New treatment options inspire innovative medical research

A passion for driving increased access to the latest treatments for WA patients with lymphoma and other blood cancers has guided Professor Chan Cheah in his first investigator-initiated trial, LEVERAGE.

LEVERAGE is a phase I/II clinical trial looking into the potential of non-chemotherapy treatment for advanced stage follicular lymphoma patients.

Due to the significant undesirable side effects of chemotherapy, a combination of 3 non-chemotherapy medications – obinutuzumab, lenalidomide and venetoclax – is being reviewed to assess whether they can be part of a treatment that is effective and has a more favourable side effect profile.

Prof Cheah, Clinical Haematologist at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, said that the idea of the project came to him when he was out for a run in 2016.

Interim results from the study have been positive with 91 per cent of the 45 patients responding to the drug combination with the medications producing a reasonable side effect profile.

Trials like LEVERAGE provide amazing opportunities for patients in WA and help ensure they have access to a range of exciting new treatment options.

Describing the trial as a labour of love, Prof Cheah is excited to be presenting its final results later in the year.

With five clinical research fellows for 2025 – one of the largest Clinical Haematology Fellowship programs in Australia – and several more investigator-initiated trials ongoing, the SCGH haematology team continues to make significant strides in medical research and are improving the lives of WA patients with blood cancers.