Is this the end of chemo and surgery?
A recent clinical trial has revealed that certain cancers can be effectively treated using an immunotherapy drug alone, offering patients an alternative to invasive treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. The study, conducted by researchers at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, found that 80% of participants with specific forms of solid tumor cancers responded positively to the immunotherapy drug dostarlimab.
Immunotherapy works by boosting the body’s immune system, helping it to identify and attack cancer cells more effectively. In this trial, led by Dr. Luis A. Diaz Jr. and Dr. Andrea Cercek, 80% of the 103 participants did not require conventional cancer treatments after six months of receiving immunotherapy. Remarkably, all 49 participants with rectal cancer showed complete remission of their tumors. Additionally, 35 of the 54 patients with cancers in other areas, including the prostate, stomach, esophagus, liver, and urinary tract, also saw their cancer resolved.
The success of immunotherapy in these cases is attributed to the genetic mutations present in the tumors, specifically those that prevent the tumors from repairing their DNA. These mutations lead to the formation of proteins that signal the immune system to destroy the tumors, but the tumors initially shield themselves from immune attack. Immunotherapy works by removing this shield, allowing the immune system to target and destroy the cancer cells.
Dr. Diaz expressed that the trial’s results indicate that immunotherapy could revolutionize cancer treatment, particularly for patients who would otherwise face life-altering side effects from surgery or radiation. He emphasized that conventional treatments, such as those for rectal cancer, can lead to infertility and other long-term health issues, which makes the success of immunotherapy even more significant.
Julian Adams, president and CEO of Stand Up To Cancer, which funded the study, hailed the results as a major breakthrough for cancer treatment. He noted that eliminating the need for invasive surgeries not only saves lives but also improves the overall quality of life for patients, a major advancement in cancer care.
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