Revolutionary cancer Therapy Extends Life Expectancy by 40% in Landmark Trial
(Published February 17, 2025)
chicago, IL – In a groundbreaking growth poised to redefine cancer treatment, a pioneering immunotherapy has demonstrated a remarkable 40% increase in life expectancy for patients battling advanced gastric and gastro-oesophageal junction (GEJ) cancer. The results, unveiled today at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (Asco) in Chicago and concurrently published in The Lancet, are being hailed as a “milestone” and a potential “paradigm shift” in the fight against solid tumors.
For decades, immunotherapy has shown promise in treating blood cancers, but extending its effectiveness to solid tumors – which account for approximately 90% of all cancer cases, including breast, lung, and pancreatic cancer – has remained a significant challenge. This new research suggests that hurdle may finally be overcome.
How CAR T-Cell Therapy Works: A New Weapon against Cancer
The therapy,known as CAR T-cell therapy,harnesses the power of the patient’s own immune system. Here’s how it effectively works:
- T-Cell Extraction: A patient’s T-cells,a type of white blood cell crucial for fighting infection,are extracted from their blood.
- Genetic Modification: In a laboratory, these T-cells are genetically engineered to express a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR). This CAR allows the T-cells to recognise and specifically target cancer cells.
- Infusion & Attack: The modified CAR T-cells are then infused back into the patient’s bloodstream, where they actively seek out and destroy cancer cells.
“This is an exciting study showing the first positive results from a randomised trial testing CAR T-cells for a solid cancer,” explained Dr. Carl June,a leading expert on CAR T-cell therapy at the University of Pennsylvania,who was not involved in the trial. “The study shows that satri-cel CAR T-cells provide significant benefits to advanced gastric cancer patients who have failed at least two prior lines of therapy. This represents a groundbreaking milestone for the field of CAR-T therapies against solid tumours.”
Trial Results: A Significant Leap Forward
The multi-center,randomized controlled trial,conducted by researchers at Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute in Beijing,involved over 100 patients with advanced gastric or GEJ cancer. The results were striking:
Overall Survival: Patients receiving CAR T-cell therapy lived an average of 7.9 months after randomization, compared to 5.5 months for those receiving standard care – a 40% betterment.
Progression-Free Survival: The immunotherapy group experienced 3.3 months without cancer progression, significantly longer than the 1.8 months observed in the standard care group.
These findings indicate that CAR T-cell therapy not only extends life but also improves the quality of life for patients facing a devastating diagnosis.
Hope for Brain Cancer Patients Too?
The excitement doesn’t stop there. A separate study, led by the University of Pennsylvania and presented at Asco on Sunday, suggests CAR T-cell therapy
