It’s not often that a medical conference audience applauds in the middle of a presentation. However, this is what happened last week at the International Cancer Congress (ESMO) in Paris. Researcher Miriam Chalabi, from the Netherlands Cancer Institute in Amsterdam, presented the results of a phase III trial (most important for determining the benefit of treatment) on the interest of immunotherapy before surgery in a specific subtype of colorectal cancer patients. “Unprecedented”, “exceptional”.Dithyrambic qualifications of commentators are not often used in oncology.
The patients of interest have a genetically very unstable tumor, called MSI, for microsatellite instability. This abnormality is usually detected by the test during a diagnostic biopsy (performed on a tumor removed during surgery). It is present in 10% to 15% of patients…
Source: Le Figaro