Glioblastoma breakthrough: 40-year-old dad is brain cancer-free after groundbreaking immunotherapy trial

Time of India

3 days ago

In a surprising and hopeful turn of events, a 40-year-old father is living his best life in his second innings, after he was diagnosed with terminal glioblastoma in 2023. In fact, three years later, he is not only healthy and thriving, but his brain cancer has completely 'vanished'!
How?
Read on to know more.
What happened?
In October 2022, 40-year-old Ben Trotman was diagnosed with terminal glioblastoma, the most common and deadliest form of brain cancer that typically carries a grim prognosis with a median survival of just 12–18 months. Yet, over two years after receiving a single dose of ipilimumab before standard care, Trotman reportedly remains cancer-free and healthy as ever.
Under the care of consultant oncologist Dr. Paul Mulholland at UCLH (University College London Hospital), Trotman became part of an NHS-funded trial that administers ipilimumab, a checkpoint inhibitor designed to boost the immune system, before traditional surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy.
Two years later, his scans show no signs of recurrence, an unprecedented outcome in glioblastoma treatment.
The medical marvel
The new clinical trial for the most deadly type of brain cancer, glioblastoma, which helped Ben with another shot at life, is looking for patients to join after an incredible success story. Organized by the NHS, this study aims to enroll 16 people over 18 months and is dedicated to Baroness Margaret McDonagh, who lost her battle with the disease.
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Patients diagnosed with glioblastoma will receive an immunotherapy drug called ipilimumab before starting standard treatments, making the most of their immune systems when they are at their strongest.
The trial is being led by experts at University College London Hospital's National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery. It follows a previous study with the same drug, which had to close because not enough patients joined.
The trial honors the late Baroness Margaret McDonagh's memory and, like Trotman, participants receive ipilimumab to prime their immune defenses, with hopes of replicating his reassuring response.
Ipilimumab: The key behind the breakthrough
Ipilimumab is a monoclonal antibody that blocks CTLA-4, an immune checkpoint. In cancers like melanoma, it enhances T-cell activity, enabling the body to attack tumors. When used before standard glioblastoma therapy, it primes the immune system to better target cancer cells.
In Trotman's case, it appears to have either eradicated or dramatically controlled his tumor, an outcome never before reported in this context.
This 'window-of-opportunity' pre-treatment approach is groundbreaking. By delivering immunotherapy before surgery, it maximizes immune activation and potentially aids post-operative cancer control, a novel strategy in glioblastoma care.
What is glioblastoma?
Glioblastoma, previously known as glioblastoma multiforme or GBM, is the most common and aggressive type of primary brain cancer in adults.
Glioblastoma originates from astrocytes, a type of glial cell that supports nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Glioblastoma is classified as a Grade IV tumor, meaning it's highly aggressive, grows rapidly, and infiltrates surrounding brain tissue. The exact cause of most glioblastomas is unknown. However, it is understood that the disease develops when brain cells undergo DNA mutations that cause them to grow and multiply uncontrollably.
The prognosis for glioblastoma is generally poor, with a median survival of about 12-18 months after diagnosis. The five-year survival rate is around 5%, meaning about 5% of patients are still alive five years after their diagnosis. Glioblastoma almost always recurs despite maximal treatment.
Hence, Trotman's cancer-free scans more than two years post-treatment represent a hopeful breakthrough. It suggests that bolstering immune readiness before conventional treatment might overcome glioblastoma's defenses.
The success story
The success story comes from Ben Trotman, who was diagnosed in October 2022 at the age of 40. Now, at 43, two years and eight months after his treatment, his scans are clear, and there are no traces of the tumor.
Dr. Paul Mulholland, the consultant medical oncologist who is leading this new trial and treated Ben, as reported by The Independent, shared, '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.
We hope that the immunotherapy and follow-up treatment Ben has had will hold his tumor at bay – and it has so far, which we are delighted to see.
'
Ben's life has changed significantly since his diagnosis; he got married to Emily just two months after receiving the immunotherapy treatment, and in April, they welcomed their daughter, Mabel. Emily expressed the emotional toll of Ben's diagnosis, saying, 'Getting this diagnosis was the most traumatic experience.
We were grappling with the fact that Ben had gone from being apparently perfectly healthy to having months to live.
Had we not met Dr. Mulholland, that would have been it for us. We felt we had a lucky break in an otherwise devastating situation.'
After the immunotherapy, Ben went on to have the standard treatments of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. He continues to have quarterly scans, which remain clear. Ben reflected on their journey, stating, 'We obviously don't know what the future holds, but having had the immunotherapy treatment and getting these encouraging scan results has given Emily and me a bit of hope.
We are focused on rebuilding the life we thought we had lost and enjoying being parents.
'
Dame Siobhain McDonagh MP led a successful fundraising campaign that gathered over £1 million to support this new trial. Her sister, Baroness McDonagh, sadly passed away from glioblastoma in 2023. Dame Siobhain shared, '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.
Changing this was Margaret's final campaign and one that I have continued in her memory.
I am so grateful to the many people who knew and respected Margaret, who have come together and helped to raise funds and campaign for this new trial that we are calling Margaret's Trial.'
Dr. Mulholland is also thankful for Margaret and Siobhain's dedication, stating, 'When I met Margaret, she said to me, 'What can I do to support you to cure this disease?'.
I am incredibly grateful to her and to Siobhain, whose campaigning and fundraising in her sister's memory have led to this new clinical trial opening for patients with this most aggressive form of brain cancer that has such a poor prognosis, with most patients surviving just nine months after diagnosis.
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.
We're taking everything we have learned from previous trials into this new study, and we are already planning follow-on trials. My aim is to find a cure for glioblastoma.'
What's ahead?
Led by Dr. Mulholland, the trial is expanding enrollment, aiming to confirm both safety and effectiveness. Currently, the National Brain Appeal is funding two positions to support Dr. Mulholland's vital research. The treatment will take place at the NIHR UCLH's Clinical Research Facility and the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery. Patients who are interested in participating in the new Win-Glio trial should discuss it with their consultant.