A new clinical trial has shown that an immunotherapy drug called dostarlimab can eliminate the need for surgery and chemotherapy in certain cancers, preserving organs and improving quality of life. The study, published on April 27 in The New England Journal of Medicine, found that 80% of patients with a specific type of cancer did not require treatment beyond six months of immunotherapy.
The drug targets mismatch repair-deficient (dMMR) tumors, which are most commonly found in colorectal cancer and other gastrointestinal cancers. These tumors have genetic mutations that make them more susceptible to the immune system’s attack.
Dostarlimab is a PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitor that blocks the tumor’s ability to evade the immune system. By using this drug, the body’s T-cells can recognize and attack the tumor, eliminating it without the need for surgery or chemotherapy.
The study included 117 patients with early-stage solid tumors exhibiting dMMR. Patients received nine doses of dostarlimab over six months and were found to have no signs of cancer in 82% of cases. A significant majority of patients with colorectal cancer achieved complete remission, allowing them to avoid surgery altogether.
The researchers also found that the results were long-lasting, with 92% of patients still being cancer-free after two years. The side effects of dostarlimab were mild and included symptoms such as fatigue or rash.
This breakthrough study has significant implications for cancer treatment, challenging traditional assumptions about the need for surgical removal and chemotherapy in solid tumor cancers. If confirmed by future studies, this treatment could revolutionize cancer care by harnessing the immune system to eliminate tumors.
Source: https://www.healthline.com/health-news/immunotherapy-drug-eliminated-tumors-early-stage-cancers