New Immunotherapy Trial at The Christie Helps Man Avoid Rectal Cancer Surgery
WHO: Nick Cleworth, patient; Dr Claire Arthur, Consultant Clinical Oncologist; Professor Mark Saunders, Consultant Clinical Oncologist and Co-Chief Investigator; The Christie NHS Foundation Trust.
WHAT: A patient is free from rectal cancer after taking part in the ARTEMIS clinical trial, which investigates the immunotherapy drug palupiprant. This approach aims to avoid surgery for rectal cancer patients.
WHERE: The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, a leading specialist cancer centre.
WHEN: Diagnosis late 2024, treatment February to July 2025, cancer-free status confirmed July 2025.
WHY: To assess the efficacy of adding palupiprant to standard chemotherapy and radiotherapy for rectal cancer, potentially improving patient outcomes and quality of life by avoiding invasive surgery.
A new rectal cancer trial at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust offers hope for patients.
Investigating Rectal Cancer Trial Christie Success
Nick Cleworth, 48, from Swinton, is now free from rectal cancer. He participated in a clinical trial at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust. Nick is a train driver and a father-of-one.
Nick sought medical attention in late 2024. He noticed significant blood in his stool. Scans revealed a 4cm tumour in his rectum. The cancer had also spread to nearby lymph nodes.
Nick’s father died from bowel cancer at 48. This made Nick vigilant about his own health. He stated, “My Dad was 48 when he died from bowel cancer, the same age that I am now, so I’d always been vigilant about my health. But even though it was something that I knew might happen, the diagnosis still hit me extra hard.”
Traditional rectal cancer treatment often involves surgery. This may include radiotherapy or chemotherapy beforehand. Nick’s local surgeon could not operate without a permanent colostomy bag. This was due to the tumour's size and position.
Clinicians referred Nick to The Christie for radiotherapy. The Christie is a leading specialist cancer centre. There, he met Dr Claire Arthur, his consultant. She informed him about a trial that could avoid surgery.
New Immunotherapy Approach Shows Promise
The ARTEMIS trial is a phase II clinical study. It investigates a new investigational immunotherapy drug called palupiprant. This drug is added to standard chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Researchers aim to avoid surgery for rectal cancer patients.
An earlier phase 1b study showed promising results. 36% of participants were cancer-free after six months of treatment. Immunotherapy stimulates the body’s own immune response. It helps destroy cancer cells alongside other treatments.
Nick felt more positive after meeting Dr Arthur. He stated, “I was much more positive coming out of that first meeting with Dr Arthur. She was very calm and reassuring. I left feeling like we had a plan and, more importantly, I felt hopeful for the first time since my diagnosis.”
Nick began his treatment in February 2025. This included immunotherapy and chemotherapy tablets. He then received five weeks of radiotherapy in March. Intravenous chemotherapy followed for 12 weeks from May.
A scan in July confirmed Nick was cancer-free. He has remained cancer-free since then. He attributes his positive experience to research. He recommends clinical trials to others.
Nick said his side effects were manageable. This was contrary to his preconceptions. He now enjoys life fully. He noted, “Thanks to the trial, I didn’t have to have surgery, which meant I could get back to doing the things I love – like restoring classic cars – much more quickly.”
Dr Claire Arthur, Nick’s consultant, praised his response. She stated, “It’s great to see that Nick has had such a good response to the trial treatment and that he tolerated treatment well.” Clinicians prioritise effective treatment and patient quality of life.
Dr Arthur highlighted immunotherapy's potential. She noted it is a relatively new and exciting development. It harnesses the body's immune system. Its side effects differ from traditional chemotherapy.
Professor Mark Saunders is co-chief investigator for ARTEMIS. The trial recently closed recruitment. It enrolled 140 patients across 22 NHS sites in the UK. Half received the additional immunotherapy drug. This allows for clear outcome comparison. Researchers hope to validate earlier findings. They aim to change rectal cancer treatment on the NHS.
OFFICIAL SOURCE VERIFICATION: This report is based on official clinical data from The Christie NHS Foundation Trust. Document: 29/4Dad free from rectal cancer after taking part in clinical trial at The Christie Source Link: https://christie.nhs.uk/about-us/news-at-the-christie/latest-news-stories/dad-free-from-rectal-cancer-after-taking-part-in-clinical-trial-at-the-christie
Related Links
MORE: Official record source — https://christie.nhs.uk/about-us/news-at-the-christie/latest-news-stories/dad-free-from-rectal-cancer-after-taking-part-in-clinical-trial-at-the-christie MORE: Cancer survivor finalises four-year divorce from husband who abandoned him after diagnosis — https://trendwiremedia.com/2026/03/09/cancer-survivor-finalises-four-year-divorce-from-husband-who-abandoned-him-after-diagnosis/ MORE: Hormone-blocking prostate cancer trial opens at The Christie — https://trendwiremedia.com/2026/03/12/hormone-blocking-prostate-cancer-trial-opens-at-the-christie/ MORE: Salford Man Recovers After Stem Cell Transplant From Brother At The Christie — https://trendwiremedia.com/2026/04/21/salford-man-recovers-after-second-stem-cell-transplant-from-brother-at-the-christie/
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