Avoiding Surgery with Immunotherapy: A New Hope for Some Cancer Patients

In the world of cancer treatment, a new approach is making waves. This approach is immunotherapy. It is a treatment that can help some patients avoid the harsh effects of traditional treatments like surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. This is big news for those with certain types of cancer. The story of Maureen Sideris is a great example. She was diagnosed with gastroesophageal cancer in 2022. This type of cancer affects the tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach. Traditional treatment for this cancer can be tough. It often involves chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. These treatments can change a person's life forever. They can cause serious side effects and a long recovery time. Sideris was lucky. She was part of a clinical trial at a major cancer center. The trial tested immunotherapy as the first treatment. It worked for her. She completed the treatment two years ago and is now in remission. This means the cancer is gone and she is healthy. The immunotherapy used in the trial works by teaching the body's immune system to fight cancer cells. It is particularly effective against tumors with a specific mutation. This mutation is called mismatch repair deficiency. It causes errors in the DNA of cancer cells, making them more visible to the immune system. This mutation is more common in some cancers than others. For example, it is found in about 16% of ovarian cancers and up to 30% of endometrial cancers. It is also found in 10%-20% of colorectal cancers and 8%-22% of gastroesophageal cancers. The trial focused on patients with this mutation. The results were promising. Many patients responded well to the treatment and did not need further treatment. The trial started with rectal cancer patients. This is because the surgery for this type of cancer can be life-changing. It often involves removing the rectum and creating a colostomy. This is a hole in the abdomen for waste to pass through. The trial then expanded to include patients with other types of cancer that have the mismatch repair deficiency mutation. The immunotherapy treatment was given through an IV drip. It took about 45 minutes and was repeated every three weeks for six months. The results were impressive. All patients with rectal cancer responded to the treatment and did not need surgery. About 75% of them were still cancer-free a year after completing the treatment. For patients with other types of cancer, about 61% had a complete response to the treatment. This means the cancer was gone and they did not need further treatment. However, the long-term results for these patients are not yet known. Sideris was grateful for the treatment. She did not have to endure the side effects of chemotherapy. However, the immunotherapy did cause kidney failure, a known side effect of the drug. She is now taking medication to manage the condition. The findings offer hope for patients with this type of cancer. It suggests that immunotherapy could possibly be used as a first-line treatment for early-stage mismatch repair deficient cancers. This could mean avoiding surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy for some patients. It could also mean a better quality of life for these patients. However, it is important to note that mismatch repair deficiencies only account for 1%-2% of cancers at most. This means that the treatment will not work for everyone. But for those who do have this type of cancer, the findings are promising. It offers a new hope for a better quality of life.