A breakthrough drug is fighting brain cancer head-on.
Glioblastoma is considered one of the most aggressive and deadly forms of brain cancer. It’s responsible for claiming the lives of more than 10,000 people in the United States each year.
Sadly, there’s no known cure for this disease, and most people who are diagnosed with it are only expected to live for about nine months.
Ben Trotman was diagnosed with glioblastoma in October 2022 at just 40 years old.Marie Mangan
Doctors usually try to ease the symptoms and give patients a bit more time through surgery to remove the tumor, along with rounds of radiation and chemotherapy to target the cancer cells.
But now, there’s hope on the horizon. Researchers at University College London Hospitals (UCLH) have started a new trial involving an immunotherapy drug called ipilimumab. Sold under the name Yervoy, this drug is a monoclonal antibody designed to help the immune system recognize cancer and fight it.
Doctors are feeling hopeful because one patient—a 43-year-old dad from the UK showed no signs of cancer after taking ipilimumab before starting his usual glioblastoma treatment.
“The crucial element of this trial is that patients will have their immune system boosted by the drug before they have any other treatment, when they are fit and well enough to tolerate the immunotherapy.” said Dr. Paul Mulholland, who is leading the trial as a consultant medical oncologist.
“We saw with Ben, the one patient recruited to the immunotherapy study, NeAT-GLIO, that he has had clear scans since having the treatment and the tumor hasn’t returned more than two and a half years later.”
Glioblastoma is widely considered the deadliest form of brain cancer, killing over 10,000 Americans each year.H_Ko – stock.adobe.com
Ben Trotman received his glioblastoma diagnosis back in October 2022 when he was just 40 years old.
After that, he met with Dr. Mulholland, who introduced him to the clinical trial for ipilimumab.
Ben ended up being the first and only person in the entire study to take the drug before starting any traditional treatment for the cancer.
“Getting this diagnosis was the most traumatic experience.” said Trotman’s wife, Emily.
“We were grappling with the fact that Ben had gone from being apparently perfectly healthy to having months to live.”
Ben started his treatment journey by taking the immunotherapy drug.
After that, he went through radiation therapy and chemotherapy to help kill off any remaining cancer cells.
Now, nearly three years later, Ben’s medical scans are completely clear.
“It is very unusual to have a clear scan with glioblastoma, especially when he didn’t have the follow-up surgery that had been planned to remove all of the tumor that was initially visible on scans.” Mulholland said.
Ben and Emily Trotman wed in 2023, after he began his immunotherapy treatment.Courtesy of UCLH
“We hope that the immunotherapy and follow-up treatment Ben has had will hold his tumor at bay.” he added, “and it has so far, which we are delighted to see.”
Ben and Emily tied the knot in January 2023, just a few months after Ben’s diagnosis. Earlier this year, they welcomed their daughter, Mabel, into the world.
The couple often enjoys heading outside for peaceful walks, usually bringing along their rescue dog, Jerry, to join in the fun.
“We are trying to live as normal a life as possible.” Emily said.
“We are in a unique position of which there is no precedent and which comes with a great deal of uncertainty.” she continued.
“We want to live each day as if it were our last, but we also want to plan for the future, which we hope to have.”
Researchers have announced their goal to enroll 16 more glioblastoma patients just like Ben over the next year and a half.
Just like Ben, the patients in this study will first take ipilimumab. After that, they’ll undergo the standard treatments, including radiation and chemotherapy.
Some of them might also have surgery, depending on how severe their condition is and where the tumor is located.
Dr. Paul Mulholland (left) is pictured with Dame Siobhain McDonagh, who raised funds for the new clinical trial of ipilimumab.Marie Mangan
This trial is being supported and funded by Dame Siobhain McDonagh, a British Member of Parliament. Her sister sadly passed away from glioblastoma in 2023.
“My beloved sister Margaret was appalled to discover that there had been no advances in brain cancer treatment for decades when she was diagnosed with glioblastoma.” McDonagh said.
“Changing this was Margaret’s final campaign and one that I have continued in her memory.”
All of the treatments and procedures for this clinical trial will take place at the NIHR UCLH’s Clinical Research Facility, located at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery.
“I am delighted that this new trial, with the same immunotherapy drug I received, is going ahead and others will have the opportunity to take part.” Ben said. “It will give people newly diagnosed with glioblastoma some hope.”
