Cancer jab can eradicate entire tumours in patients, trial shows | Cancer research
Doctors are reporting “unprecedented” results from a clinical trial involving a triple-action cancer injection capable of eradicating entire tumours. The international study, which spanned 11 countries, focused on patients whose cancer had returned or spread and had failed to respond to previous treatments.
A New Approach to Treatment-Resistant Cancer
The drug, known as amivantamab and developed by Johnson &. Johnson, demonstrated a significant impact on patients with head and neck cancer. In a trial of 102 patients, the jab shrank or completely eliminated tumours in 43 individuals.
Among these participants, 28 saw their tumours shrink significantly, while 15 experienced total eradication. These results are particularly striking because the patients involved had already become resistant to both immunotherapy and chemotherapy.
How the Triple-Action Jab Works
Amivantamab is described as a “smart jab” that targets cancer through three distinct mechanisms. It blocks the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), a protein that aids tumour growth, and the MET pathway, which cancer cells often use to evade treatment.
the injection helps activate the patient’s own immune system to attack the tumour. Unlike traditional treatments delivered via intravenous drip, this medication is administered as a small injection under the skin every three weeks.
Impact on Patient Quality of Life
The trial included patients with head and neck cancers not caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), a group that is typically harder to treat. Patients receiving the drug lived for a median of 12.5 months after starting treatment, despite having a form of cancer with very poor outcomes once standard therapies fail.
Carl Walsh, a 56-year-old tongue cancer patient in the OrigAMI-4 trial, reported a return to a normal life. After failing chemotherapy and immunotherapy, Walsh found that the jab reduced swelling and pain, allowing him to speak normally and return to a full diet.
“I’m now on my 17th cycle of treatment and I’m very pleased with the progress so far,” said Walsh.
Future Implications and Potential
Professor Kevin Harrington of the Institute of Cancer Research, London (ICR), stated that the treatment has the potential to benefit many thousands of patients each year. The results are being presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (Asco) in Chicago.
Because similar results were seen in lung cancer patients, amivantamab may be applied to a wider range of malignancies. It’s currently being evaluated in approximately 60 clinical trials, which could include colorectal, brain, and gastric cancers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is amivantamab?
It is a triple-action “smart jab” developed by Johnson & Johnson that blocks EGFR and MET proteins while activating the immune system to attack tumours.
Who benefited most from the trial?
The trial focused on patients with head and neck cancers (non-HPV positive) whose disease had become resistant to chemotherapy and immunotherapy.
What were the side effects of the treatment?
Most side effects were reported as mild to moderate, with fewer than one in 10 patients required to stop the treatment.
How do you think the shift toward outpatient, injectable cancer treatments will impact the future of patient care?