Posted on Thursday 26th January 2012
A donation of over half a million pounds will be used to help fund a new treatment for a rare type of cancer.
The generous donation of £509,225 last year by Jon Moulton, chairman of Better Capital LLP, is funding a clinical trial. The trial – due to start later on this year at Guy’s and Thomas’– will be looking at potential new treatments for cancers of the head and neck.
Survival rates in patients with head and neck cancer remain disappointing. Only about one in two affected individuals remain alive five years after treatment; a statistic that has not changed for many years.
John Maher, senior lecturer and consultant in immunology, King’s Health Partners, said: “We would like to thank Jon for his generous donation, and the money will help fund a clinical trial.
“We will be looking at using gene therapy to help modify patients’ white blood cells. White blood cells are the body’s defence against infection and, here, they will be used to fight the cancer. We’re at the very early stages, but if successful, there is huge potential.
“This is a very exciting project, and could help improve the survival rate in head and neck cancer. The patient’s own white blood cells will be genetically engineered in the laboratory and then injected directly into their tumour.
“Donations are vital as they allow us to provide services above and beyond what would otherwise be possible.”
If successful, the treatment could potentially be used to treat other cancers.
Jon Moulton, trustee of the J P Moulton Charitable Foundation, said: “I have always had a great interest in funding clinical trials, especially trials that are innovative and with the potential to provide huge patient benefit.”
Jon and his son Spencer recently visited Guy’s and St Thomas’ to see how the donation was being spent.
Head and neck cancer is the name given to tumours which start in the tissues or the organs of the head and neck (such as mouth, eyes and nose) and affects about 8000 people each year.