New Treatments Offer Hope for Glioblastoma Patients
Recent advancements in cancer treatments have provided women with a renewed sense of hope. For Pamela Goldberger, 65, the journey began in 2023 when she was diagnosed with glioblastoma—a brain tumor typically associated with a grim prognosis, averaging only 14-16 months of survival even after surgery.
In an interview, Goldberger described her initial symptoms as rather subtle, particularly noting some unusual nausea. A misshapen use of her utensils at dinner—using a fork like a knife—was one of the early signs that something was amiss. Following various neurological tests at the emergency room, including MRIs and CT scans, the shocking news of brain tumors was confirmed.
“Hearing this was pretty devastating,” Goldberger recalled. “Everything just stopped for us.”
She expressed concern about not being able to witness her grandchildren grow up, which added to her distress. A few days after her diagnosis, she underwent brain surgery.
Typically, surgery is the go-to option for such an invasive tumor. However, the head of neurosurgery at Cooper University Hospital in Camden, New Jersey, encouraged her to consider a clinical trial featuring personalized stem cell therapy to combat glioblastoma. Goldberger opted to participate.
After her surgery, she endured six weeks of chemotherapy and radiation treatments, which was followed by another six weeks focused on cell therapy and an additional year of maintenance chemotherapy. Goldberger mentioned that the recovery process was gradual, but she started feeling more like herself after finishing her oral chemotherapy.
Now, two and a half years post-diagnosis, Goldberger is thriving, playing tennis multiple times a week.
Insights from Clinical Trials
Dr. Joseph Georges, a neurosurgeon at Banner University Hospital in Phoenix, explained that survival rates for glioblastoma have remained stagnant for 20 years. This tumor is quite complex, exhibiting various mutations among patients, which makes treatment even more challenging.
Innovative treatments now focus on boosting the immune system’s ability to detect and destroy tumor cells by creating vaccines from the patients’ own tumors collected during surgery.
“We gather various tumor cell types and train the immune system to attack them, even those small cells that manage to evade surgical removal,” Dr. Georges explained.
This new approach has been administered to 16 newly diagnosed glioblastoma patients, including Goldberger, who first received chemotherapy and radiation. This was later followed by a series of injections over several weeks, designed to enhance their immune response.
Results from the Phase 1 clinical trial have been promising, as confirmed by the treatment developers at Diakonos Oncology, who reported positive immune responses and increased survival rates with minimal side effects.
“Living My Best Life”
Goldberger continues regular check-ups with her doctors and feels well enough to engage in various activities—playing tennis with her grandchildren, having lunch with friends, and enjoying hobbies like reading and traveling. “I’m living my best life right now,” she shared, emphasizing that she is not hindered from doing what she loves.
For others battling glioblastoma, she advocates pursuing clinical trial options when feasible, highlighting the importance of a positive mindset in the healing process. “I did everything my doctor advised and surrounded myself with what made me happy,” she noted. “I think a lot of what has kept me alive is not just medical care but also a bit of luck.”
Echoing Goldberger’s sentiments, Dr. Georges suggested that patients with recurrent glioblastoma should actively seek clinical trials that might offer new hope. Recently, Diakonos Oncology announced the initiation of a Phase 2 clinical trial for DOC1021, which will be available at multiple sites across the country.
