A recent small research on cancer gives hope to millions of cancer sufferers worldwide. The result of a study conducted on a small group of rectal cancer patients was astonishing as cancer vanished in every single patient. The study was published in The New England Journal of Medicine. Let us learn more about this interesting research.
Rectal cancer vanishes in a US medical trial
Normally, rectal cancer is managed by chemotherapy, and radiotherapy followed by surgery. The purpose of study was to find out whether the drug dostarlimab, followed by standard chemoradiotherapy and standard surgery is an effective treatment for mismatch repair–deficient, locally advanced rectal cancer.
A total number of 16 patients with rectal cancer were enrolled in the study at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, all with ages more than 18 years. All the participants were administered the drug neoadjuvant dostarlimab intravenously at a dose of 500 mg every 3 weeks for 6 months. After 6 months they were to be followed by standard radiation therapy and then surgery procedure involving total mesorectal excision.
However, doctors were surprised by the outcome of drug treatment. A total of 12 patients completed drug treatment. At the end of drug treatment, the patients were examined for clinical response through endoscopic and MRI scans. Surprisingly, All 12 patients had a clinical complete response, with no evidence of tumour. There was no need to proceed with chemotherapy and surgery.
How can this study affect the future of cancer patients?
For a common person, this small study gives a ray of hope. However, Dr Kumar Prabhash, head of medical oncology at Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, in an interview with Times of India says US clinical trial result is great, but it’s “way too early to say world has found easy cure for cancer“. He also adds that such treatment in India is expensive and can cost up to 2 to 3 lakhs a month. Obviously, very few can afford this.
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Dr Sunit Sanjay Ekka is a physiotherapist in practice for the last 15 years. He has done his BPT from one of the premium Central Government physiotherapy colleges, ie, SVNIRTAR. The patient is his best teacher and whatever he gets to learn he loves to share it on his Youtube channel and blog.
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