Cornwall woman’s hopes for brain tumors come out

A Cornish woman hopes a drug trial can lead to a breakthrough in the treatment of several brain tumours.

Jayne Sweeney, 57, from Mevagissey, was diagnosed in 1996 with neurofibromatosis 2 (NF2), a genetic condition that causes tumors to grow along nerves.

Researchers at the University of Plymouth want to build on findings showing that the HIV and AIDS drugs ritonavir and lopinavir can shrink tumours.

“A cure for NF2 is too late for me, but if we can find an effective drug for newly diagnosed people that would be fantastic,” said Ms Sweeney.

There are no current treatments for noncancerous NF2, which affects about one in 25,000 to 40,000 people, other than surgery.

Twelve people are participating in the clinical trials.

Ms Sweeney, who was invited to the steering group, has 12 tumors growing in her brain and has undergone five operations to remove tumors from her brain, ear and ankle.

He also underwent 15 months of chemotherapy and surgery, with painful injections in his head.

Loss of balance, hearing loss and ringing in the ears, as well as limb weakness and persistent headaches are symptoms of NF2.

“For me, hearing loss is the worst thing about having NF2 because it’s very isolating and frustrating,” she said.

“It’s so important to find better, kinder ways to treat the disease,” she said.

Professor Oliver Hanemann from the university’s Center of Excellence for Brain Tumor Research said: “If the results are positive and the research develops into a larger clinical trial, it would be the most significant change for patients with this condition.”

During the year-long study, patients will undergo a tumor biopsy and a blood test before having 30 days of treatment with the two drugs.

They will then have another biopsy and a blood test to see if the drugs have been able to get into the tumor cells and shrink the tumors.