Sutter patient, Carlos Butler, 10-year participant in game-changing clinical trial for CLL, pictured smiling above.
May 20 marks International Clinical Trials Day, an opportunity to celebrate medical research that helps change and save lives.
One such story is a patient’s decade-long journey with a cutting-edge clinical trial at Sutter Health that helped him battle cancer.
A Blood Test Becomes a Turning Point
In 2015, 60-year-old Carlos Butler went for a routine physical that revealed startling blood test results: abnormal blood counts. His primary care doctor ran additional tests, revealing the Los Altos, Calif. resident also had an enlarged spleen, prompting the need for immediate follow-up.
Following the screening, Butler was connected to Dr. Derrick Wong, a Palo Alto Foundation Medical Group medical oncologist and researcher who diagnosed Butler with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, or CLL, a type of blood and bone marrow cancer.
Dr. Derrick Wong
“His lab results revealed a high white blood cell count and low platelet levels, clear red flags that told us it was time to take immediate action,” says Dr. Wong. “Receiving this type of diagnosis can be overwhelming, and we wanted Mr. Butler to understand his options for a care path forward.”
Dr. Wong and his team recommended Butler receive FCR chemotherapy, a standard first-line treatment for the disease. After Butler and his wife, Katie, listened to the treatment approach and potentially daunting side effects, they hesitated.
“After learning about FCR, we thought to ourselves, let’s explore all the options,” explained Katie.
The Path Forward to Clinical Trial
After sharing their concerns about the side effects of chemotherapy, the Butlers—with encouragement from Dr. Wong—sought counsel from Dr. David Leibowitz, a former oncologist with Palo Alto Medical Foundation Research Institute.
Dr. Leibowitz reviewed Butler’s blood test and screening results and suggested he participate in a clinical trial being conducted by the National Cancer Institute’s National Clinical Trials Network. Specifically, this National Cancer Institute Network study tested a combination of medicines, ibrutinib and rituximab, as an initial treatment for cancer, evaluating how precisely, safely and efficiently the drugs attacked the cancer cells of individuals with CLL or small lymphocytic lymphoma, a subtype of CLL.
After discussing with Dr. Leibowitz the potential study treatment risks and benefits, Butler chose to enroll in the clinical trial.
“I thought that something new could be better,” says Butler. “The treatment protocol appeared reasonable, and the care team seemed so supportive.”
For 10 years, Butler received study treatment plus follow-up care and monitoring from Dr. Wong and the care team at Palo Alto Medical Foundation Research Institute. Butler and his wife describe the support and compassion they received during the clinical trial journey.
“There was such excellent communication between care teams, specialists and researchers. We had a full team of skilled, kind care professionals monitoring my husband the entire way,” said Katie.
“Compared to that initial test, my blood work is night and day and back to normal,” explains Carlos. “I never wanted to drop out of the study, it was going so well.”
Hypothesis to New Hope for Cure
Now age 70, Butler’s CLL is in remission, and he continues enjoying a full life with his wife, living near his family and grandkids. A retired U.S. postal service employee, he stays active with gardening and handyman projects.
Research and clinical trials at Sutter continue to inform cancer care and even bring new cures within reach, advances made possible through clinical trials. By participating in the study, Butler helped bring research discoveries to life, paving the way for better outcomes for future patients.
In addition to this, the successful results of the study led to U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s approval of ibrutinib and rituximab as the initial treatment for patients 70 years old or younger with CLL.
This combination is now the standard first-line therapy, offering greater effectiveness than traditional treatment and eliminating the need for chemotherapy. “It worked out well for us,” said Katie. “We feel truly lucky.”
Learn more about research and enrolling in clinical trials at Sutter Health.
