There is new hope.
A recent clinical trial has shown that combining immunotherapy with chemotherapy could significantly improve outcomes for individuals battling stomach and esophageal cancers. The study, published on June 1 in The New England Journal of Medicine, highlights the potential of durvalumab, an immunotherapy drug, to boost remission rates when used alongside standard cancer treatments.
Dr. Yelena Janjigian, lead researcher and chief of Gastrointestinal Oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, emphasized the importance of these results for patients facing tough prognoses. She noted that the ability to achieve complete remission through this combination therapy marks a meaningful advancement in the treatment of these aggressive cancers.
Durvalumab works by enhancing the immune system’s ability to recognize and destroy cancer cells. It’s typically administered intravenously and is already approved for use in treating several other cancers, such as those affecting the lungs and bladder. While surgery and chemotherapy remain the standard approach for stomach and esophageal cancers, survival rates remain low, with fewer than half of patients surviving five years and many experiencing relapse within three years.
The clinical trial involved 474 participants who received either durvalumab or a placebo in combination with chemotherapy. The group receiving durvalumab had notably better outcomes: nearly 19% showed no signs of cancer during surgery, compared to just 7% in the placebo group. After two years, 67% of durvalumab recipients remained cancer-free, compared to 58% of those who did not receive the drug.
Importantly, the addition of durvalumab did not lead to delays in surgery or recovery, and the occurrence of serious side effects was comparable in both groups. These findings suggest that incorporating immunotherapy into standard treatment regimens could offer new hope for many patients facing these life-threatening cancers.
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