A grandfather has told the Daily Express of his joy as one of the first patients in the world's biggest-ever phase-three lung cancer trial - using new targeted radiotherapy to vitally extend life.

       'TOURIST' is the first major UK trial in 20 years aiming to recruit 1,000 patients to see how radiotherapy can best blast advanced, late-stage metastatic lung cancer - potentially changing global practice forever.

       It's using a technique called ‘VMAT’ (volumetric modulated arc therapy), multiple beams of varying strengths, it aims to target aggressive cancers, shortening the treatment time.

       A linear accelerator (LINAC) delivers high-energy beams while rotating around the patient to 'zap' the tumours - sparing healthy tissue - in a system previously only offered to early-diagnosed cases.

       Now one of the first patients starting TOURIST - David Mather, 81, of Hale, Greater Manchester - has told us of his hopes it will extent his life and countless others enabling priceless more time with his family.

       He told us: "When I was offered the opportunity to participate in the trial, I was very happy to do so.

       "If having radiotherapy improves my prognosis and quality of life, and reduces the symptoms, then that will be fantastic.

       "I also hope that by participating in this trial I play a part in helping others in the future."

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       The grandfather-of-six, married to Iwona for 28 years, was diagnosed with stage-IV Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) - NSCLC is the most common type of lung cancer - in October 2024 after going to his GP wheezing and feeling tired.

       He said: "I was getting tired easily and a bit worried so went to see my doctor. They did an X-ray and then CT Scan and delivered the news I had stage-IV lung cancer."

       He was referred to The Christie NHS Foundation Trust in Manchester and began a course of immunotherapy, which is a type of drug that uses the body’s own immune system to fight the cancer.

       But as the disease was at an advanced stage and had spread to his bones, he was also eligible for TOURIST which now aims to recruit from its current handful to 1,000 patients.

       The retired company director has diabetes but as TOURIST is an inclusive trial for anyone with late-stage lung cancer he was welcomed onboard.

       He added: "I had never had cancer before in my life. I had smoked but stopped over a decade ago. I’ve been very healthy all my life, so I consider myself lucky to have got to my age without anything serious."

       This study is being sponsored by The Christie and managed by Southampton Clinical Trials Unit.

       This research is made possible thanks to a ￡3.4 million grant from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).

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       With 1.2 million deaths worldwide from this form of cancer every year, the outcome of the study could be a game changer in the fight against the cruel condition.

       Dr David Woolf, consultant oncologist at The Christie and joint chief investigator for TOURIST, explained that the trial will work alongside patients' other treatments like chemo or immunotherapy.

       He added: "By using this newer technology we hope we can change the face of lung cancer treatment.

       "We have identified an unmet need, and the aim is to use the evidence we gather from the study to change clinical practice worldwide.

       "Potentially this could help up to a million people a year across the globe, which is tremendously exciting."

       Professor Matthew Hatton, Honorary Professor of Clinical Oncology at The University of Sheffield and also joint chief investigator for TOURIST - said: "This is a very inclusive trial and most people with stage IV NSCLC lung cancer are eligible.

       "David has recently turned 81 years old, so you could think his age might exclude him from taking part in research, but certainly not in this case.

       "We believe this treatment could be of additional benefit to all late-stage lung cancer patients, who often have a poor prognosis and typically about a year to live.

       "The focus of the study is to extend and improve the quality of life of patients increasing the number of longer-term lung cancer survivors."

       NSCLC accounts for 85-90 per cent of all lung cancer cases worldwide with 70 per cent of patients diagnosed at stage 4 of the disease and 1.2m deaths globally each year.

       Nicky Downs, Senior Trial Manager for TOURIST at the Southampton Clinical Trials Unit, said: "It’s fantastic to see the first patients being recruited.

       "Clinical trials rely on people, like David, volunteering to be part of research and we are so grateful to him and everyone who signs up to the trial.

       "Their participation will help us create the evidence which could lead to improved quality of life, and potentially better treatments, for more lung cancer patients in the future."

       Public Health and Prevention Minister Ashley Dalton said: "I'd like to thank David and everyone else involved in this trial for bringing us one step closer to tackling cancer.

       "With record numbers of people diagnosed with cancer, it is vital that we develop and test cutting-edge technologies like this to find newer, better ways of treating this disease.

       "We are working to combine the ingenuity of our world-leading life sciences industry together with the compassion of our National Health Service, to save more lives from cancer.”

       Any patient with stage IV NSCLC who would be interested in taking part in the TOURIST trial should discuss it with their local oncologist.

       * More information about taking part in clinical trials can be found here - https://www.christie.nhs.uk/research-and-innovation/studies-and-trials/take-part-in-studies-and-trials