Immunotherapy study shows promise for cancer surgery alternatives

A new study from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center suggests that immunotherapy with the drug dostarlimab may allow some patients with early-stage, mismatch repair-deficient cancers to avoid surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. The trial found that nearly 80% of participants responded so well to immunotherapy that they did not require additional invasive treatments, with 92% remaining recurrence-free at two years. Remarkably, all rectal cancer patients in the study saw their tumors disappear, and most patients with other cancer types such as stomach, esophagus, and urinary tract cancers also avoided recurrence. However, the study was limited to specific genetic subtypes of cancer, which account for only a small percentage of all cases, and long-term outcomes are still being monitored. While these results are promising, challenges remain regarding insurance coverage and the high cost of the drug, and immunotherapy is not yet a replacement for standard treatment in all cases. Further research and inclusion in clinical guidelines are needed before this approach becomes widely adopted.