A man saw his deadly brain tumor shrink half thanks to the new radioactive treatment, which experts hope to destroy the disease.Doctors at the University College London NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) are conducting clinical trials to treat neuroma.
About 3,200 people are diagnosed with this disease every year, this is the most popular brain tumor in adults.The disease killed most patients within 18 months and only 5% lived for 5 years.The goal of the researchers is to cure the disease by directly injecting the low -level radioactive substance into the tumor to kill cancer cells.
Paul Read, a 62 -year -old engineer from Luton (UK), was the first patient to take the test and saw his tumor shrink half after only a few weeks.A second patient has just started this therapy.
Paul Read has seen his deadly brain tumor shrink half thanks to the new radiation therapy, which experts hope to destroy the disease.This is a picture of Mr. Read taken with his wife Pauline
During the implementation, the surgeons removed as many tumors as possible before transplanting a small medical device called Ommaya tank under the scalp, connecting to the tumor through a small tube.
The nuclear medicine group at UCLH then injected a drug - ATT001, Parp inhibitor is labeled iodine -123 - directly into the tumor, bringing a small amount of radioactive substance.This drug is used weekly for 4-6 weeks, has a very strong effect at a short distance, causing death damage to tumor cells while protecting healthy tissues [of the human body.].
Mr. Read, who suffered from recurrent nerve cells, first noticed a very intense headache last December and did not improve.
After being diagnosed and undergoing the surgery two days after Christmas to remove as much tumor as possible, Mr. Read continued to treat radiation and chemotherapy.
But in July, the doctors told him that his tumor developed again.
Later, Mr. Read was invited to take a new Citadel-123 test at UCLH, although he had agreed to participate in clinical research.He said: 'I don't expect the tumor to return due to its malignant nature.I also do not expect much in this test until I see the initial results it brings.This test is my life buoy, because according to data, my ability to survive is only one or less.I am very happy to have the opportunity to participate in this test and I have no side effects from the injections.Maybe a bit tired, but in general, I feel very strong. '
For this process, the surgeon has removed as many tumors as possible before transplanting a small medical device called Ommaya tank under the scalp, connected to the tumor through a small tube.
UCLH consultant specialist, Dr. Paul Mulholland, a test designer, said: 'We have to aim to cure the disease.There are reasons why we can cure the disease because this disease occurs in the same position in the brain.The primary brain tumor does not spread throughout the body and is often in the same position in the brain.
It does not spread to other parts of the body, so the use of targeting methods - directly into the tumor - is reasonable '.
Source and photo: Daily Mail