New Cancer Immunotherapy: No Surgery Needed
- A new study indicates that immunotherapy may offer a viable alternative to customary cancer treatments like surgery and chemotherapy for some patients.
- The study revealed that 92% of patients treated with a specific immunotherapy regimen remained cancer-free for a minimum of two years following the treatment.
- Unlike conventional cancer treatments that often involve a combination of chemotherapy and surgical tumor removal, immunotherapy works by harnessing the body's own immune system.
Immunotherapy Shows Promise in Treating Tumors, Eliminating Need for Chemo in Some Patients
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Published: May 3, 2025
A new study indicates that immunotherapy may offer a viable alternative to customary cancer treatments like surgery and chemotherapy for some patients. The research,presented at the American Association of Cancer’s annual meeting and published in the New England Journal of Medicine,highlights the potential of immune-based therapies.
High Success Rate Observed
The study revealed that 92% of patients treated with a specific immunotherapy regimen remained cancer-free for a minimum of two years following the treatment.
How immunotherapy Works
Unlike conventional cancer treatments that often involve a combination of chemotherapy and surgical tumor removal, immunotherapy works by harnessing the body’s own immune system. This approach trains the immune system to identify and attack cancer cells,offering a perhaps less invasive treatment option.
Study Details
The study, conducted at the Memorial Sloan kettering Cancer Center in the U.S., involved 103 patients. The participants included 54 individuals with various solid tumor cancers, such as gastric, endometrial, and prostate cancers, and 49 patients with rectal cancer.
Remarkable results in Rectal Cancer Patients
According to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center,all 49 rectal cancer patients who participated in the research showed no evidence of cancer after undergoing immunotherapy. Furthermore,35 out of the 54 patients with other types of cancer also experienced a complete disappearance of cancer signs following the immune-based treatment.
There was no evidence of cancer after immunotherapy for all 49 patients with work cancer who participated in the research…35 out of 54 patients with a variety of cancers have disappeared all the signs of cancer and are receiving immune -based treatment.
Dr. Andrea Cercek described the results as “vrey meaningful” and “much better than we expected.”
Patient Testimonials
People magazine highlighted the case of morrin Sideris, diagnosed with gastroesophageal joint cancer in 2022, who experienced triumphant treatment through immunotherapy. Sideris stated that she and her husband were ”preparing for the worst,” but after immunotherapy, “there was no sign of cancer, and there was no need to receive surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation.”
Husband and I were preparing for the worst…But after only immunotherapy, there was no sign of cancer, and there was no need to receive surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation.
Limitations and Considerations
While the results are promising, researchers noted that approximately 20% of patients with cancers other than rectal cancer experienced a low recurrence rate. The effectiveness of immunotherapy appears to be limited to patients with mismatch repair deficiency, a condition involving mutations in certain cells when cancer cells divide. This mutation is commonly found in colon, gastrointestinal, and endometrial cancers, and can also occur in breast, prostate, bladder, and thyroid cancers.
Mismatch Repair Deficiency
mismatch repair deficiency, or dMMR, plays a crucial role in determining the efficacy of this immunotherapy approach. Further research is needed to fully understand the long-term effects and applicability of immunotherapy across various cancer types and patient populations.
Immunotherapy for Cancer: Your Top Questions Answered
Q: What is immunotherapy and how does it work for treating cancer?
A: Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that harnesses the power of your own immune system to fight cancer cells.while customary treatments like chemotherapy and surgery directly target cancer cells, immunotherapy trains your body’s immune system to recognize and eliminate them. This approach offers a potentially less invasive treatment option focusing on the body’s natural defenses.
Q: What are the different types of cancers being treated with immunotherapy?
A: In the study presented, immunotherapy was used to treat various solid tumor cancers including gastric, endometrial, and prostate cancers. It also proved to be highly effective for patients with rectal cancer.
Q: What are the results of the recent study highlighting the potential of immunotherapy?
A: The results of the recent study are very promising. approximately 92% of patients treated with a specific immunotherapy regimen remained cancer-free for at least two years. All 49 rectal cancer patients showed no evidence of cancer after immunotherapy treatment. Also,35 out of 54 patients with other types of cancer experienced a complete disappearance of cancer signs following the immune-based treatment.
Q: Did the patients experience side effects?
A: The provided text does not discuss the patients’ side effects.
Q: What are the experiences of patients undergoing this treatment?
A: Morrin Sideris, diagnosed with gastroesophageal joint cancer in 2022, shared her experience. After immunotherapy,”there was no sign of cancer,and there was no need to receive surgery,chemotherapy,and radiation.” She and her husband were preparing for the worst.
Q: Are there any limitations to immunotherapy?
A: Researchers noted that approximately 20% of patients with cancers other than rectal cancer experienced a low recurrence rate. The effectiveness of immunotherapy appears to be limited to patients with mismatch repair deficiency (dMMR), a condition involving mutations in certain cells when cancer cells divide.
Q: What is mismatch repair deficiency (dMMR)?
A: Mismatch repair deficiency, or dMMR, is a condition where there are mutations in certain cells when cancer cells divide. it plays a crucial role in determining the efficacy of this immunotherapy approach. This mutation is commonly found in colon, gastrointestinal, and endometrial cancers, and can also occur in breast, prostate, bladder, and thyroid cancers.
Q: What are the next steps in immunotherapy research?
A: Further research is needed to fully understand the long-term effects and applicability of immunotherapy across various cancer types and patient populations.