Boris’s Brain Cancer Treatment

Boris is a 12 years old boy from Las Vegas, Nevada who was recently diagnosed with Stage 4 brain cancer. On 8/26/21 he felt dizzy and his father noticed some speech slurring after picking him up from school. On 8/27/21 his parents took him to his primary care physician who conducted a neurological test and he was immediately sent to the ER with a referral for MRI. The MRI revealed a brain tumor the size of a ping pong ball and he was transferred to the pediatrics ICU at Sunrise Hospital where he was scheduled for a biopsy to determine the type of tumor. Boris’s symptoms were rapidly getting worse and three days after the MRI Boris became fully immobile and lost his speech due to the excessive brain pressure. An emergency surgery was performed to place a tube in his head to relieve the brain pressure and Boris was airlifted to Salt Lake City, UT and admitted to a specialized pediatric cancer intensive care unit. A biopsy was performed and he was diagnosed with a Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) which is a highly aggressive and difficult to treat brain stem tumor. It is located in the pons which controls the body’s most vital functions such as breathing, heart rate and blood pressure. Thirteen sessions of radiation therapy were completed in a month of hospitalization, which only suppressed the tumor development temporarily. In order to prevent brain damage, no further radiation therapy is possible and the tumor cannot be surgically removed. After the radiation Boris improved his symptoms and restored some mobility but still has his left side partially paralyzed and requires continued physical, speech and occupational therapy. Due to the nature of DIPG, there aren’t any successfully tested treatments available and a clinical antibody trial treatment known as PNOC 007 was suggested by the doctors. The treatment must be conducted once every three weeks for a period of 2 years at the Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City, UT and consists of 2 shots and an IV infusion per treatment. The goal is to boost the body’s immune system response and help it fight the tumor.

The funds collected here will be used for paying the insurance copays, uncovered medical expenses and the travel cost to Salt Lake City for the long term treatment. Boris requires 24/7 care and his parents have already suffered a significant loss of wages. DIPG is a malignant tumor that needs to be suppressed for Boris to maintain bodily functions and improve, which is why timely treatment is of essence.

In this time of hardship, we are asking you to please help Boris take advantage of the Clinical Trial Treatment, which is the only hope in fighting this rare brain tumor and for his parents to win the battle of saving his life.