An Australian pathologist who was diagnosed with brain cancer a year ago says his latest scans show no sign of his glioblastoma, which he attributes to a pioneering immunotherapy approach developed by his own research on melanoma.
Professor Richard Scolyer (57), who was diagnosed with glioblastoma IDH wild-type last year, said that his most recent MRI scan showed no new cancer growth.
He was recently named Australian of The Year for his life-saving work on melanoma – the basis of which he has used to treat his own incurable cancer.
MSN reports that the father-of-three had suffered a seizure while in Poland a year ago, which led to his diagnosis. Scolyer said at the time he was hoping that “the incredible discoveries in melanoma can be utilised to improve brain cancer”.
Glioblastoma has an average survival rate of 12 months.
Research partner and fellow Australian of the Year oncologist Georgina Long adapted their pioneering research on the treatment of melanomas to treat the brain cancer.
They are co-directors of Melanoma Institute Australia, which revolutionised the treatment of the deadly skin cancer by using combination immunotherapy before removing the melanoma.
Long said a scientific paper about Scolyer’s treatment was undergoing peer review.
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