MEDICAL MARVEL
Incredible scans show woman’s brain tumour almost completely disappear in just 5 days after new ‘wonder’ treatment
Experts have explained how this new 'exciting' treatment works
A WOMAN’S brain tumour nearly completely regressed in less than a week thanks to a “revolutionary” new treatment praised by researchers.
The 57-year-old saw her cancer almost disappear in just five days after undergoing CAR-T therapy — a treatment that bolsters the body’s own immune system.
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She was one of three glioblastoma patients enrolled in the study from March to July last year. All saw incredible responses.
Dr Elizabeth Gerstner, of Massachusetts General Hospital, said: “We report a dramatic and rapid response in these three patients.
“Our work to date shows signs that we are making progress, but there is more to do.”
Glioblastomas are very aggressive brain tumours that affect around 3,200 Brits a year.
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The Wanted’s Tom Parker died from one in March 2022, as did TV presenter Annabel Giles in November 2023.
Campaigner Laura Nuttall, who inspired Peter Kay's first gig in four years, also died from this type of cancer in May 2023, and Tessa Jowell, a former Labour cabinet minister, passed away in May 2018.
The main treatments currently available are surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
The new study, published in the , looked at how well CAR-T therapy works at treating the disease.
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The therapy is usually to treat certain blood cancers and trains the body’s immune system to recognise and attack cancer cells.
The woman saw “near-complete tumour regression” after just five days, the researchers said.
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The other two patients also saw their tumours decrease in size.
A 72-year-old man’s tumour shrank by more than 18 per cent after two days.
We haven’t cured patients yet, but that is our audacious goal
Dr Marcela Maus
By day 69, the tumour had decreased by 60.7 per cent, and the response was sustained for over six months.
Dr Marcela Maus, of Mass General, said: “These results are exciting, but they are also just the beginning — they tell us that we are on the right track in pursuing a therapy that has the potential to change the outlook for this intractable disease.
“We haven’t cured patients yet, but that is our audacious goal.”
Dr Bryan Choi, of Mass General, said: “This is a story of bench-to-bedside therapy, with a novel cell therapy designed in the laboratories of Massachusetts General Hospital and translated for patient use within five years, to meet an urgent
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“The CAR-T platform has revolutionised how we think about treating patients with cancer, but solid tumours like glioblastoma have remained challenging to treat because not all cancer cells are exactly alike and cells within the tumour vary.
“Our approach combines two forms of therapy, allowing us to treat glioblastoma in a broader, potentially more effective way.”
What is a glioblastoma?
Glioblastomas are a fast-growing type of cancerous brain tumour.
Symptoms depend on where the tumour is located, but they can include:
- Headaches
- Personality changes
- Memory problems
- Trouble speaking or understanding
- Tiredness
- Depression
- Difficulty thinking
- Seizures
- Problems with eyesight
Scientists don't fully understand what causes glioblastomas, therefore there is no clear way to prevent the disease.
The main treatments include surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
The average survival time following a glioblastoma diagnosis is 12 to 18 months.
Only 25 per cent of patients live beyond one year, and just five per cent survive more than five years.
Source: Cancer Research UK and the Brain Tumour Charity
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