Healthcare (Commonwealth Union) – Recently released long-term findings from the UK-wide FLAIR trial may revolutionize how chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) — the most common adult leukaemia — is treated.
A research team from Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and the University of Leeds discovered that using a combination of two precision drugs, ibrutinib and venetoclax, alongside personalized blood test monitoring, delivers much improved patient outcomes compared to conventional treatment approaches.
Published in the New England Journal of Medicine and unveiled at the European Haematology Association conference in Milan, the study reveals that this approach boosts survival rates, reduces lasting side effects, and offers many patients a path forward without relying on traditional cancer therapies.
The FLAIR trial was managed by the Leeds-based Cancer Research UK Clinical Trials Unit (CTRU) and overseen by Dr Talha Munir from Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. It was supported by the University of Leeds and received funding from Cancer Research UK, AbbVie, and Johnson & Johnson.
Professor David Cairns, who heads Late Phase Trials within CTRU’s Cancer Division and served as the trial’s scientific lead, emphasized the importance of tailoring cancer treatments to each patient’s needs and adapting therapies to suit individual patients helps ease the strain on them and their loved ones. He further pointed out that at the Leeds CTRU, their mission is to develop gentler, more effective treatments — and the FLAIR trial is a shining example of that vision in action.
“Without patients taking part in clinical trials, life-changing research like this would not be possible.”
Dr Talha Munir, a Consultant Haematologist at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, described the FLAIR trial as a groundbreaking development and stated that they have demonstrated that a treatment plan without traditional chemotherapy can be not only more effective but also easier for patients to tolerate. He further indicated that by customising therapies based on each patient’s response, they are going into a new era of highly personalised cancer care.”
The FLAIR trial’s results indicate that patients now have access to more precise therapies that not only help them live longer but also enhance their overall well-being.
This phase of the trial observed 786 individuals newly diagnosed with CLL across 96 UK medical centres. It investigated whether modern targeted drugs could deliver longer-lasting remission and fewer side effects compared to older treatments. The results were overwhelmingly positive.
A remarkable 93.9% of patients treated with the combination of ibrutinib and venetoclax showed no signs of disease progression. In comparison, 79.0% of those receiving only ibrutinib and just 58.1% of patients on conventional chemotherapy (FCR) experienced similar outcomes.
Additionally, after two years, 66.2% of patients given the new drug pairing had no detectable traces of cancer in their bone marrow — a figure that stood at 0% for the ibrutinib-only group and 48.3% for those treated with chemotherapy.
This clinical trial highlights a successful collaboration between organisations, all joining forces to bring renewed hope to CLL patients across the UK.
Dr. Iain Foulkes, Executive Director of Research and Innovation at Cancer Research UK, indicated that the FLAIR trial findings demonstrate that we can now offer gentler, more precise therapies for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia — treatments that can give people with CLL more cherished moments with their families.
“We’re hopeful that the results of the FLAIR trial will power new treatment options for leukaemia and other blood cancers, thanks to the efforts of researchers in Leeds and across the UK working together on this trial.”
Catherine Whitfield a 63-year-old from West Yorkshire began experiencing symptoms like bleeding gums, frequent infections, and neck pain, cancer was the last thing on her mind. But her journey took an unexpected turn with a CLL diagnosis. By enrolling in a pioneering clinical trial, she not only found a new path to treatment for herself—but also helped change the way CLL is managed globally.
