Overcoming Glioblastoma: Matt’s Path to Recovery and Research

Matt has always loved animals and the outdoors. His fascination grew as he watched Animal Planet as a child — his favorite episodes featuring Australian wildlife legend, Steve Irwin — and Matt was inspired to seek a career in the study of wildlife. But in November 2022, at the age of 24, Matt’s life changed trajectory, and he wondered if he had a chance at the future he was working for.

It started with some nausea, severe headaches, and vomiting. Matt assumed it was a stomach bug but when he was still sick a week later, he went to see a doctor. He was assured it was probably nothing serious but to seek further medical help if it continued. After a few more days of the same symptoms, Matt called his family and let them know that something was wrong, and he couldn’t continue.

A CT scan showed that Matt had a large mass on his brain. He was taken to the OU Health University of Oklahoma Medical Center and after further scans, Matt had surgery to remove the mass. Pathology confirmed that the mass was a Grade IV glioblastoma — a fast-growing and aggressive brain tumor. Untreated, a GBM can be fatal in less than six months.

Glioblastoma

Grade IV glioblastoma, also known as glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) or grade IV astrocytoma, is a highly aggressive and rapidly growing brain tumor originating from glial cells. It is the most prevalent primary brain cancer in the United States, with more than 12,000 new cases diagnosed each year.

The grade of a brain tumor reflects its likelihood to grow and spread, with Grade IV being the most severe and aggressive. This grading is based on the tumor cells’ appearance, which are more abnormal in higher-grade tumors, as well as the tumor’s genetic and protein characteristics. As GBM grows, it can invade nearby brain tissue, form new blood vessels, and accumulate dead cells in its core. It can develop in almost any part of the brain or spinal cord, but in adults, it most commonly occurs in the cerebral hemispheres, particularly the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain.

Unfortunately, GBM is known for a high recurrence rate even after it has been surgically removed. Treatment includes surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, but even after treatment, GBM almost always grows back in about 9-10 months. This high recurrence rate is due to the invasive nature of the tumor, which infiltrates surrounding brain tissue, making it difficult to remove completely.

Additionally, the wound healing process after surgery can sometimes stimulate the remaining tumor cells to grow more aggressively, making managing GBM particularly challenging.

The diagnosis was devastating for Matt and his family.

“Life changed forever after that,” Matt shared. “It was a very dark, scary time.”

New Option for Treating GBM

In 2016, the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (OMRF) developed a drug which is known as Oklahoma Nitrone 007 (OKN-007) — an investigational drug for the treatment of glioblastoma. Oblato, Inc., has acquired all rights from OMRF to OKN-007 and has completed a Phase I clinical trial at OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center under OU Health neuro-oncologist, Dr. James Battiste, M.D, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine. It is currently working through in a Phase 2 trial with more advanced trials in development.

OKN-007 is a small free radical spin-trapping molecule, which is a molecule that catches short-lived free radicals and turns them into more stable ones. It was developed as an anti-inflammatory drug to take free radicals out of the body so they aren’t doing damage, and it was discovered that it also attacks tumor cells.

It was initially tested in stroke patients as strokes have a lot of inflammatory processes that occur. However, it didn’t achieve improvements for stroke patients. Researchers at OMRF then tested it with tumor cells and had promising results. Dr. Battiste explained that tumors can be perpetuated by free radicals, as well as inflammation and stress, and OKN-007 works to stop the free radicals.

“We are still discovering some of the mechanisms of why the drug works this way,” said Dr. Battiste. “We know that it opens the blood-brain barrier temporarily so we can get more medication in, and it changes the genetic expression of the genes in tumor cells.”

Matt’s Treatment

Dr. Battiste explained that in cancer therapeutics, investigational drugs are often tested in later stages of treatment when conventional options have been exhausted toward the end of treatment. He and his team decided that the outcome could be improved if the drug was given earlier in the process, rather than at the end. Testing in the lab showed good results so OKN-007 was delivered to the clinical trial patients along with the standard of care.

Matt started treatment in January 2023. GBM has an exceptionally high recurrence rate after standard of care, which means that only 5-13% of patients are still alive five years after treatment. After radiation and chemotherapy, Matt was given six months of Temodar (temozolomide), a drug that interferes with the growth of cancer cells, which are then destroyed by the body. OKN-007 was layered on top of the Temodar.

As the OKN-007 has a low toxicity profile, Dr. Battiste decided to continue Matt’s treatment with a maintenance dose for another 18 months to reduce the recurrence rate. His last infusion was August 2024, almost two years since the diagnosis. He feels and looks well, and as the OKN-007 has minimal side-effects, Matt has recovered and is living a full life.

Although there is not yet enough data to predict recurrence rates, a male patient who was in the first clinical trial for OKN-007 is still alive eight years later, offering great hope to people diagnosed with GBM who are deemed suitable candidates for the trial.

The Future

Matt is studying mammals for a Ph.D. in wildlife conservation with plans to teach. He is interested in the study of organisms and their interaction with the environment and how humans play a role in managing and improving our natural systems. His favorite animal is the bison.

“I'm partial to the state mammal of Kansas,” he shared. “Bison are resilient, social, act as ecosystem engineers, and have played such a large role in human history. It's hard to discuss the story of North America without also discussing the story of bison.”

Matt shares the resilience of bison and is an encouragement to others experiencing GBM.

“My final note to anyone else diagnosed with glioblastoma is to encourage them not to lose hope. Even the scariest prognosis isn't what it used to be — the medical community is always working toward advancements. We don't have to let historical statistics dictate future outcomes.”

Dr. Battiste and team are currently working on getting the next clinical trial for OKN-007 approved, and that will hopefully be the final trial before seeking FDA approval for wider use of the drug.

“This has been a huge collaboration between OU Health radiation oncology, neuro-oncology, and neurosurgery. We have radiologists, pathologists, and the whole Phase I clinical trials team. It has been a team effort,” said Dr. Battiste.

Stephenson Cancer Center is the largest and most comprehensive oncology practice in the state, delivering patient-centered, multidisciplinary care for every type of cancer. It is the only center offering Phase I clinical trials in Oklahoma.

“With cancer treatment, having a team environment around you improves your outcomes as you are more cared for,” said Dr. Battiste. “We continue to recruit experts from across the country who are the best in their fields. Our figures show that we are above and beyond the current status of care, and we represent the top 2% of cancer centers in the country.”

OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center provides expert multidisciplinary care for the most complex cases. Learn more about our services and treatment, request an appointment or get a second opinion.