How Clinical Trials and Expert Care Paved the Way to a Remarkable Recovery

A life-changing diagnosis was delivered on March 17, 2014, when a patient sat at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) awaiting news from oncologist Dr. Jonathan Rosenberg. Unfortunately, the results were devastating: stage IV urothelial carcinoma, with bladder cancer having metastasized to the liver. Approximately 40 tumors were identified at that time. Having worked in the pharmaceutical industry for nearly three decades, the patient fully understood the gravity of this situation, feeling uncertain about making it to a 49th birthday only a few months away.

Immediate action was taken. The decision involved starting a combination chemotherapy regimen—Gemcitabine and Cisplatin—alongside participation in an Avastin clinical trial. Weighing only 151 lbs, the patient embarked on an 18-week treatment course. Remarkably, in the following months, CT scans indicated significant improvement, with tumors shrinking and disappearing. Within ten months, about 70% of the cancer had receded, allowing the patient to celebrate that 49th birthday after all.

However, in January 2015, the tumors began to grow again, and new ones emerged. Having already used the most potent chemotherapy options, the situation appeared dire once more. With few alternatives, another clinical trial became the focal point—this time featuring an immunotherapy drug called Nivolumab (Opdivo), which had shown promise in melanoma patients. Although the odds were slim for liver metastases, even a small chance felt worth pursuing.

Six weeks into this new therapy, scans revealed continued tumor growth, casting a shadow over the patient’s hopes. Yet, Dr. Rosenberg advised perseverance, citing examples of delayed responses. True to that insight, another six-week scan brought dramatic improvement—the tumors began shrinking and vanishing. By February 2017, the patient celebrated both a 50th and 51st birthday, looking forward to many more milestones ahead. This outcome would not have been possible without skilled medical care, innovative clinical trials, unwavering faith, and the steadfast support of loved ones.