Cancer Drug Breakthrough Could Mean Disease is No Longer a Death Sentence

An experimental new cancer drug has proven beneficial for a handful of individuals. If all goes to plan, it will be available to patients in around five years. Dr. Paul Mulholland, a brain cancer expert from the University College London, is heading the research project and shares his thoughts on this incredible breakthrough. 

The Promising New Cancer Drug

If the statistics are anything to go by, brain cancer patients are often handed a death sentence upon diagnosis. Around 12,000 people are diagnosed with brain cancer annually in Britain alone. [1] What’s rather worrying is that the survival rates are so abysmally low, with only 1 in 10 people living 10 years past their time of diagnosis. In many instances, this is due to the disease’s rapid progression, late detection, and a serious lack of treatments. 

A New and Innovative Approach

This innovative new technique involves the use of ipilimumab, an immunotherapy medication currently used in skin cancer treatment. It is administered intravenously to reduce tumors before surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy is used to remove any leftover malignant tissue. For the thousands who are diagnosed annually, this breakthrough represents a potentially lifesaving game-changer. One such case is that of London entrepreneur Sara Sjölund

. Sara was diagnosed with brain cancer at the young age of 38.

Sara Sjölund’s Story

Nothing the doctors tried managed to stop her astrocytoma from growing larger, including radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and surgery. According to the Mayo Clinic, Astrocytoma is a kind of cancer that occurs in the spinal cord or brain. [2] Some astrocytomas can grow at an aggressively rapid pace. This meant that finding an effective treatment in time was a matter of life or death. As with all patients in this situation, Sara must have felt hopeless and despondent. However, this all changed after she offered the chance to join Dr. Mulholland’s trials. According to the doctor, after only six months into the trials, Sara’s tumor has almost completely vanished and is now considered to be “inactive”. She likened the current condition of her tumor to that of a dead tree, stating on GBN, “It’s still there, but at the moment it does not look like it will regrow”.

More Cancer Drug Trials In the Future

Up until now, only a very small group of individuals have been treated using this new method. However, Dr. Mulholland is now preparing to initiate another more comprehensive trial early in 2025, with the support of the National Brain Appeal charity. So far, the treatment seems to have worked, with Dr. Mulholland stating that Sara will be fine as long as the tumor stays as it currently is. Other healthcare professionals, such as Dr. Clement from the Cancer Research Centre feel optimistic that this new treatment could provide a cure for brain cancer. This is because ipilimumab has already proven to be effective in treating other types of cancer. 

What Is Ipilimumab Normally Used For?

Ipilimumab is typically used to treat specific forms of cancer, such as melanoma. [3] It works by blocking a protein called CTLA-4, which assists in activating the immune system to fight against the cancer cells. In order to enhance its effectiveness, it is often used in combination with other immunotherapy treatments, such as nivolumab. Not only are there Ipilimumab trials underway for the treatment of brain cancer but the drug is also being explored for the treatment of kidney and lung cancer. It is also used on its own after surgery to prevent cancers such as melanoma from returning. All in all, it seems that ipilimumab is something of a wonder drug that could prove effective in treating a wide range of different cancers!

Why Are the Current Cancer Treatment Options Often Ineffective? 

There are several reasons why many contemporary cancer treatments don’t always work.  For one, tumors often have diverse cells. This basically means that some may resist treatment while others respond. Cancer cells can also mutate very quickly, which can often lead to the building of resistance over time. [4] Additionally, the surrounding environment of the tumor can protect it from therapies being effective. Many cancers have actually developed ways to evade the immune system, which ultimately makes immunotherapy less effective. Other health issues in patients, the type and stage of cancer, and individual genetic differences can also affect treatment effectiveness. 

The Bottom Line on the New Cancer Drug Therapy

The exciting news about ipilimumab is seen by many as a beacon of hope in the fight against brain cancer. Considering the promising early results, this treatment could change the lives of patients who once faced grim diagnoses. As Dr. Mulholland gears up for larger trials, we’re looking at a future where effective therapies may finally be attainable. While challenges in cancer treatment still exist, breakthroughs like this remind us of the power of research and resilience. They offer newfound hope to countless individuals affected by this devastating disease.