United States

Targeted Protein Therapy Gives Brain Cancer Patients Hope

Glioblastoma is the most common and deadliest form of brain cancer. Even after surgery and aggressive chemotherapy, most patients only live 14 months after diagnosis. A clinical trial is delivering a bioengineered fusion protein directly into the tumor.

Rusty Doms' first scans were good after a cutting-edge procedure for glioblastoma. He hopes to get back on the paddleboard one day.

"I'm not on top of the world, but yes, I feel good. And one step in front of the other, and a positive attitude," said Doms.

He's part of a trial at John Wayne Cancer Institute. Doctors use a bioengineered protein that leaves healthy cells alone; it's called MDNA55.

"It can bind directly to tumor cells and bring in a payload, which is like a Trojan horse that acts directly on tumor cells and causes the tumor cells to undergo programmed cell death," said Dr. Achal Singh Achrol of John Wayne Cancer Institute at Providence Saint John’s Health Center.

Doms and five others had the drug delivered directly to their tumors through up to four catheters. At first, guided by MRI’s. It took up to 20 hours.

"Not only are we getting the bulk of the tumor that we see, but the drug is actually fusing to the rest of the brain where we see the single cells that are intertwined, infiltrating into the brain," explained Dr. Santosh Kesari.

Early results are promising. At one month, Doms had swelling, but at two, his MRI showed tumor shrinkage.

"If this trial is successful, I will have helped myself, but I will have helped other people, because right now, as best I know, there’s no cure for glioblastoma," said Doms.

He knows it’s early, but Doms is optimistic.

The procedure is minimally invasive, and Doms was out of the hospital in two days. He says his worst side effects are fatigue and some cognitive delay.

This trial is open and running in nine cancer centers in the U.S.

Contributors to this news report include: Wendy Chioji, Field Producer; Rusty Reed, Videographer; Cyndy McGrath, Supervising Producer; Gabriella Battistiol, Assistant Producer; Roque Correa, Editor.

Contact Us