Scientists Intrigued by Treatment That Put Every Single Patient's Cancer Into Remission

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Every single patient in a small trial of an experimental cancer treatment went into remission and the doctors were overjoyed.

The paper that resulted from the trial was published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

This is the first time in the history of cancer that it has happened, according to the scientist.

The study participants were surprised when their doctors told them they were out of the study.

The first patient, named Sascha, received a call from her oncologist, who said the patient was "stunned and ecstatic" at the news.

"It's incredibly rewarding to get these happy tears and happy emails from the patients in this study who finish treatment and realize, 'Oh my God, I get to keep all my normal body functions that I feared I might lose to radiation.' "

None of the 12 people in the initial trial had adverse reactions to the drug, known as dostarlimab, and the doctors behind the study never expected it to work this well.

According to the team, dostarlimab releases the brake on an immune cell, freeing it to recognize and attack cancer cells.

It is unlikely to be a miracle cure. One in five people who take drugs like dostarlimab have an allergic reaction, and as many as 3 to 5 percent have severe reactions that include muscle weakness and trouble chewing and swallowing.

Dr. Alan Venook, a University of California, San Francisco colorectal cancer specialist who wasn't involved in the study, told the New York Times that the lack of side effects means that either they did not treat enough patients or, somehow, these cancers are just plain different.

Many people are cautious about the results. The trial was small and hasn't been replicated.

Dr. Sanoff, who was not involved in the study, wrote in the New England Journal of Medicine that the trial needs more time to work.

Sanoff said that little is known about the duration of time needed to find out if a clinical complete response to dostarlimab equates to cure.

These results are exciting for both doctors and patients.

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