A groundbreaking immunotherapy has stunned doctors by eliminating aggressive blood cancer in some patients, sparking hopes for a potential cure. A study involving 97 patients with advanced multiple myeloma found that about a third achieved complete remission, with none of them experiencing a return of the disease even after five years.
Researchers presented their findings at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting and published the results in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. The treatment, Carvykti, involves infusing modified white blood cells into patients to target cancer cells. While it has a high price tag, administering CAR-T only once makes it an attractive option for some.
Although most patients didn’t respond to the treatment, experts consider the results remarkable, especially among those with few or no other treatment options. Patient Anne Stovell describes ongoing uncertainty despite her clear test results after six years of treatment. Johnson & Johnson is now exploring CAR-T as a potential early-line therapy, hoping that earlier administration could boost chances of long-term remission.
Source: https://www.newser.com/story/369715/this-blood-cancer-was-thought-incurable-until-now.html