Your immune system may now help fight cancer without surgery or chemotherapy
A groundbreaking immune treatment has shown promise in treating several types of cancer, offering hope to patients who may otherwise face surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation. One such patient, 71-year-old Maureen Sideris, was diagnosed with gastroesophageal junction cancer in 2022. Initially, her doctors suggested surgery, followed by chemotherapy and radiation. However, due to the genetic makeup of her cancer, she was introduced to an experimental treatment that could potentially eliminate the need for surgery.
This treatment involves a checkpoint inhibitor called dostarlimab, a form of immunotherapy that helps the body’s immune system recognize and fight cancer cells. In a previous study led by Dr. Andrea Cercek at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, dostarlimab helped 42 patients with rectal cancer become cancer-free. Now, the same treatment is being tested for other cancers like colon, esophageal, stomach, and more.
Recent results from a broader study involving non-rectal cancers showed that 64% of patients had no remaining disease after one year. After two years, 92% of the patients had no recurrence. Even those who did see a recurrence had smaller or fewer cancer cells. While immunotherapy can have some side effects like fatigue and skin rashes, they are generally manageable and less invasive than traditional cancer treatments.
This promising research suggests that immunotherapy could replace surgery in many cases, offering a less invasive and effective way to fight cancer. The treatment is now included in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network's guidelines for specific cancers, and the FDA has fast-tracked its approval for certain genetic mutations. Future studies aim to further refine this treatment and make it available for more patients.
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