Bowel cancer patients remain cancer-free after immunotherapy trial

Summary

In a three-year follow-up of the NEOPRISM-CRC trial, 33 patients with stage two or three bowel cancer who received pre-operative immunotherapy with pembrolizumab experienced zero relapses. The treatment, delivered over nine weeks before surgery, proved more effective at preventing recurrence than the standard post-operative chemotherapy approach, with blood tests now helping predict which patients will respond best.

Quick Facts

• Zero cancer relapses among 33 trial participants after nearly three years
• 59% had no signs of disease immediately after immunotherapy and surgery
• Personalised blood tests can now identify who benefits most from this approach

Why It Matters

This result offers a potentially safer, more effective alternative for thousands of UK bowel cancer patients annually.