A 40-year-old man with glioblastoma, the most aggressive form of brain cancer, has shown no traces of the disease after undergoing experimental immunotherapy treatment, as reported by a press release.
Ben Trotman, 40, was diagnosed with glioblastoma in 2022, a condition that typically leads to a life expectancy of about 15 months after diagnosis and a five-year survival rate of 6.9%. He was referred to the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery at University College London Hospitals (UCLH), where he was treated by consultant Dr. Paul Mulholland.
Trotman, the only patient in a closed clinical trial, received ipilimumab, an antibody that targets proteins on immune cells (T cells) to prevent cancer cells from dampening the immune system’s response. Despite the absence of planned follow-up surgery, his quarterly scans now show no signs of the tumor. Oncologist Dr. Mulholland noted the results are highly unusual for glioblastoma.
This development has led Mulholland and his team to launch a new clinical trial for patients diagnosed with glioblastoma, funded by Dame Siobhain McDonagh, who is the sister of Margaret McDonagh, who succumbed to the disease in 2023. The trial, named ‘Margaret’s Trial,’ will include 16 patients and is sponsored by UCL.
Trotman’s wife, Emily, expressed gratitude for the treatment, calling it a ‘lucky break’ in their otherwise devastating situation. They welcomed their daughter, Mabel, in April 2025, and are now focused on rebuilding their life as parents.
The trial aims to boost the immune system before standard treatments like surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, potentially offering new hope for glioblastoma patients.