Netflix star Craig Russell, who had to have his skull rebuilt after having a tumour removed, has welcomed the findings of a new study which could lead to less invasive treatment options in the future.
The 47-year-old, who played Mark Antony in the Netflix drama Queen Cleopatra, was diagnosed with low-grade meningioma, a tumour that grows from the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord.
The actor had to have his skull rebuilt following a seven-hour operation to remove the tumour in his head and says he is still recovering from the ordeal 18 months later.
Now, scientists at the prestigious Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence, part of the University of Plymouth, have discovered that targeting specific tumour proteins could revolutionise the approach to treating meningiomas and another nervous system tumour type called schwannoma. READ MORE: Heartstopper star's emotional admission on BBC One Show as fan shares Netflix series' impact The protein, known as Mertk, is overexpressed in a variety of cancers and promotes tumour growth.