A novel radioactive therapy, ATT001, has shown remarkable early results in shrinking aggressive brain tumors, offering a potential new approach for patients with glioblastoma. In a first-in-human trial at University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH), a patient's tumor was reduced by half within weeks of initiating treatment.
The therapy involves the direct injection of low levels of radioactivity into the tumor. Following surgical removal of as much of the tumor as possible, an Ommaya reservoir, a small medical device, is implanted under the scalp to facilitate targeted drug delivery. The treatment, ATT001, is administered weekly for four to six weeks, delivering potent, localized radioactivity to damage cancer cells while minimizing harm to healthy tissue.
The trial's designer, Dr. Paul Mulholland, described the results as "remarkable," particularly given the aggressive nature of the patient's glioblastoma. The patient, Paul Read, had previously undergone surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy after experiencing symptoms including severe headaches and facial drooping. When his tumor regrew in July, he was offered a place in the CITADEL-123 trial at UCLH.
"I fully expected the tumour to come back due to its aggressive nature. I was open to trying anything else," Read said. "I'm not afraid of any of this. We all have a hand of cards to play, and you don't know which ones you'll get. It'll be wonderful if this helps me, and if it doesn't, it may help someone else."
Glioblastoma is a particularly deadly form of cancer, with an average survival rate of just 18 months. Current treatment options are limited, highlighting the urgent need for new therapeutic strategies. Dr. Mulholland explained that the targeted approach allows the drug to be highly effective against the cancer cells. While this is an initial human study with cautious dosing, they plan to increase the radiation levels and number of participants in future trials to further evaluate the therapy's potential.
