The Davidoff Comprehensive Cancer Center in Israel has developed a new treatment that can eliminate rectal cancer in 65% of patients and avoid the need for surgery in most of them.
Rectal cancer accounts for about 25% of colon cancer cases and is typically discovered when it is locally advanced, requiring a multidisciplinary treatment approach. In cases of rectal cancer that has not metastasized, treatment usually involves surgery, which is not without risks for the patient. Surgical interventions to remove rectal tumors often lead to significant damage to the patient’s quality of life, and sometimes surgeons must remove the anus itself. Therefore, it is crucial for many patients to avoid such surgical interventions.
A new study led by Professor Baruch Brenner, director of the oncology department and gastrointestinal oncology unit at the Davidoff Comprehensive Cancer Center at Beilinson Hospital, has shown that a combination of immunotherapy and the most advanced form of preoperative chemoradiotherapy can significantly increase the chances of curing the disease and avoiding surgery. Due to the success of the study, it will now be expanded into a multicenter trial to be conducted in several hospitals in Israel and Germany, under the direction of Professor Brenner and his team.
"This research is very promising and could change the way rectal cancer is treated globally," said Professor Brenner. "The results indicate the potential of this new therapeutic approach to help eliminate the tumor non-surgically, improving the patient's quality of life once in remission. Although we are still in the research phase, the results of this study suggest that combining immunotherapy with preoperative treatment can effectively enhance the chances of tumor disappearance."
The results were presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Gastrointestinal Conference recently held in Munich, Germany.
The Davidoff Comprehensive Cancer Center, which is part of Beilinson Hospital, is Israel's leading cancer center dedicated to cancer prevention, treatment, and research. Each year, it handles one in seven patients diagnosed with solid or hematologic cancer.
As one of Israel’s most prominent medical centers, Beilinson is at the forefront of implementing innovative new treatments while maintaining the highest standards of medical and nursing care.
Since 1936, Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva has grown to serve more than 500,000 patients annually.
Caroline Haïat
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