By: ABRS- Academic Team
Introduction
In recent decades, advances in cancer therapy have extended survival and improved the prognosis for countless patients. However, the traditional pillars of treatment—surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation—often come at a high cost in terms of quality of life. Organ loss, infertility, chronic fatigue, and psychological trauma are frequent consequences. A new wave of clinical evidence, particularly from studies led by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, is beginning to redefine these standards. For a small but significant group of cancer patients, immunotherapy may offer a future where cure does not require mutilation. This blog explores the latest findings on dostarlimab, an immunotherapy drug showing extraordinary results in early-stage cancers, and what these results mean for the future of oncology.
Redefining "Cure" in Cancer Care
In multiple recent reports—notably by CNN (Jacqueline Howard, 2025), The New York Times (Gina Kolata, 2025), and ABC News (Luis Gasca, MD, 2025)—the results of a groundbreaking study were revealed: a majority of participants with solid tumors in the rectum, stomach, esophagus, bladder, and other organs experienced complete remission after receiving six months of intravenous dostarlimab. Most notably, these patients were able to avoid surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy altogether.
In an interview with CNN, Kelly Spill—a 33-year-old woman diagnosed with stage III rectal cancer at age 28—described how dostarlimab changed her life. Initially preparing for chemotherapy, radiation, and possible permanent colostomy, she enrolled in a clinical trial and received dostarlimab infusions every three weeks. After nine treatments, she was declared cancer-free, never needing surgery or radiation. Her story, as shared with CNN’s Jacqueline Howard, underscores the profound difference immunotherapy can make in preserving not just life, but life plans—she went on to conceive two more children.
The New York Times emphasized how traditional cancer treatments often involve permanent organ damage. Reporter Gina Kolata detailed how surgeries for cancers of the rectum, stomach, or bladder can leave patients with colostomy bags or fertility issues. In contrast, dostarlimab-treated patients retained organ function and experienced fewer side effects—mostly fatigue and skin irritation.
According to ABC News’ coverage by Dr. Luis Gasca, out of 103 patients in the trial at Memorial Sloan Kettering, 82 avoided surgery. All 49 patients with early-stage rectal cancer achieved complete tumor regression. Even more impressive: 92% of all participants remained cancer-free after two years. Among those followed for five years, none had a recurrence. Two participants even gave birth to healthy children after therapy—something impossible under standard treatment protocols.
Understanding the Science Behind the Success
What links the patients in this study is a specific genetic characteristic: a mismatch repair deficiency (dMMR). This mutation disables the cell’s ability to fix errors during DNA replication, leading to a high number of mutations. Paradoxically, this genetic instability makes the cancer more visible to the immune system—and thus, more responsive to immunotherapy.
Dostarlimab, developed by GSK and marketed as Jemperli, is a monoclonal antibody that blocks the PD-1 receptor pathway, freeing immune cells to attack tumor cells. According to Dr. Luis Diaz—head of Solid Tumor Oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering and co-author of the study—the dMMR mutation makes tumors “immunologically hot,” meaning they are more likely to trigger a strong immune response when aided by checkpoint inhibitors like dostarlimab.
This insight reinforces the central role of personalized medicine in oncology. Tumor genetic sequencing should be standard at diagnosis. Identifying whether a patient has dMMR or microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) status can radically shift the treatment plan from invasive procedures to precision therapies.
Limitations and Future Directions
While the results are groundbreaking, caution is warranted. As reported by all three outlets, only 2–3% of cancer patients have tumors with the dMMR mutation, limiting the treatment’s applicability. Moreover, the trial was conducted at a single institution—Memorial Sloan Kettering—and included relatively small numbers for non-rectal cancers.
ABC News highlighted that while most patients avoided surgery, some chose it voluntarily for personal reasons, including anxiety about recurrence or removal of previously implanted devices. Furthermore, five patients experienced cancer recurrence. Encouragingly, most were successfully re-treated.
Dr. Andrea Cercek, lead colorectal oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering and co-author of the study, shared in interviews with CNN and ABC News that expanding access to this therapy and replicating the results in larger, multi-institutional studies is now a priority. She emphasized the importance of integrating immunotherapy with other modalities to broaden its impact, even for tumors lacking the dMMR mutation.
It is also worth considering the implications of these results in the context of early detection. If more patients are diagnosed at an early stage and tumor profiling becomes standard, the potential reach of this therapy could grow. Moreover, as research advances in combination immunotherapies and adaptive treatment models, the pool of eligible patients might expand beyond those with dMMR tumors.
Implications for Patient Care and Clinical Practice
The clinical implications are transformative. Historically, surgical removal of tumors has been central to curative cancer care. Yet the results of this study indicate that for certain genetically defined tumors, surgery may be unnecessary. Organ preservation is becoming a frontline objective.
Kelly Spill’s story, detailed in CNN’s interview, highlights a broader shift in what success means for patients. It’s not just about survival—it’s about retaining fertility, bodily autonomy, and psychological well-being. Spill’s hope to get married in Switzerland was derailed by her diagnosis. But five years later, she is cancer-free, raising children, and advocating for clinical trial awareness.
The ability to maintain reproductive function, avoid body-altering surgeries, and continue life plans is not a minor benefit—it’s a cornerstone of holistic care. This transformation demands a broader cultural shift in oncology: from focusing solely on survival metrics to emphasizing comprehensive recovery and reintegration into life.
From a systems perspective, these findings could reshape cancer care economics. Avoiding surgery reduces hospital stays, rehabilitation, and complications. However, the high cost of immunotherapies like dostarlimab remains a barrier. Ensuring equitable access will be essential to make these breakthroughs truly transformative.
Additionally, this new model challenges the workflows and treatment paradigms within oncology departments. Multidisciplinary teams will need to reassess how treatment is coordinated and how genomic information is incorporated into early planning. Oncologists, pathologists, genetic counselors, and immunologists will have to collaborate more closely than ever to personalize care.
Conclusion:
The early success of dostarlimab in treating dMMR solid tumors marks a significant milestone in cancer therapy. While still limited in scope, the evidence points to a new model of treatment that prioritizes efficacy with minimal invasiveness. For a growing number of patients, a diagnosis no longer has to mean life-altering surgery or toxic therapies.
At Advanced BioResearch Solutions (ABRS), we believe in advancing therapies that not only extend life but also preserve its quality. As a Functional Service Provider, ABRS supports innovative clinical trials and biomarker-driven research that pave the way for this new era of oncology. We are committed to building the infrastructure, insight, and collaboration necessary to make this future a reality for more patients worldwide.
The science is clear. The stories are powerful. And the future of cancer care is already beginning to change—one immune cell at a time.