He had 2 months to live. Research "like science fiction" saved his life.
Summary
Michael Wolff was diagnosed with a very rare and aggressive cancer called histiocytic sarcoma after initially being treated for a different blood cancer. Using genetic sequencing, doctors found a new treatment that led to Wolff’s recovery, even though he was given only two months to live at first.Key Facts
- Michael Wolff first had follicular lymphoma, a slow-growing blood cancer.
- A new biopsy revealed he actually had histiocytic sarcoma, a rare aggressive cancer with only about 300 cases in the U.S. each year.
- Wolff’s oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center used genetic sequencing to analyze his tumor’s DNA.
- Genetic sequencing studies changes in cancer cells to find more specific treatment options.
- Doctors found several treatment possibilities but chose a pill called Mekinist, usually for melanoma, based on Wolff’s tumor mutations.
- Wolff’s tumors shrank by 80% after 10 days on Mekinist, and he is now considered cured.
- His case has influenced the use of targeted genetic therapies for rare cancers like histiocytic sarcoma.
- The success was published in the New England Journal of Medicine and helped guide new treatments.
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