Belgian Boy, 13, Makes Medical History as First to Beat Rare Brain Cancer
A 6-year-old Belgian boy, Lucas, has become the first child in the world to be cured of brain stem glioma, a rare and lethal form of cancer, after participating in an experimental treatment trial. The tumor completely disappeared following treatment with the drug everolimus, and researchers are now hoping to reproduce the genetic mutation in vitro to confirm the cause of Lucas' remarkable recovery. This breakthrough offers hope for improving long-term outcomes for children with this cancer, although an approved medication may not be available for another 10 to 15 years.