Derriford patient first in the UK to receive new cancer treatment
On Wednesday 11 March 2026, Brian Holmes, a 70-year-old man with metastatic prostate cancer, became the first person in the UK, and the fifth in the world, to receive a new cancer treatment as part of a clinical trial.
The infusion took place on the Fal ward at Derriford Hospital, with the Oncology Research team, and the Oncology team being the ones to deliver the treatment.
Having exhausted all other lines of treatment for his prostate cancer over the last two years, Brian is excited to be a part of the trial, which could hopefully extend his life expectancy. He said: “I can’t believe I’ve been given the opportunity to do this. It’s amazing, not just for me and potentially extending my life, but also for the hundreds, if not thousands of lives that this could have the potential to save.”
The trial is being overseen by Dr Dominique Parslow, Consultant Clinical Oncologist (Uro-oncology and HPB), Amanda Hind, Oncology Staff Nurse, and Helen Smith, Research nurse specialist at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust.
Dominique said: “It’s been a very long journey to get to today, it’s very difficult to get trial slots to put patients onto treatment, but it’s such a great opportunity for our local patients to get a new treatment that we have a lot of hope for.”
Reflecting on delivering the treatment to Brian, Amanda said: “It’s been absolutely amazing, there’s been this work up for the last two weeks getting him prepared for the treatment, we’ve been waiting for this pinnacle moment, and it’s just been amazing.”
Tino Machaka, Trainee Assistant Practitioner in Oncology research, said: “We’re all very excited to be a part of this, as it’s ground breaking work, this is basically why we wake up every day and come here.”
Humbled by the experience, Brian feels privileged to be a part of the trial: “This is a rare opportunity for me personally, this is my only hope to extend my life by any real period at all. The potential of this new treatment is enormous, and being selected for this trial has given me the strength to carry on the fight.”
You can watch the video from the day of Brian's first infusion below:
