Breakthrough Immunotherapy Drug Eliminates Surgery, Chemo in Early Stage dMMR Cancers
Doctor consulting patient in exam room
A groundbreaking clinical trial demonstrates that dostarlimab, an immunotherapy drug, can eliminate the need for surgery and chemotherapy in patients with mismatch repair-deficient (dMMR) cancers, particularly colorectal cancer.
The study, published in The New England Journal of Medicine, showed that 80% of participants avoided surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy after six months of immunotherapy treatment. For colorectal cancer patients specifically, all 49 participants achieved complete tumor remission.
The FDA granted dostarlimab Breakthrough Therapy Designation in December 2024 following these remarkable results.
Key findings from the trial:
- 82% of 103 patients who completed treatment showed no signs of cancer
- 92% remained cancer-free after two years
- Side effects were mild, typically including fatigue and rash
- Cancer was undetectable on scans within six months
- Most patients showed negative tumor DNA in blood tests within 1-2 months
How Dostarlimab Works: Dostarlimab is a PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitor that enables the body's immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells. It works by removing the "cloak" that cancer cells use to hide from the immune system.
Best Candidates for Treatment: Patients with dMMR tumors are ideal candidates, regardless of the cancer's location. This genetic deficiency commonly occurs in:
- Colorectal cancer
- Gastrointestinal cancers
- Endometrial cancer
- Some cases of breast, prostate, bladder, and thyroid cancers
- Lynch syndrome patients
This breakthrough represents a paradigm shift in cancer treatment, potentially eliminating the need for surgery in certain cancer types and focusing instead on harnessing the body's natural immune response to fight cancer cells.
