Immunotherapy Offers Cancer Patients Less Invasive Treatment Options

Immunotherapy represents a significant advancement in the treatment of cancer, providing patients with less invasive options compared to traditional modalities such as chemotherapy and surgery. Recent studies have highlighted immunotherapy's efficacy, particularly for tumors exhibiting specific genetic mutations, such as mismatch repair deficiency (MMR-D). These mutations increase cancer cells' susceptibility to immune system attacks, allowing immunotherapy alone to achieve remission in certain patient populations . This is particularly notable for esophageal cancer patients, where the elimination of more invasive treatments can greatly improve quality of life.

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center has shown that nearly 80% of patients with various cancer types responded positively to immunotherapy without needing additional interventions . For rectal cancer patients specifically, the success rate reached an astonishing 100%, underscoring the potential of immunotherapy as a first-line treatment option for select individuals. This shift towards less invasive therapies not only minimizes physical trauma but also reduces associated side effects commonly experienced with conventional treatments .

Cancers with certain mutations can put the brakes on our immune system, allowing what's called a mismatch repair-deficient, or MMR-deficient, solid tumor to grow. The new treatment is an antibody that releases those brakes so the immune cells can attack the cancer, according to one of the doctors who led th study.

cancers, 64% showed no evidence of residual disease on imaging or endoscopy exams after a year. Putting both the rectal and non-rectal cancer patients together, 92% did not have a recurrence of their cancer after two years. Even among those that did experience recurrence, the treatment reduced the number or size of their cancers.

It's the latest demonstration of the power of immunotherapy and other new methods doctors are testing to harness the immune system while avoiding the harsher, more invasive treatments like surgery, chemotherapy. and radiation. While immunotherapies also come with side effects—including fatigue, skin rashes, and, in a few patients, hypothyroidism—these are often manageable. For Sideris, the monthly 45-minute infusion for nine months was “innocuous. It was the easiest part of the whole thing,” she says. She continues to have imaging studies done to detect any small clumps of cells or hot spots that could become cancerous; if any appear, she has them ablated via endoscopy.

In conclusion, immunotherapy offers a promising alternative to traditional cancer treatments by providing effective options that are less invasive and often associated with fewer adverse effects. As ongoing research continues to identify suitable candidates and optimize treatment protocols, immunotherapy may redefine standard care practices in oncology. By focusing on individual tumor characteristics and harnessing the body's immune response, this approach holds great promise for enhancing patient outcomes while preserving their overall well-being.

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Sarah H

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