Rusty Doms's first scans were good after a cutting-edge procedure for glioblastoma. He hopes to get back on the paddleboard one day.
"I'm not on top of the world, but yes, I feel good. And one step in front of the other, and a positive attitude," said patient Rusty Doms.
He's part of a trial at John Wayne Cancer Institute. Doctors use a bioengineered protein that leaves healthy cells alone. It is called MDNA 55.
"It can bind directly to tumor cells and bring in a payload, which is like a Trojan horse that acts directly on tumor cells and causes the tumor cells to undergo programmed cell death," said Achal Singh Achrol.
Rusty and five others had the drug delivered directly to their tumors through up to four catheters. At first, guided by MRI's. It took up to 20 hours.
"Not only are we getting the bulk of the tumor that we see, but the drug is actually fusing to the rest of the brain where we see the single cells that are intertwined, infiltrating into the brain," said MD Santosh Kersari.
Early results are promising. At one month, rusty had swelling, but at two, his MRI showed tumor shrinkage.
"If this trial is successful, I will have helped myself, but I will have helped other people, because right now, as best I know, there's no cure for glioblastoma," said Doms.