UHBW halves cancer treatment times with pioneering Nivolumab immunotherapy treatment

Cancer patients, who need immunotherapy, may be eligible for a new treatment which is delivered in half the time compared to other cancer treatments.

University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) is the second trust in the UK to roll out a new way of administering the pioneering Nivolumab immunotherapy treatment for cancer patients.

Nivolumab is now available via an injection (known as a ‘subcutaneous formulation’) and can therefore be delivered at a quicker pace than the intravenous alternative (giving medicines through a needle or tube inserted into a vein). Immunotherapy treatments such as Nivolumab are given over longer time-frames than chemotherapy programmes, lasting typically 1-2 years. It is designed to stimulate an immune response from the body against tumour cells. 

At Bristol Haematology and Oncology Centre (BHOC), patients with melanoma, renal, lung and upper Gastrointestinal cancers, such as stomach cancer, are eligible for this innovative therapy.

Cancer patients would typically receive an intravenous infusion, which takes 30 to 60 minutes and means up to two hours in a Chemotherapy Day Unit chair. With the Nivolumab injection, that time is halved, as patients are assessed by the nursing team and then receive the injection in the thigh or abdomen in a 10-to-15-minute process. Overall, an appointment of this kind takes up to 45 minutes.

The injectable form of Nivolumab is a more sustainable and manageable option that is less time-consuming and more comfortable for cancer patients.  The treatment can be delivered in an outpatient clinic, freeing up space in UHBW’s high-demand Chemotherapy Day Unit, allowing colleagues to deliver treatment for more patients.

Patients can also receive the Nivolumab treatment at two satellite sites, South Bristol Community Hospital and Concord Medical Centre in South Gloucestershire. These clinics provide an alternative for people who would otherwise have to travel into the city centre for their appointment at BHOC.

Karen Thomson is a long-term outpatient at BHOC from Didmarton, Gloucestershire, who is halfway through two years of treatment with Nivolumab for Stage 4 melanoma.

Karen, who is now in remission for the disease, said: “Previously, I received Nivolumab as an IV infusion through a vein in my arm. The whole visit to BHOC would take one and half to two hours.

“The new method of giving the treatment is by injection. The nurses carry out all the same checks, and when everything is ready, they slowly inject the solution under the skin of my tummy.

“It takes about 5 to 10 minutes to inject the solution. After the injection, I am free to go. The whole visit takes about half an hour.

“I still have plenty of time to talk to the nurses and ask any questions I might have. The main benefit for me is how much less time it takes. As well as spending much less time in the oncology treatment centre, I spend less time and money on carparking.” 

Dr Helen Winter, UHBW medical oncologist and SWAG Cancer Alliance Clinical director, said: “We are proud to be championing this innovative treatment for our patients and to be at the forefront of accelerated cancer care.

“The shorter treatment times make all the difference when you are faced with long-term cancer treatment. The single injection and ability to be treated closer to home ensures added comfort for our patients.”

Dr Rebecca Maxwell, Chief Medical Director at UHBW, said: “Nivolumab immunotherapy treatment is an example of how we’re aligning with the NHS 10 Year Health Plan to increasingly deliver healthcare in community settings and relieve pressure on our hospital sites.

“With Nivolumab immunotherapy, we can see and treat more cancer patients in Bristol and are moving closer to our target cancer treatment waiting times.”