Latest news with #Cercek
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Immunotherapy Breakthrough Could Help Some Cancer Patients Avoid Surgery and Chemotherapy
Researchers found that some cancer patients who used a new immunotherapy drug were able to shrink their tumors without undergoing chemotherapy or surgery 103 patients participated in the study, and 84 had 'all signs of their cancer' disappear Researchers said that the immunotherapy drug appeared to only work well with patients who had mismatch repair-deficiency, a unique genetic mutation most often found in patients with colorectal cancer A new immuno-based treatment could treat tumors without cancer patients undergoing surgery or chemotherapy, according to a new study. The research, published in The New England Journal of Medicine and announced at the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting, suggested that 92% of patients who used the new immunotherapy drug, dostarlimab, to shrink their tumors ,continued to be cancer-free for at least two years. Treating cancer usually involves a form of immunotherapy alongside chemotherapy and surgery to remove a tumor. However, the new immuno-based treatment would only require a single step — immunotherapy — to treat the cancer by teaching a person's immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells. One hundred and three patients participated in the study, 54 with a variety of "solid tumor cancers," including stomach, endometrial and prostate, and 49 with rectal cancer. Researchers shared in a press release from The Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center that of the 54 patients with a 'variety of cancers," 35 had 'all signs of their cancer' disappear and were using the immuno-based treatment. Related: This Refrigerator Staple Might Lower a Woman's Risk of Colorectal Cancer, New Study Says Per the release, Dr. Andrea Cercek said, "Nearly 2 out of 3 patients with types of cancer other than rectal were able to preserve their organs and their quality of life." 'This is a very significant response, and the results were even better than we had hoped,' Dr. Cercek said. 'We found that some cancer types responded extremely well to the immunotherapy, including colon and stomach cancer.' Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Maureen Sideris, a patient who was diagnosed with gastroesophageal junction cancer in 2022 and participated in the study, said that the treatment had worked successfully for her, according to the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center release. 'My husband, Tommy, and I were preparing for the worst,' she recalled in a statement. 'But after being treated with only immunotherapy, I had no evidence of cancer and didn't have to undergo surgery or chemo or radiation. I felt like I won the lottery!' Dr. Cerek reported that '20% of non-rectal cancer patients' who still had to undergo surgery 'saw lower rates of cancer recurrence." She said this suggests that 'even if the effect wasn't a home run, it helped most patients.' Related: Radiation from CT Scans Performed in Just 1 Year Could Lead to Over 100,000 Future Cancer Diagnoses, Study Finds As for all 49 patients with rectal cancer who participated in the study, 'there was no evidence of cancer after immunotherapy,' according to the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center release. Researchers said that one patient had a 'growth in a lymph node' that was surgically removed but they 'kept their rectum.' However, researchers said that the new treatment comes with its own drawbacks as the immunotherapy drug appeared to only work well with patients who had mismatch repair-deficiency, which means certain cells have mutations when cancer cells separate, according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Per the NCI, this mutation 'is most common' in 'colorectal cancer, other types of gastrointestinal cancer, and endometrial cancer" and can also be found in 'cancers of the breast, prostate, bladder and thyroid.' The immunotherapy drug works by targeting cells with this mutation, as the immunotherapy drug can more easily target the many mutations, per the study. 'We're really excited to help more people,' Dr. Cercek said. 'And we are already exploring why rectal tissue seems to have such an extraordinary response to immunotherapy and how we can use that knowledge to help with other cancer types.' Read the original article on People
Fox News
28-04-2025
- Health
- Fox News
Alternative cancer treatment could replace chemo and surgery, study suggests
New cancer research pioneered by Memorial Sloan Kettering points to a strong alternative to chemotherapy, surgery and radiation for some forms of cancer. Nearly 80% of patients who suffered from a variety of cancer types were successfully treated with only immunotherapy, according to a new study published in The New England Journal of Medicine. The immunotherapy protocol successfully treated 100% of rectal cancer patients involved in the trial. "My husband, Tommy, and I were preparing for the worst," recalled Maureen Sideris, who was diagnosed with gastroesophageal junction cancer in 2022 and subsequently became a participant in the trial. "After being treated with only immunotherapy, I had no evidence of cancer and didn't have to undergo surgery, chemo or radiation," she said in an MSK press release. "I felt like I won the lottery!" Dr. Andrea Cercek, a gastrointestinal oncologist, oversaw the research along with fellow gastrointestinal oncologist Dr. Luiz Diaz. The pair sought to develop this approach in part due to the negative impacts of traditional treatment, according to the release. "Using the standard-of-care treatment of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy to treat rectal cancer is effective," Cercek said. "But the treatments can leave people infertile and severely affect bowel, urinary and sexual functions, as well as other aspects of daily life." "After being treated with only immunotherapy, I had no evidence of cancer and didn't have to undergo surgery, chemo or radiation." Participants in the trial were all patients with tumors ranging from stage 1 to stage 3, meaning the tumors had not yet spread, the release indicated. The tumors also had a genetic mutation called mismatch repair-deficient (MMRd), which makes them particularly vulnerable to a type of immunotherapy called "checkpoint inhibitors." This therapy "unmasks" tumor cells, MSK stated, making it easier for the patient's own immune system to recognize and kill cancer cells. The first clinical trial testing the therapy started with only 18 patients, all of whom had rectal cancer. "We knew there was a broad range of cancer types that had this same MMRd genetic mutation," Cercek said. "We hoped this approach could help people facing these other cancers, too." In the expanded trial, which contained 103 patients, there were 49 rectal cancer patients and 54 patients with other types of cancer. Participants received checkpoint inhibitor infusions intravenously over the course of six months, per the release. In all 49 rectal cancer patients, there was no evidence of cancer after immunotherapy. Of the 54 patients with other cancers, 35 saw all signs of cancer disappear after therapy, according to a variety of tests performed for the study. "This is a very significant response, and the results were even better than we had hoped," said Cercek. "We found that some cancer types responded extremely well to the immunotherapy, including colon and stomach cancer." In the 20% of non-rectal cancer patients who still needed surgery post-therapy, researchers saw that the immunotherapy often shrunk the tumor and even lowered the stage classifications of some of the tumors, according to Cercek. Timothy Yap, Ph.D., a medical oncologist at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, agrees that the immunotherapy treatment's effectiveness for multiple kinds of cancer is "exciting." "We are always seeking to improve treatment strategies for cancer patients through innovative clinical trials, and this is no exception," Yap, who was not involved in the study, told Fox Digital. "Responding patients may avoid the need for surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy, and benefit by improving their quality of life," he said. "This is a very significant response, and the results were even better than we had hoped." Based on the results of the original trial with rectal patients, the immunotherapy-only approach has been incorporated into the treatment guidelines of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, which is the doctor's group that sets cancer treatments in the U.S., the release stated. For more Health articles, visit Some of the original participants of the 2022 trial are still cancer-free today, multiple years after the initial treatment.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Daria Cercek Exits Paramount to Head Disney Live Action Theatrical
Daria Cercek is exiting her post at Paramount Pictures to head Disney's Live Action Theatrical division. She will report to David Greenbaum, president of Disney Live Action features and 20th Century Studios. In the role, she will oversee Disney's live-action theatrical slate. She joins the company after serving as the co-president of Motion Picture Group at Paramount Pictures with Mike Ireland since 2021. More from The Hollywood Reporter 'Win or Lose' Review: Pixar's Disney+ Series Should Have Been a Home Run Stoney Clover Lane's Disney Princess Collection Is Going Fast - Grab These Styles Before It's Too Late 'Mufasa: The Lion King' Streaming: How to Watch the 2024 Prequel at Home Cercek has plenty of experience managing a theatrical slate of big-budgeted productions, after overseeing titles like Gladiator II and the Mission: Impossible movies during her Paramount tenure. Along with the studio's most recent release, Sonic the Hedgehog 3, other titles include box office successes Scream VI and The Lost City. Cercek, a Brown University graduate, previously held posts at New Line and 20th Century. She exits Paramount as Paramount Global is anticipating the imminent close of the merger with Skydance. Said Cercek, 'Disney has long set the standard for timeless storytelling, bringing to life some of the most beloved characters and stories that have captivated generations of audiences around the world. Like so many, I grew up inspired by the magic of Disney, so it is a true privilege to join Alan Bergman, David, and this incredible team. I look forward to working alongside them, and today's most visionary filmmakers, to build on the studio's extraordinary legacy.' Disney's live-action theatrical slate is largely made up of live-action versions of the studio's classic animations. Upcoming releases include Snow White and Lilo & Stitch. 'Daria's unique creative talent, passion for storytelling and deep experience working with world class filmmakers fits perfectly with Disney's mission to create unforgettable cinematic experiences that will stand the test of time,' said Greenbaum. 'I am thrilled to welcome her to the team and look forward to the incredible contributions she will undoubtedly make.' Best of The Hollywood Reporter The Best Anti-Fascist Films of All Time Dinosaurs, Zombies and More 'Wicked': The Most Anticipated Movies of 2025 From 'A Complete Unknown' to 'Selena' to 'Ray': 33 Notable Music Biopics
