Øivind Choe Levinsen (55) from Haugesund is still affected by the powerful treatment he has undergone. When the blood cancer was discovered, it was only hours before he was on chemotherapy. But it took weeks before they could be sure that it had an effect. – It was a powerful cure. And it was absolutely necessary for me. Without it, I wouldn’t be alive today. For more than half of those with the same type of cancer as Levinsen, the treatment does not work as it should. It is a type of cancer from which most people do not recover. Øivind Choe Levinsen had blood cancer. When it was discovered, it was only hours before he was on chemotherapy. But it took weeks before he knew whether it had an effect. Photo: Thomas Halleland / news Can get an answer within a day In the laboratory building at Haukeland University Hospital in Bergen, they may have found the answer to how patients with acute blood cancer can receive more effective treatment. In the past, patients only had to wait to see if the chemotherapy would have an effect on them. They did not get an answer until after weeks or months of stressful treatment. Now the researchers have discovered that a protein in the cancer cells in the blood behaves differently in patients where the chemotherapy does not work. Then there is more of this protein. With this method, they can get an answer within 24 hours as to whether the treatment is working. They have bought the patients time. An opportunity to try other treatment methods. The extra time can often be the difference between life and death. – It can cause the chances of survival to increase significantly for patients who have particularly poor prognoses, says Benedicte Sjo Tislevoll. She is a research fellow and cancer researcher at the University of Bergen. She has led the study which was carried out in Bergen and Oslo. The research group is part of the University of Bergen’s research into cancer markers. It was recently published in the well-known medical journal Nature Communications. Cancer researcher Benedicte Sjo Tislevoll believes the principle can be transferred to other types of cancer. – This is potentially huge. It is a privilege to work on this topic, she says. Photo: Oddgeir Øystese / news Harmful if it doesn’t work Knowledge of the reactions of the protein can mean a lot for the work against several types of cancer. – We think this can teach us something about how cancer cells protect themselves against chemotherapy, says Tislevoll. There can be great differences in the disease between patients with the same type of cancer. There are many because there are different mutations of the cancer cells. – Then we can better tailor treatment for those who do not benefit from chemotherapy. It is harmful for patients to receive such treatment if it does not work. The method was developed for acute blood cancer, a type of cancer around 150 Norwegians get each year. The researchers hope they can quickly adopt it for all forms of leukaemia. In addition, they believe that the principle can be transferred to other types of cancer. – This is potentially huge. It is a privilege to work on this topic. Tislevoll will defend his doctorate in the subject later this year. – Perhaps would have given fewer side effects The next step to get the method to become part of the usual cancer treatment is to do more research. The results must be confirmed, or validated, on more than those who have been part of the research project until now. Among the 32 who have allowed themselves to be researched so far is Øivind Choe Levinsen, who is now healthy. – If this method had been available when I fell ill, I might have received a milder and more effective treatment. One with fewer side effects. He is happy to have contributed to a research project in which he has great faith. To a method that can provide a little extra time for those who need it most. Øivind Choe Levinsen believes that the new method could provide a gentler and more accurate treatment. One with fewer side effects. It was not available when he fell ill. Photo: Thomas Halleland / news
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In one day, the doctors can find out whether the chemotherapy is working – news Vestland
