers Ford, Hampshire, who were diagnosed with advanced stages of melanoma and lymphoma respectively, in the same year.

In 2007 Hilary was told she had the first stages of melanoma (a type of skin cancer that can spread to other organs in the body) after noticing a strange spot on her arm. During surgery at Southampton, more cancerous cells were discovered in Hilary’s lymph nodes. Removing them seemed to address the problem but four years later a CT Scan revealed the melanoma had come back and was now at stage four (the most advanced stage).

Hilary had chemotherapy which initially seemed to work. But, unfortunately, after just a few months, it stopped and she was given an immunotherapy drug called ipilimumab in conjunction with radiotherapy which thankfully dealt with the cancer.

Devastatingly and coincidentally this was around the same time that John was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (cancer of the lymphatic system).

He took part in a trial involving a combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy, with the hope that the immunotherapy would significantly increase John’s chances of beating the cancer.

After three treatments, a CT scan showed that all the tumours had gone down except one, which was taken out. John had follow up radiotherapy as a precaution and continued to take the immunotherapy drug. Three years on he is living cancer free.

There was a time when both Hilary and John were receiving their treatment in adjacent hospital wards. “Many of the staff thought an in-hospital romance was blossoming until they realised we were husband and wife!” recalls Hilary, able to laugh about it now. “John came to visit me in his pyjamas and sat by my bed!”

“We had no idea all this research was going on in Southampton. We have said we will never move from this area because the treatment has been so good. The people and the treatment were both amazing.”

“Opening a new centre, dedicated to cancer immunology research, is fantastic. This will only make things better, helping to eradicate cancer and give hope to more people.  There are more survivors now and the more research there is, the more survivors there will be,” adds John.

The Centre is being built at University Hospital Southampton with the final aspects of construction now underway and should be complete in early 2018 with an official opening taking place in the spring/summer. For more on the campaign visit southampton.likn.co/youreit