Patient’s Brain Tumour Shrinks by Half Following Novel Radioactive Treatment Trial

A man’s brain tumour has decreased in size by 50% within a few weeks due to a new radioactive therapy. Paul Read, 62, from Luton, was the initial participant in a clinical trial designed to treat glioblastoma, a form of cancer that typically results in death for most patients within 18 months. This therapeutic method, administered at University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH), involved the direct injection of low levels of radioactivity into the tumour to eliminate cancer cells. The physician who conceived the trial described the outcomes as “remarkable for somebody whose tumour is so aggressive”. Surgeons first removed the maximum possible amount of the tumour before implanting a small medical device, known as an Ommaya reservoir, beneath the scalp. The drug ATT001, administered weekly for a period of four to six weeks, is effective over short distances, causing lethal damage to cancer cells while preserving healthy tissue. Mr. Read first experienced a severe headache last December, and two weeks later, one side of his face drooped. He underwent surgery shortly after his diagnosis to remove as much of the tumour as possible, followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy. In July, medical professionals discovered the tumour was growing again, and he was offered a place in the new CITADEL-123 trial at UCLH. “I was fully expecting the tumour to return due to its aggressive nature. I know the outcome isn’t great and I was happy to explore anything else,” he said. He continued, “I’m not frightened by any of this. We are all dealt a hand of cards and you don’t know which ones you are going to get.” He added, “It will be wonderful if this treatment helps me and if it doesn’t, it doesn’t… it may benefit someone else down the line.” The trial was developed by Dr. Paul Mulholland, a UCLH consultant medical oncologist and chief investigator. He stated: “Because it’s targeted directly to the tumour cells, it’s very powerful at killing them.” Dr. Mulholland further noted, “We’ve just gone through [Paul’s] scan results with him and his end of treatment scan shows a reduction in the tumour, which is really quite remarkable for somebody whose tumour is so aggressive.” Dr. Mulholland explained that, as this was the first human study, they had adopted a cautious approach, but they later anticipate increasing the radiation dose and the number of patients. News from Beds, Herts, and Bucks is available on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram, and X. This content is copyrighted by BBC in 2024. All rights are reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content found on external websites and provides information regarding its policy on external linking.