Cancer tumors disappeared who have received an experimental immunotherapy drug called dostarlimab (brand name Jemperli) without the need for radiation, surgery, or chemotherapy. The drug is always used in the treatment of endometrial cancer, but for the first time, its efficacy is clinically investigated to check effectiveness against rectal cancer tumors. The breakthrough immunotherapy is becoming the hope to cure all Cancer tumors in the future with the progress in the trial.

Positive results have been seen in 12 patients in the ongoing trial all of who had tumors with genetic mutations called mismatch repair deficiency (MMRd). Dostarlimab, an anti–PD-1 monoclonal antibody, was administered to patients. Patients who had a clinical complete response after completion of dostarlimab therapy have proceeded without chemoradiotherapy and surgery. 

A total of 12 patients have completed treatment with dostarlimab and have undergone at least 6 months of follow-up. All 12 patients (100%; 95% confidence interval, 74 to 100) had a clinical complete response, with no evidence of tumor on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), PET scans, endoscopy evaluation, digital rectal examination, or biopsy. No patients involved in the trial had received chemoradiotherapy or undergone surgery, and no cases of progression or recurrence had been reported during follow-up (range, 6 to 25 months). No adverse events of grade 3 or higher have been reported.