Around one year ago, Professor Richard Scolyer – a 57-year-old scientist who holds multiple positions, including co-director of the Melanoma Institute Australia – had a seizure while he was in Poland.
He was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a type of brain cancer. Per the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, glioblastomas tumors are “fast-growing and aggressive.”
Scoyler was told that his condition was incurable, but he had other plans. Instead of starting conventional treatments, he decided to undergo experimental therapy based on his own research, according to the BBC. He’s the first patient to have combination pre-surgery and immunotherapy for brain cancer.
“Prof Scolyer’s subtype of glioblastoma is so aggressive most patients survive less than a year,” said the outlet. With his experimental immunotherapy approach, Scolyer has seen success.
“I had brain #MRI scan last Thursday looking for recurrent #glioblastoma (&/or treatment complications),” he said in a Monday X post. “I found out yesterday that there is still no sign of recurrence. I couldn’t be happier!!!!! Thank you to the fabulous team looking after me so well especially my wife Katie & wonderful family!”
He told the BBC that he was nervous going into the scan – more nervous than he had been for the previous ones.
Just this year, Scolyer and his Melanoma Institute Australia co-director, Professor Georgina Long were named Australian of the Year for their work on melanoma. She is part of the team working on his immunotherapy treatment.
This treatment uses a patient’s own immune system to attack cancer cells. It has already been used successfully to treat patients with melanoma, a form of skin cancer.
For Scolyer, the treatment includes a vaccine personalized to his tumor’s characteristics, the BBC explained.
“On Monday, I had further experimental treatment for my “brain cancer” #glioblastoma,” said Scolyer on May 3. “This was delayed because there had been concerns about some of my blood test results. As a consequence, until recently, I hadn’t been exercising. But I am continuing to feel well.”
He has chronicled much of his journey with the experimental treatment on social media. These posts cover milestones, as well as complications.
“Dose 8 (of 10) personalised anticancer vaccine administered last week as experimental treatment for my #glioblastoma. Sore arm for a couple of days but otherwise feeling good,” he said in one post. Scolyer also discussed developing pneumonia and epileptic seizures along with way.
He said in a March video that he is “very thankful for the opportunity to be the first person in the world,” to try some of these vaccine treatments, and that he has his “fingers crossed we can make a difference for future patients with this brain cancer, when treatment hasn’t changed in almost 20 years.”
Approximately 300,000 people are diagnosed with brain cancer annually, per the BBC. Long and Scolyer plan to publish a paper about his treatment, but Long noted that there is still a long way to go before they develop an approved and regulated course of treatment.
“Roger Stupp - the doctor after whom the current protocol for treating glioblastomas is named - earlier this year told the BBC Prof Scolyer's prognosis was ‘grim,’ and that it was too early to tell if the treatment is working,” the outlet said.
As of this month, Scolyer is back to exercising. He told the BBC that he’s also been able to spend time with his wife and children.