A groundbreaking case out of the United Kingdom is bringing hope to those battling glioblastoma, one of the deadliest forms of brain cancer.
Ben Trotman, diagnosed in 2022 at the age of 40, is now living without any signs of cancer more than two years after receiving an experimental new treatment.
This from slaynews.com.
Trotman revealed he went from being perfectly healthy to being given just months to live, to being completely cancer-free again.
Glioblastoma is notorious for its aggressiveness. Patients typically survive just 15 months after diagnosis. The survival rate over five years is a mere 6.9%. However, Trotman, whose prognosis initially seemed grim, has defied the odds, thanks to an experimental immunotherapy drug.
Trotman’s treatment at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in London included ipilimumab, a targeted immunotherapy, which helped boost his immune system to fight the cancer. Immunotherapy treatments work by preventing cancer cells from suppressing the immune system, allowing the body to use its own defenses to attack and destroy the tumor.
Dr. Paul Mulholland, Trotman’s oncologist, explained the unusual nature of the patient’s remarkable recovery:
It is very unusual to have a clear scan with glioblastoma, especially when he didn’t have the follow-up surgery that had been planned to remove all of the tumor that was initially visible on scans.
Further:
We hope that the immunotherapy and follow-up treatment Ben has had will hold his tumor at bay—and it has so far, which we are delighted to see.
Trotman’s wife, Emily, recalled the overwhelming shock of the diagnosis:
Getting this diagnosis was the most traumatic experience—we were grappling with the fact that Ben had gone from being apparently perfectly healthy to having months to live.
However, after the ipilimumab treatment and with the support of Dr. Mulholland, their world changed. Trotman’s scans showed no signs of cancer, offering the couple a glimmer of hope.
Just two months after starting the experimental therapy, Trotman married Emily, and in April 2025, the couple welcomed their daughter, Mabel. While Trotman and his family remain cautious about the future, the success of his treatment has given them a renewed sense of hope.
Trotman said:
We obviously don’t know what the future holds, but having had the immunotherapy treatment and getting these encouraging scan results has given [us] a bit of hope.
Following Trotman’s success, the team led by Dr. Mulholland is launching a new clinical trial aimed at newly diagnosed glioblastoma patients. This trial, “Win-Glio”, will recruit 16 patients to test the effects of ipilimumab before they undergo standard treatments, such as surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.
The trial will be held at UCLH’s Clinical Research Facility, and it represents an important shift in glioblastoma treatment, with a focus on boosting patients’ immune systems before they begin traditional treatments.
Dr. Mulholland emphasized the importance of administering the immunotherapy while patients are still strong enough to tolerate it.
The Win-Glio trial, also known as “Margaret’s Trial,” is named in honor of Margaret McDonagh, a woman who died from glioblastoma in 2023 after being treated by Dr. Mulholland. Her sister, Dame Siobhain McDonagh, helped fund the trial in her memory, further emphasizing the personal connection and the drive to find effective treatments for glioblastoma.
Ben Trotman, now a key figure in the campaign for improved glioblastoma treatment, expressed his enthusiasm for the new trial:
I’m delighted that the trial is moving forward with the same immunotherapy drug I received.
Further:
It will give people newly diagnosed with glioblastoma some hope.
While the battle against glioblastoma is far from over, this promising case marks a significant step forward in the fight against one of the most devastating cancers. Trotman’s story is not just about survival; it’s about hope.
The news gives fresh hope to cancer patients around the world that, through innovation and groundbreaking treatments, sufferers can have a chance at rebuilding their lives.
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Author: Nathanael Greene
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