World-first clinical trials in Leeds use 'Star Wars' medical tech previously thought impossible
World-first clinical trials of pioneering “Star Wars era” medical tech saw 81-year-old Brenda Wallis undergo innovative new treatments for tumours in Leeds.
was one of more than 25,000 patients enrolled in the studies at Leeds Teaching Hospitals over the last year as part of the trust’s groundbreaking clinical trials.
Doctors said her life has been “significantly changed” as a result of the treatments.
was one of more than 25,000 patients enrolled in the studies at Leeds Teaching Hospitals over the last year as part of the trust’s groundbreaking clinical trials.
Doctors said her life has been “significantly changed” as a result of the treatments.
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NewsTranscript
00:00My name is Brenda Victoria Wallace. I'm a happy 81-year-old and hoping to go on a lot longer.
00:06And basically I was referred to Professor Waugh here in Leeds.
00:11And basically because I had the knowledge and the equipment and I could have the ablations which I require here.
00:18And I've had one, very successfully, and I'm due to have the second one,
00:24which will be the clinical trial which I will have later on today.
00:29Well, how it came about, I was not aware that I had any problem with tumours on my kidneys.
00:37But last year, I've always suffered for many years with diverticulitis.
00:43And I was in hospital last year, about this time last year, I was referred to Professor Waugh.
00:49And it's worked, I think about last October I came, didn't I?
00:53And it's been absolutely wonderful, wonderful treatment, wonderful people.
00:58Very confident in what's happening and I just think to myself for once in my life,
01:04I've been in the right place at the right time with extraordinary good people.
01:10So I'm very happy about that.
01:13I'm just so very, very thankful that I was referred here.
01:18And I have had the treatment and I'm very happy with the treatment.
01:24And hopefully once I have this one this afternoon, which is the clinical trial,
01:31and the follow-up monitoring, which will be part of it,
01:35I will be fit and healthy and be able to get on with the rest of my life, which I intend to enjoy.
01:40Brenda is going to be the first patient in the world to have both type of treatment for her renal cancer.
01:48In January, she underwent image-guided coagulation for right-sided renal cancer.
01:54And she has also agreed to be consented for the CANE trial.
01:59She will be the first patient in the world to use a special software,
02:03which involves a new design bubble cloud to treat her left-sided renal tumor today.
02:09And it will be really interesting to speak to Brenda after the treatment
02:13because she will probably be the only patient for now that will have undertaken both type of treatment.
02:20One with coagulation is the ice-based treatment,
02:24and another one will be the histotripsy using the Edison system.
02:28We've known for a while now because we have conducted a trial in HashtagHope for liver.
02:33And then now we're doing the CANE trial, which is in the renal cancer treatment.
02:38It's non-invasive, so it's knife-less.
02:41It doesn't have radiations and it's non-thermal.
02:44In fact, this kind of technology is...
02:47I say to everyone, it's the Star Wars era.
02:50We are venturing into an environment that we never thought we could do.
02:55And it's a knife-less surgery.
02:58So I think the future is going to be really exciting.
03:01And this is truly only the tip of the iceberg.
03:03We have the next 20 years to try and do more research, translate the clinical platform,
03:09and benefit much more patients in years to come.
03:12So I'm very privileged to have this opportunity to part.
03:15And of this journey and also leading on the research in the United Kingdom,
03:20on behalf of the rest of the whole world.