Immunotherapy Before Surgery Sparks Three-Year Remission in Bowel Cancer Trial
In the NEOPRISM-CRC trial, 32 patients with stage II/III MMR-deficient/MSI-high bowel cancer received three doses of pembrolizumab before planned surgery. Seventy percent? No—the article states 59% had no signs of disease after pembrolizumab ahead of surgery, and after nearly three years none of the 32 patients have experienced a recurrence, meaning all remained cancer-free. The results suggest neoadjuvant immunotherapy could change treatment for some bowel cancers and possibly reduce chemotherapy needs, though not all patients benefit. Researchers are exploring blood tests and immune profiling to predict responders, while NHS access to such therapy remains under consideration.
