{"id":12023,"date":"2022-06-09T17:24:07","date_gmt":"2022-06-09T17:24:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.cooperhealth.org\/ehealth\/?p=12023"},"modified":"2022-06-09T19:00:17","modified_gmt":"2022-06-09T19:00:17","slug":"exciting-news-about-breakthrough-rectal-cancer-clinical-trial","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cooperhealth.org\/ehealth\/2022\/06\/09\/exciting-news-about-breakthrough-rectal-cancer-clinical-trial\/","title":{"rendered":"Exciting News About Breakthrough Rectal Cancer Clinical Trial"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Exciting<\/p>\n

Para leer en Espa\u00f1ol, por favor haga clic aqu\u00ed<\/a><\/p>\n

Jamin Morrison, MD<\/a>, Medical Director, Division of Hematology\/Medical Oncology<\/em><\/p>\n

MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper <\/em><\/p>\n

Last week, at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology — the leading society for medical oncologists — researchers presented the findings from a clinical trial for a new rectal cancer treatment.<\/p>\n

The study resulted in very exciting and intriguing outcomes, and the MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper<\/a> gastrointestinal (GI) cancer team discussed the study and its findings at the GI Multidisciplinary Tumor Board meeting earlier this week.<\/p>\n

The study was conducted with a small group of participants (14 people in the initial phase of the trial) who had locally advanced rectal cancer and a specific type of genetic mutation that leads to a higher risk of certain cancers, including colon and rectal cancers.<\/p>\n

In the study, the plan was to treat patients first with an immunotherapy drug called dostarlimab, followed by chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery \u2013 the standard of care for rectal cancer. However, after receiving six months of dostarlimab, every patient in the study had a complete response and none (as of the time of presentation\/publication) required chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery. To see a group of patients become 100% cancer free is remarkable. Another surprise was that none of the patients had clinically significant complications from the drug.<\/p>\n

The patients in the study remain cancer free two years after treatment.<\/p>\n

Dostarlimab is a checkpoint inhibitor. It works by removing the shield that cancer cells put around themselves to blocks T-cells in the body\u2019s immune system from attacking them. Without their protective shield, the cancer cells are exposed to the body\u2019s immune system and become vulnerable to being destroyed.<\/p>\n

There are many questions raised by this study. We eagerly look forward to a larger study to see if this same response rate (or even anything close to it) holds true in a larger population of patients.<\/p>\n

This study demonstrates the rapidly evolving nature of cancer care and highlights the important role that clinical trials play in transforming the care we deliver. If you are a cancer patient, it is important to ask your doctor about clinical trials.<\/p>\n

And if you are 45 or older, be sure to schedule your colonoscopy<\/a>.<\/p>\n

More About Rectal Cancer Prevention, Detection, and Treatment<\/h3>\n

The rectum makes up the last six inches of the large intestine (colon).\u00a0The American Cancer Society estimates that 44,850 people will be diagnosed with rectal cancer in 2022.<\/p>\n

The rate of people diagnosed with colon or rectal cancer each year has dropped overall since the mid-1980s, mainly because more people are getting screened and changing their lifestyle-related risk factors, but this downward trend is happening mostly in older adults. However, the incidence in younger adults is rising and this is one of the reasons that national guidelines for colorectal cancer screening have recently change to recommend that men and women at average risk start screening at age 45.<\/p>\n

Rectal cancer can be difficult to treat and patients should choose a cancer center that has special expertise in caring for patients with this complex cancer. With surgery, which is usually required for most patients, the goal is to remove the cancer while sparing sphincter muscles and to reconstruct the rectum to give patients the best quality of life after their procedures.<\/p>\n

At MD Anderson at Cooper, our gastrointestinal multidisciplinary team has special expertise in caring for patients with rectal cancer. In 2021, our program was accredited by the National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer. MD Anderson at Cooper is the only hospital in NJ, and one of only 29 hospitals in the U.S., to achieve this honor<\/strong>. Our program has also received national recognition as a high-performing hospital for colon cancer surgery by US News and World Report, in their 2021 hospital survey.<\/p>\n

Rectal cancer, like colon cancer, is preventable. Nearly all rectal cancers develop from rectal polyps, which are benign growths on the rectal wall. Colonoscopy screenings can detect and remove the polyps before they turn into cancer.<\/p>\n

There is evidence to suggest that diet and a healthy lifestyle may play a significant role in preventing colorectal cancer. My tips to prevent colorectal cancer, other cancers, and many health concerns are all things you have heard before:<\/p>\n