April 4, 2025
The article describes how a groundbreaking immunotherapy regimen developed from melanoma research significantly extended the life of Dr. Richard Scolyer, who was diagnosed with glioblastoma and given just months to live. He received a novel combination of immune checkpoint inhibitors prior to surgery, followed by radiation, adjuvant immunotherapy, and a personalized peptide vaccine, remaining cancer-free for nearly two years. His case has inspired the launch of the GIANT Trial, an international clinical trial investigating neoadjuvant immunotherapy for glioblastoma patients across major U.S. and Australian institutions. The trial will test the safety and feasibility of using anti-PD-1 and anti-LAG3 therapies before surgery and standard treatment, with extensive biospecimen analysis to study immune and tumor responses.
Dr. Khasraw is leading the U.S. portion of the GIANT trial. He has been instrumental in translating the biology from melanoma and early glioblastoma findings into clinical application, facilitating collaboration across institutions, and designing the trial’s biospecimen strategy.
Read the full article here.