In what could be described as an unprecedented medical miracle, a small group of colon cancer patients experienced 100% remission after taking the experimental drug dostarlimab for six months. The trial was conducted on a group of 18 people and they found that their disease completely disappeared after treatment. The trial was conducted by a team of doctors at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. What was amazing about the trial was that all the patients were completely cured, without exception, which is very rare. The results of the study were detailed by Dr. Luis A. Diaz Jr. of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, author of a paper in the New England Journal of Medicine. In 2017, Dr. Diaz designed a clinical trial that inspired this study. The study involved 86 people with metastatic cancer, all of whom had a genetic mutation that prevents DNA repair – found in 4% of cancer patients. They were given pembrolizumab for up to two years. In 30-50% of cases, the tumours shrank or stabilised, improving survival. In 10%, the tumours disappeared completely. The researchers stressed the need for larger studies, but called the 100% remission rate in this small group a good sign.
Is dostarlimab effective for all patients with colorectal cancer?
While the 2022 trial results are encouraging, does this mean that all colorectal cancer patients can benefit from the drug?
Dr Pooja Babbar, consultant, oncology, CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram, believes that dostarlimab has been shown to be very effective in a small clinical trial with a 100% remission rate in patients with a specific subtype of colon cancer – mismatch repair deficiency (dMMR). ) locally advanced colorectal cancer, this approach may not be 100% effective in all cases of colorectal cancer.
“The trial was conducted on a small group and long-term data are still needed to confirm durability and efficacy in a wider population. The results are groundbreaking, but much more extensive research is needed before it can be described as a guaranteed cure for all types of colorectal cancer,” said Dr Babbar.
Dr Amit Javed agreed, saying that while early clinical trials may have shown promising results, it was important to be cautious when interpreting such claims.
“No cancer treatment can be guaranteed to be completely effective in all cases, as each individual’s response is different depending on genetic, environmental and disease-specific factors,” he added. “Rigid peer-reviewed studies and larger patient trials are needed before declaring a drug effective worldwide.” Amit Javed, Director, Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram.
How did Dostarlimab help cure colon cancer in this trial?
“The mechanism of action of this drug is designed to specifically target and eliminate cancer cells. Many breakthrough treatments use immunotherapy, precision medicine or targeted molecular inhibitors to disrupt the growth of cancer cells. Some drugs work by blocking specific mutations that drive tumor growth, while others boost the body’s immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells. By leveraging these approaches, this drug aims to eliminate tumors without harming healthy cells, thereby reducing side effects and improving patient outcomes,” said Dr. Javed. The drug blocks the PD-1 receptor on T cells, preventing cancer cells from evading detection by the immune system and allowing the immune system to recognize and attack the cancer cells, said Dr. Babbar. “Dostarlimab is an immune checkpoint inhibitor PD-1 (programmed cell death-1). This drug blocks the PD-1 receptor on T cells, thereby preventing cancer cells from evading detection by the immune system. Under normal conditions, cancer cells use this pathway to avoid being killed. By inhibiting PD-1, Dostarlimab allows the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells. This mechanism can lead to complete tumor regression, as seen in the trial, but only in cancers with a high mutational burden, such as dMMR colorectal cancer.”
How to prevent colon cancer
While colorectal cancer is declining overall, it is rising sharply in people under 50. Because cancer screening is not recommended until age 45, younger people are at higher risk of developing advanced cancer. Many experts say people in their 30s and 40s are now being diagnosed with colon cancer.
Here are ways to prevent colon cancer
Screening and early detection: Regular colonoscopy and stool tests, especially for those over 45 or with a family history of the disease.
Dietary changes : Increase fiber intake and reduce consumption of processed meat and red meat. This is also combined with increasing consumption of plant-based diets.
Lifestyle changes : Engage in regular physical activity, maintain an ideal weight, quit smoking, and reduce alcohol consumption.
Genetic counseling : For those with a family history or Lynch syndrome, appropriate genetic testing and screening at a younger age can prevent deaths.
Education and awareness : Increased awareness of changes in bowel habits, bloody stools, and weight loss can lead to early diagnosis and better outcomes.
The miracle cancer cure the world has been waiting for? Tumors in all 18 patients disappeared after 6 months of treatment with Dostarlimab
