Glioblastoma is a type of astrocytoma, a cancer that forms from star-shaped cells in the brain called astrocytes. It is the most common type of primary, malignant and very aggressive brain tumour with around 2,200 cases diagnosed each year in England. Standard treatment usually involves surgery (if possible) to remove the tumour. This is often followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy. There is an urgent need for new treatments to improve outcomes and survival rates for patients with glioblastoma.

Dr Paul Mulholland is a consultant medical oncologist at The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery (UCLH). He is optimistic about new treatments including immunotherapy for treating glioblastoma. An immunotherapy drug, called ipilimumab, has been approved for use in patients with advanced melanoma and brain metastases (secondary tumours). More than 18% of patients who received this immunotherapy drug in a clinical trial for melanoma were alive after five years compared to only 8% who did not.

The National Brain Appeal has committed to £250,000 to support the running costs of the trial. The trial will involve seven UK sites: Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge; Churchill Hospital, Oxford; Guy’s Hospital, London; Mount Vernon Cancer Centre, Northwood; The Christie, Manchester; University College Hospital, London; and Western General Hospital, Edinburgh.