Drug ‘Melts Away’ Bowel Cancer, Say UK Doctors
Sputnik International
Bowel cancer patients with a specific genetic anomaly could see significant success in defeating the disease using a drug that doctors claim “melts away” tumors, often negating the need for surgery and chemotherapy.
The study, led by various UK medical institutions, followed 32 patients with MMR deficient /MSI-High bowel cancer, characterized by a high level of deficient cells with genetic mutations. These patients were given pembrolizumab (Keytruda) for nine weeks instead of chemotherapy before surgery. The results showed that 59% of patients had no remaining cancer in their bodies, while the remaining 41% had their cancer successfully removed, a stark contrast to the usual less-than-5% success rate of surgery alone for similar patients.
“Immunotherapy [like pembrolizumab] can make tumors disappear before surgery. If you melt the cancer away before surgery, you normally triple survival chances,” explained Dr. Kai-Keen Shiu, the trial’s chief investigator. “If patients have a complete response to pembrolizumab, it can triple your chance of survival.”
The trial will continue in the coming years to assess relapse and overall survival rates. Pembrolizumab is already used for various cancers and has shown promise in treating bowel cancer patients with the specific genetic makeup suited for its effectiveness.
The study findings were presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology, showcasing the potential breakthrough in cancer treatment.
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