Get a 100% cure rate.
A new drug gives hope to 10% of rectal cancer patients in the country
The drug was tested on patients with localized spread of the disease and who have a special genetic mutation.
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Prof. Hamid Al Shamsi: "The traditional treatment of rectal cancer is difficult and has significant side effects."
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The Emirates Cancer Society reported that the new drug for the treatment of rectal cancer, "dustarlimab", gives hope to 10% of patients with the disease in the country, especially the group that has a special genetic mutation.
In response to what was reported by the international media regarding a new drug for the treatment of rectal cancer, on the sidelines of the annual conference of the American Cancer Society held in Chicago, the association's president, Professor Hamid bin Harmal Al Shamsi, explained that the drug had the latest 100% cure rate in the 12 treated cases.
Al Shamsi said that the drug was tested on a group of rectal cancer patients who suffer from localized spread of the disease, and they have a special genetic mutation that makes their tumor accept immunotherapy, and patients in the second clinical trial stage underwent treatment every three weeks for six months, which led to the complete disappearance of the cancer. In all patients who participated in this trial, and their follow-up period ranged from six months to 25 months, and their cancer did not return until now, and the patients are still under follow-up.
He stated that rectal patients who have this genetic mutation that makes them accept this treatment ranged between 5 and 10% of all rectal cancer patients in the country, and patients who suffer from such tumors tend to be less responsive to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, which increases the need for Surgical removal of their tumors.
He continued, "Currently, 12 patients have completed treatment, where the average follow-up was one year, and some of the patients no longer carry cancerous cells after recovery from the disease so far, while about three quarters of patients suffered from mild or moderate side effects, including rashes, Itching, fatigue, and nausea, but none of them saw new cancer growth.”
He pointed out that at the end of the trial, it is expected to include about 30 patients, then data will be available for the entire trial, and we will have a fuller picture of the safety and effectiveness of the drug “dustarlimab” in patients with rectal cancer, despite the need for further study in broader groups. of patients.
He noted that the traditional treatment of rectal cancer with surgery, radiation and chemotherapy is difficult, and has particularly significant side effects for people because of the tumor's location in the pelvis.
It is worth noting that the new drug was approved by the US Drug Administration last year for cancer patients who have the same genetic mutation, which achieved a temporary improvement rate for some patients, ranging between 33 and 55 percent.
Al Shamsi stated that achieving a 100% cure rate is a historical event in the treatment of cancer patients, but experiments are still ongoing and patients are awaiting follow-up for years to determine the true long-term benefit, noting that the wheel of development of cancer treatment has made huge leaps in medical progress in recent years. .
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