I'm Not A Doctor...

 ...and I don't play one on TV.  I also have ZERO qualifications to vet the story that I ran across today.

It does sound like super good (if also super expensive) news in the ongoing fight against cancer.  

On June 5, the New England Journal of Medicine (so, a for real medical journal) reported a remarkable success in a drug trial.  A new drug was used in a (very small) trial on patients suffering from rectal cancer.  Of the 12 participants, ALL 12 have shown a complete remission.

Let me say that again.  ALL TWELVE PATIENTS ARE IN REMISSION.

The New York Times article is here, but you need to sign up for their free membership to read it,

The New England Journal of Medicine article is here, but it's scientifically too dense for me to fully decipher.  The key bit is this:

A total of 12 patients have completed treatment with dostarlimab and have undergone at least 6 months of follow-up. All 12 patients (100%; 95% confidence interval, 74 to 100) had a clinical complete response, with no evidence of tumor on magnetic resonance imaging, ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose–positron-emission tomography, endoscopic evaluation, digital rectal examination, or biopsy.

Three caveats before anyone jumps for joy.

First, this is a TINY sample size and follow up studies will be needed to determine if these incredible results can be reliably replicated.

Second, cancer is a tricky bastard and even if the drug works as well as indicated, this kind of success may be limited to specific types of cancer, or possibly only this single variety.

Third, this treatment cost $11,000 PER DOSE, with a six month treatment requiring one dose every three weeks.  That's about $90.000 per person.  Not exactly good news for the average patient.

Still, a 100% success rate is an incredible result and even if the next steps drop that percentage into a lower range, this is good news in a world that could use some of that right about now.