Local Man’s Life Saved by LSU LCMC Health Cancer Center Phase 1 Clinical Trial
Jacob has always measured time by the season – not with calendars or clocks, but with
watermelons. An agriculturist by trade, he’s spent decades tending to the soil and
running his own business in rural Washington Parish, Louisiana.
“Some folks like to play golf. I plant watermelons,” he says.
Jacob’s summers are usually full of early mornings and demanding days, especially when the harvest is at its peak. But in the summer of 2024, his reliable rhythm changed. What began as a familiar pain – something he thought might be another ulcer – quickly became something far more serious. By July, after a scope and a round of tests, Jacob received his diagnosis: stage IV gastroesophageal cancer (cancer located where the esophagus connects to the stomach).
“It was surreal,” he says of that moment, his wife by his side. “An awakening moment. I wasn’t expecting it, and neither was she.”
Today, at 52 years old, Jacob is navigating a new season of life.
From Standard Treatment to a Lifesaving Clinical Trial
Jacob’s cancer journey started with a standard chemotherapy regimen called FOLFOX.
While this treatment was initially effective, its effects plateaued. That, combined
with unpleasant side effects, made it clear that a different approach was needed.
Jacob’s first oncologist, Dr. Agustin Garcia with LSU Health New Orleans, recognized that Jacob might be a good candidate for a Phase I clinical trial of antibody drug conjugate (ADC) against tumors with specific biomarker Claudin 18.2, led by Dr. Shou-Ching Tang, Professor of Hematology and Oncology at LSU Health New Orleans. Because Jacob’s cancer was advancing quickly, the team acted right away, getting him into the trial and starting his treatment.
The day after receiving his first treatment, Jacob was hospitalized due to a complete
obstruction in his digestive tract. But within a week, the tumor had shrunk enough
to avoid a feeding tube entirely – a remarkable and immediate improvement.
For Jacob, this was a life-changing turn of events. “I believe Dr. Tang and his team
saved my life,” he says.
Future treatment continued to show promising results. Scans showed that the primary tumor at the junction of the stomach and esophagus was shrinking, and secondary lesions in the liver and adrenal gland were also responding well.
Over time, the main tumor in the digestive tract became what his care team called “unmeasurable.”
“I had to ask questions about that,” recalls Jacob. “What does that mean, exactly? They said they couldn't swear it wasn't there, but they didn't see anything there to measure. That’s almost miraculous.”
Jacob’s most recent scans, as of August 2025, show a stable disease with no progression – an encouraging sign after such a challenging journey.
The Promise of Clinical Trials and the Power of Unwavering Support
Jacob’s clinical trial has been more than a treatment option – it’s been a lifeline.
Having been involved in medical research since childhood, including a long-term heart
study, he knows the value of medical studies and clinical trials.
“I thought it was a wonderful opportunity,” he says. “I would really like to see it opened up so that more folks could have access to it.”
To view a video on Jacob's Journey, click here.