According to a charity, the sole individual who received a pioneering therapy for brain cancer is still in good health after nearly 18 months.
At 41 years old, Ben Trotman participated in a clinical study involving immunotherapy as a treatment for his glioblastoma, a type of cancer that affects the brain and typically results in a life expectancy of only nine months.
The treatment for Trotman, funded by The National Brain Appeal, showed progress after 16 months since his treatment began in November 2022.
The experiment, which ended prematurely due to insufficient participation, aimed to administer immunotherapy to patients with glioblastoma prior to undergoing the usual treatment options of surgery, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy.
In October 2022, Trotman received a diagnosis of glioblastoma shortly before his wedding. However, the treatment from the trial had a negative impact on his health, leading to a hospital stay. He was eventually able to return home in December of that year.
During his most recent brain scans, it was discovered that there were no signs of high-grade disease in his tumor, which was deemed unprecedented for his stage of treatment.
In January, he began receiving regular treatment and is now undergoing chemotherapy once a month.
Investment banker Trotman, representing JP Morgan and hailing from West Sussex, expressed: “While we cannot predict the future, undergoing immunotherapy and seeing these positive scan results has given Emily and I a glimmer of hope.”
Dr Paul Mulholland, a specialist in brain cancer at University College Hospital in London, was in charge of the trial.
Ben had an atypical response to immunotherapy according to Mulholland. It is believed to be a swift immune response in the tumor.
Every year, 3,200 people in the UK are affected by glioblastoma, which is the most prevalent form of brain tumor.
In 2018, the illness took the life of Former Labour Cabinet Minister Dame Tessa Jowell, age 70. It also claimed the life of 33-year-old boyband member Tom Parker, from the group The Wanted, in 2022.
Parliament recently announced a campaign to prevent the NHS from “failing” patients with brain cancer.
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Emily Trotman, the wife of Trotman, described the treatment as “fortunate in the midst of an otherwise devastating situation.”
She stated, “We struggled with the reality that Ben went from being completely healthy to having only a few months left to live. If we hadn’t encountered Dr Mulholland, that would have been the end for us.”
The National Brain Appeal recently granted funds to support the research of senior computational biologist Dr Ben Kinnersley with Mulholland and the UCL Glioblastoma Research Group.
Mulholland added: “Our aim is to rapidly bring about improved outcomes for patients with glioblastoma.
We are combining top-level research with a diverse team of healthcare professionals, researchers, and experts in bioinformatics. Dr. Ben Kinnersley is a vital member of this team, contributing with his distinctive set of skills.
Source: theguardian.com
