How Cutting-Edge Research and Clinical Trials Transformed One Grandfather’s Future

Dave M., a 70-year-old metalworking entrepreneur from Bishopsteignton in South Devon, England, thought he would never see his grandson play soccer again. Seven years earlier, doctors discovered bladder cancer that led to laparoscopic surgery to remove both the tumor and his right kidney. Although the procedure initially seemed successful, a follow-up scan revealed another tumor just six months later. Dave then underwent four months of combination chemotherapy (gemcitabine and cisplatin), which took a severe toll on his health. Even after enduring 50 consecutive days of radiotherapy and multiple major surgeries, the cancer continued to spread, leaving him with 11 tumors throughout his body. Devastatingly, his oncologist warned there was little hope, predicting only eight months to a year left to live.

Clinging to even the faintest possibility of survival, Dave was referred to a friend of his doctor—Professor Thomas Powles at Barts Cancer Institute in London. Professor Powles offered a spot in a clinical trial for an investigational immunotherapy called atezolizumab (Tecentriq), explaining that it presented a 50-50 chance of extending Dave’s life. Viewing these odds as significantly better than the alternative, Dave agreed to participate.

Remarkably, after just nine infusions, ten of his tumors vanished, and the one remaining mass shrank from the size of a grapefruit to that of a thumbnail. Apart from mild afternoon fatigue, Dave experienced no serious side effects. He was able to maintain a normal routine—working early mornings, visiting construction sites, and enjoying time with family.

Today, Dave embraces life wholeheartedly. Last Christmas, he hugged his grandson after a winning soccer game, reflecting on the extraordinary gift of simply being there for cherished moments. The breakthrough immunotherapy, fueled by relentless research, has given him time he was once told he would never have.