Joint Australian of the Year Professor Richard Scolyer reveals no recurrence of brain cancer after world-first treatment

The high-profile doctor has just revealed the incredible results of trying a world-first treatment on himself after receiving a “dismal prognosis”.

Joint Australian of the Year Professor Richard Scolyer has made it to 10 months with no recurrence of brain cancer after world-first treatment based on his own research into melanoma — and proudly says “I am my own guinea pig.”

In an incredible result, he is well and enjoying life when his prognosis should have him at death’s door from the incurable cancer.

“The prognosis was dismal,” he told The Advertiser. “It (life expectancy) is usually about 14 months but mine was even worse. But now I am out to 10 months with no recurrence.”

In a high-risk strategy the Sydney melanoma expert decided to use his own research path of using immunotherapy drugs before surgery and be administered a vaccine personalised to his tumour markers.

Medical colleagues advised against it but with little to lose he talked them around.

“It took some convincing to get a team of people to consider this – doctors are brought up to ‘do no harm’ and there was a risk I would die sooner or have miserable side effects,” he said.

“But I wanted to take the risk to make a difference for other brain cancer patients, treatment for it hasn’t changed for 20 years.”

Prof Scolyer noted in contrast melanoma survival rates have soared with new treatment which includes giving immunotherapy drugs about six weeks before surgery.

He had to negotiate with his brain surgeon who was worried any delay would have adverse consequences, finally agreeing to a two week window between starting the immunotherapy drugs and having surgery to remove most of the tumour mass.

Australian of the Year Professor Richard Scolyer’s MRI brain scan. Picture: Instagram

Professor Richard Scolyer has worked with Professor Georgina Long to adapt immunotherapy treatments for melanoma to brain cancer, and has now become the first person in the world to receive a personalised brain cancer vaccine as a result of that work. Picture: Supplied

“This has never been tried with brain cancer,” he said.

“It is a world first, I am the first in the world to have combination immunotherapy before the brain tumour surgery.

“I am my own guinea pig but for me it was not a hard decision. Now I am still enjoying life and am able to do things.”

Prof Scolyer said as well as giving him a remarkable outcome – so far – the work including study of the effects of the immunotherapy drugs on his extracted tumour has yielded research results that would normally take years.

However, he cautioned that he was just one case and a clinical study involving multiple patients was needed for scientific evaluation.

“But I am starting to feel the excitement of clinicians who work in this field,” he said.

Fantastic news!!!!!!

Amazingly, my latest MRI brain scan shows no recurrence 10 months since my #glioblastoma presented with a seizure in #Poland. Median time to recurrence is 6 months.

I’m extremely hopeful that the novel #neoadjuvant combination #immunotherapy I’ve had &… pic.twitter.com/SFfVJRadRH

— Professor Richard Scolyer AO (@ProfRScolyerMIA) March 19, 2024

Prof Scolyer celebrated the 10 month milestone by posting MRI scans of his brain showing no recurrence of the cancer, telling his followers: “Fantastic news!!!!!!”

“Amazingly, my latest MRI brain scan shows no recurrence 10 months since my glioblastoma presented with a seizure in Poland. Median time to recurrence is 6 months.

“I’m extremely hopeful that the novel neoadjuvant combination immunotherapy I’ve had & the scientific changes we demonstrated in my tumour post versus pre immunotherapy are being translated into clinical benefit!

“I’d be thrilled and very proud if this novel approach makes a difference for me and future brain cancer patients.”

Professor Scolyer has gone 10 months without seeing the return of his glioblastoma. Picture: Supplied

Prof Scolyer thanked the people who helped him as well as the “ongoing support of my wife Katie, 3 kids Em, Matt and Luce, bro Mark, Anna, my parents Jenny and Maurice and many other family and friends.”

Melanoma treatment pioneers Professor Scolyer and Professor Georgina Long were named 2024 Australians of the Year.

They are strongly supporting this Sunday’s Melanoma March – to register for the 4km coastal walk from Henley Square to Grange Jetty and return see adelaide.melanomamarch.org.au.

They said marchers can add their voices to calls to stop the glamorisation of tanning and help reach zero deaths from melanoma.

“There is nothing healthy about a tan. Nothing,” Professor Long said.

“Our bronzed Aussie culture is actually killing us.

“So we call on advertisers, and social media influencers – stop glamorising tanning, or using it to sell or entertain.

“And our fellow Australians – when you see it, call it out, and demand change.”