Legolas the Fisher Rat has made remarkable contributions to advancing research into glioblastoma, the most common and highly aggressive brain malignancy among all brain cancers. He was part of a groundbreaking study, led by PhD candidate Abass Khochaiche *(koshaysh)* and the Targeted Nano-therapies team as part of the   University of Wollongong’s Centre for Medical and Radiation Physics.

Abass achieved an examiners commendation for outstanding Master’s thesis for his work on novel lanthanum manganite nanoparticles used to fight brain cancer. Continuing this work into his PhD, Abass is using these nanoparticles to help improve current clinical treatment methods of brain cancer by first proving we can achieve curative outcomes in a pre-clinical study. His treatment showed an improvement on survival in all treatment groups but also successfully proved that we can cure this brain cancer with Legolas. 

Legolas’s journey began with the implantation of glioblastoma cells into his brain. This was followed by targeted nanoparticle delivery to the tumour and a single dose of microbeam radiation therapy at the ANSTO Australian Synchrotron in Victoria. Abass and the TNT team performed these procedures and closely monitored Legolas and his cohort over the following months, at the UOW animal facility, with the study endpoint set at 12 months post-treatment. In a rat’s life, 12 months is roughly equivalent to 30 years for a human. Of all brain cancers, glioblastoma multiformes have the lowest 5-year survival rate (less than 6%) despite ongoing clinical efforts through current standard treatment with surgery, radiation and chemotherapy with temozolomide.

Legolas outlived all the other rats in his treatment group. Many of his peers survived for several months (equivalent to many years in human terms) before showing early symptoms of tumour recurrence. To prevent loneliness and depression, Legolas was given companion rats, Ren and Stimpy, to keep him company and ensure a good quality of life in the lab. He was visited daily by members of the research group, enjoyed time in an exercise arena, and lived in a spacious cage equipped with hammocks, soft bedding, hiding boxes, and chew toys.

Having reached the end of the 12-month survival study, Legolas has now left the facility with his companions Ren and Stimpy. He is enjoying life in Abass’s home, where he gets to see the sunrise and sunset each day. Our heartfelt gratitude goes out to Legolas and all the animals used in medical science to improve the health and welfare of people and animals worldwide.

 

*(koshaysh)*: pronunciation if needed to be said.