08 Jun 2022 03:00 Last update: 03:30
(Sing Tao Daily reported) A new antibody therapy experiment has achieved remarkable results. After 18 colorectal cancer patients were tested, everyone’s tumors disappeared. Although the sample was small and aimed at a certain type of colorectal cancer in its early stages, it has surprised doctors. They hope that this is just the “tip of the iceberg” and that this method can help people fight other forms of disease in the future. The monoclonal antibody Dostarlimab, made by British pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline, has been approved for use in female patients in the UK. A study from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, USA, showed that all 18 patients with colorectal cancer who participated in the trial were doing well a year following the trial ended, with no signs of tumor regrowth. Diaz, one of the lead researchers, said: “I believe this is the first time this has happened in the history of cancer. It’s really exciting. I think it’s a huge step forward for patients. “All had received traditional treatment before the trial, but this time the test was small. All patients had received prior treatment for colorectal cancer, including chemotherapy and surgery. But they are said to have been unsuccessful with traditional treatments, so they are willing to be tested. Eighteen received Dostarlimab every three weeks for six months. Colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in the United States, claiming 50,000 lives each year. In the UK, regarding 16,000 people die from colorectal cancer every year. There is currently no specific treatment for the disease, and patients rely on surgery to remove the tumor, along with radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The researchers made Dostarlimab by artificially designing antibodies in the lab to attach to a protein called PD-1 on the surface of cancer cells, helping the immune system to efficiently find hidden cancer cells and destroy them. The body produces antibodies on its own, but the natural response is often insufficient to deal with aggressive tumors. Dostarlimab can be used in patients with tumors with a specific genetic makeup, known as mismatch repair deficiency (MMRd) or micro-star instability (MSI). These genes prevent cells from repairing cancers caused by DNA damage, and all eighteen subjects fell into this category. But overall, this cancer only accounts for 5 to 10 percent of all patients. Dr. Diaz, who is also a member of the White House National Cancer Advisory Committee, told The New York Times that the finding is “the tip of the iceberg.” The team will study whether the drug can treat other cancers in the same way. “We are currently recruiting patients with gastric, prostate and pancreatic cancers,” he said.
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