Teenager Becomes Cancer-Free in Ten Days

Why this is here: The CAR-T immunotherapy, initially tested on Oliver, had previously shown positive effects on blood cancers but had never been used to treat lymphoma before his case.

In Oslo, Norway, 15-year-old Oliver Njåstad became cancer-free within ten days of receiving CAR-T immunotherapy. Doctors turned to the novel treatment when chemotherapy stopped working for Oliver, who was initially diagnosed with lymphoma at age twelve. Immunologist Johanna Olweus, a professor at the University of Oslo and researcher at Oslo University Hospital, received the King Olav V Cancer Research Prize Tuesday for her work developing the therapy.

Oliver received his first dose in January 2024 and reported feeling healthy ten days later. Olweus’ research focuses on T-cells and their receptors, allowing her to modify healthy blood donor cells to more effectively target and destroy cancer cells. The treatment has since been used on thousands of patients with leukemia and lymphoma worldwide.

Though Oliver remains cancer-free two years after treatment, researchers note the therapy is still relatively new. Olweus and others continue to refine the method and expand its application to other cancers, offering hope for future patients.