In a remarkable feat, a 13-year-old boy has defied all odds and achieved the unimaginable: he has become the first person to ever be cured of a previously deemed “incurable” brain cancer.
Seven years ago, Lucas Jemeljanova experienced the onset of his illness while on a vacation with his parents, Cedric and Olesja. He initially felt unwell and then suddenly found himself unable to walk in a straight line. Subsequently, he began experiencing nosebleeds and episodes of losing consciousness.
When Lucas was just 6 years old, he received a diagnosis of diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG). This form of cancer is extremely rare, and the statistics are grim – 98% of those affected do not survive beyond five years. In fact, most children with DIPG pass away within 12 months or even less. However, Cedric and Olesja, Lucas’ parents, were determined to provide him with a fighting chance. They decided to take him to France, where he was selected at random to participate in the BIOMEDE trial.
The drug that Lucas received blocked the mTOR portion, which is responsible for the division and growth of cancer cells. Prior to Lucas undergoing the treatment, it had never demonstrated any effectiveness.
Lucas thrived over the years, and it appeared that the cancer had disappeared. However, his doctors were cautious about when to stop treatment, fearing a potential return of the disease. Surprisingly, they discovered that Lucas had silently stopped taking his medication a year and a half ago, yet he remained in remission. Remarkably, he has now been cancer-free for five years.
Lucas’ doctor, Jacques Grill, expressed his astonishment as he witnessed the tumor vanish completely through a series of MRI scans. In an interview with AFP, he stated, “I don’t know of any other case like him in the world.”
Scientists Are Working Hard to Learn How the Medication Worked For Lucas
At the age of 13, the boy has successfully overcome brain cancer and is now experiencing a joyful and normal childhood. Although seven other children took part in the trial, which extended their lives, Lucas was the only one who achieved a complete cure. The reasons behind his survival while others did not are still unknown, but scientists are optimistic about discovering answers in the near future.
According to Dr. Grill, Lucas has “biological particularities” that align perfectly with his medication.
According to Dr. Gill’s colleague, Marie-Anne Debily, they discovered that Lucas’ tumor had an exceptionally uncommon mutation that made its cells highly responsive to the drug. Debily expressed optimism, stating that Lucas’ case provides genuine hope. They plan to replicate the unique characteristics found in Lucas’ cells in a laboratory setting.
Scientists are currently attempting to recreate the variations found in Lucas’s cells. Their goal is to then replicate these variations in organoids and determine whether the drug will have the same effect as it did on Lucas.
Dr. Debily stated that the next course of action would involve discovering a drug that can replicate the impact of these cellular alterations on tumor cells.