A promising new study presented at the American Association for Cancer Research’s annual meeting shows that immunotherapy could help many cancer patients avoid surgery. Researchers found that 92 percent of patients who received only an immune-based treatment remained cancer-free two years later.
Why It Matters
The findings suggest that for some cancers, surgery and its difficult recovery may not always be necessary. This could dramatically change standard treatment approaches, offering a less invasive option with fewer long-term side effects for patients.
What to Know
The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, explored whether immune checkpoint inhibitors could help shrink tumors without the need for surgery. These drugs work by boosting the body’s natural ability to detect and destroy cancer cells.
Among patients with rectal cancer, a previous study found that all 42 participants who received the therapy remained cancer-free after four years. In this new study, which included patients with other types of cancers, such as colon, esophageal, stomach, and gastroesophageal junction cancers, 92 percent had no signs of disease after two years.
Maureen Sideris, 71, was one of the patients who benefited from the new approach, Time reported. Diagnosed with gastroesophageal junction cancer, she initially faced the prospect of major surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Instead, she opted into the experimental immune-based treatment, receiving monthly infusions for nine months. Two years later, her cancer remains undetectable.
Dr. Andrea Cercek of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, who led the study, noted that even patients with more advanced Stage III cancers responded well. The treatment was effective even when cancer had spread to nearby lymph nodes, offering hope for a broader group of patients.
Researchers plan to follow patients for a longer period to determine if the benefits translate into higher survival rates. They are also investigating why some patients did not respond in hopes of refining the treatment even further. The checkpoint inhibitor used, dostarlimab, has already been fast-tracked by the FDA for certain cancers with specific genetic mutations.
What People Are Saying
Dr. Andrea Cercek, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center to TIME: “Therapy like this can lead to significant tumor downstaging and improve patients’ quality of life.”
Maureen Sideris, study participant to TIME: “The infusions were the easiest part. I’m so grateful I could avoid surgery.”
What Happens Next
Researchers are continuing trials to determine the long-term effectiveness of this treatment across different cancer types and stages. If results remain strong, immunotherapy could become a standard first-line option for many patients, reshaping cancer care for years to come.
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