Man with terminal brain tumour welcomes new trial

A Surrey man with terminal brain cancer has welcomed a new medical treatment trial.

Max Vardy, from Farnham, was diagnosed with a glioblastoma tumour in June 2024 and, following six weeks of radiotherapy, is currently undergoing chemotherapy.

The trial will consist of having healthy cells compared with cancerous ones to look for unusually activated or repressed genes, which could one day be targeted with new or repurposed drugs.

The 24-year-old said the research gave people hope, "even if not in time for me, then for the future generations that must fight this difficult to cure condition".

"I have always been a very optimistic person. However, when I was told that my glioblastoma was terminal and that there are no curative treatments currently available, I was greatly saddened," he said.

The trial is conducted at the Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence at Queen Mary University of London.

Silvia Marino, a professor of neuropathology at the university, said brain tumour cells had a different combination of genes that were turned on or off when compared to healthy brain cells.

She said the combination of genes were unique from patient to patient, which opens up the possibility of finding personalised treatment options.

Five people with suspected high-grade tumours are currently enrolled on the trial, but Brain Tumour Research said as many as 200 would be enrolled over the next five years.

According to the charity, the average survival time for the disease is 12 to 18 months.

Dan Knowles, chief executive of Brain Tumour Research, said: "With continued investment into research for brain tumours, together we will find a cure."

Additional reporting from PA Media.

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