CNN
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Kelly Spill didn’t shed a tear when she found out she had stage III rectal cancer at the age of 28.
She managed to keep it together when a surgeon informed her that treatment could affect her ability to have more children — radiation often has severe impacts on fertility — and that she might end up needing a colostomy bag after surgery.
“I didn’t cry at those moments,” Spill recalled, mentioning she was newly engaged and a few months postpartum at the time.
However, when she asked the doctor if she would still be able to travel to Switzerland for her wedding that summer, and he responded with an emphatic “Oh, absolutely not,” she found herself breaking down. “That hit me—my life has completely changed,” she shared.
After welcoming her son Jayce, she and her fiancé had intended to elope in Switzerland, but following the diagnosis, they opted for a quick winter wedding closer to home.
Fast forward five years, Spill has not only had another baby, a younger sister for Jayce named Mya, but she and her husband are also expecting their third child.
Interestingly enough, Spill has no family history of colorectal cancer. She was one of over 100 adults in the United States who participated in a study focusing on the immunotherapy drug dostarlimab, which she says transformed her life.
When diagnosed in 2020, her treatment plan involved rigorous chemotherapy, radiation, and invasive surgery. Yet, just before starting chemotherapy, she learned about a new study offering an alternative approach with only dostarlimab, which seemed far less taxing on her body, prompting her to enroll immediately.
Immunotherapy is a treatment that leverages the body’s immune system to combat cancer. Dostarlimab, developed by GSK and marketed as Jemperli, has shown promise in making solid tumors in rectal cancer nearly disappear, as noted in past studies. Last year, the FDA granted dostarlimab “breakthrough therapy” status for specific rectal cancers.
Recently, a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine revealed that this immunotherapy is effective not just for advanced rectal cancer, but also for other cancer types, enabling patients to avoid surgery and more invasive treatments.
During her treatment, Spill received 30-minute infusions of dostarlimab every three weeks, reporting no negative side effects.
“By my fourth treatment, the tumor was already halfway gone, and by the ninth, it had completely vanished. That was when I learned I was cancer-free,” she recalled.
“Hearing I wouldn’t need radiation or surgery felt like one of the best days of my life, as it meant I could move forward with my plans for a baby,” she expressed. “This clinical trial completely altered what my life could have been; it feels like a miracle.”
‘It’s for any cancer in the body’
The new study included 117 cancer patients grouped into two cohorts. One comprised individuals with advanced rectal cancer, while the other included patients with various solid tumors, such as colon, gastric, bladder, and prostate cancers.
All participants had mismatch repair deficiency (dMMR) cancer, characterized by tumor cells with numerous DNA mutations, affecting up to 3% of early-stage solid tumors as the study indicated.
Dr. William Dahut, Chief Scientific Officer for the American Cancer Society, who wasn’t part of the research, explained, “When our cells break down, using DNA, we can repair this injury over time. If there’s a deficit in that repair, it generates more DNA mutations, leading to a better response to immune treatments.”
This effective response to immune-based treatment was confirmed in the new findings.
The data collected from December 2019 to April 2025 revealed that 103 participants completed the treatment across both cohorts, receiving dostarlimab infusions over six months while being monitored for two years, a continuation of prior research.
Dr. Luis Diaz, an oncology chief at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and a study author, highlighted that their previous research from 2022 found 100% of rectal cancer patients with the dMMR mutation had their tumors completely disappear, which had never been accomplished before in oncology.
“The latest publication confirms this durability in these patients; they’ve remained cancer-free for up to five years or longer, enabling them to resume normal life,” he elaborated.
Diaz noted that the implications go beyond just rectal cancer, stating, “It’s applicable for any cancer, provided there’s a genetic mutation.”
Remarkably, around 80% of participants completing the dostarlimab treatment didn’t require surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy after six months, as the results were presented at the 2025 American Association of Cancer Research annual meeting.
“Patients with a complete clinical response were able to preserve their organs without needing further therapy. Some individuals treated for rectal cancer even went on to conceive and deliver healthy babies—something that wouldn’t have been possible with standard treatments,” the researchers noted.
Two years later, about 92% of participants across both groups had not experienced a cancer recurrence. Only five participants saw a return of their cancer, with just one having a regrowth of the rectal tumor.
Though 65% of those receiving at least one dose of dostarlimab reported side effects, most were mild, like fatigue, rashes, or irritation at the infusion site. No deaths occurred during the study.
“The outcomes have been remarkable, as we are successfully able to eliminate their disease with minimal toxicity,” remarked Dr. Andrea Cercek, a gastrointestinal oncologist and study co-author.
She added, “In oncology, we aim for cures, but many treatments often leave patients with lasting issues. Here, we omit standard care—radiation, chemotherapy, and importantly, surgery—in 80% of patients, minimizing toxicity while allowing them to live normal lives.”
While the findings are promising, the researchers stress the need for larger studies to confirm long-term benefits, especially for patients with non-rectal tumors. This research provides a solid foundation for future investigations.
Chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery have traditionally formed the basis of cancer treatment for many years. Historical milestones include the first radical mastectomy for breast cancer in 1882 and the introduction of radiation therapy in 1899.
Recently, however, there has been an increasing recognition of immunotherapy’s potential for patients with mismatch repair-deficient tumors, according to Dr. Stacey Cohen from Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, who was not involved in this research.
“This is groundbreaking, as surgery has long been seen as the cornerstone of localized cancer treatment,” she stated, highlighting the excitement surrounding non-surgical treatments that are both durable and effective.
Nonetheless, she also emphasized that not all patients will experience a universal response, even with the right biomarkers. “Tumors can vary significantly, so a one-size-fits-all solution may not apply,” she cautioned.
Cohen pointed out two important considerations regarding the results of the new study. “The immunotherapy won’t work for every patient involved, and it’s relevant solely for a select group with dMMR/MSI tumors. It’s essential to check this biomarker before considering immunotherapy, as it won’t be effective for most patients.”
Dahut underscored the importance of genetic sequencing in cancer patients for guiding treatment plans based on specific mutations.
Once these mutations are identified, patients can explore novel immunotherapies targeting them.
“This highlights the importance of tumor sequencing at diagnosis, as it can reveal hidden options for treatment—whether at initial diagnosis or during recurrence,” he noted.
“With immune-based therapies, we’re not only seeing complete responses, but these responses seem to last,” he added.
This new research comes at a time when colorectal cancer cases have been surging in younger adults. A 2023 report from the American Cancer Society indicates that the percentage of colorectal cancer instances in individuals under 55 rose from 11% in 1995 to 20% in 2019.
Cercek mentioned that the aim of their new study was to identify less invasive treatment options for younger colorectal cancer patients.
“Our design arose from observing many young patients in clinic—understanding the detrimental impact our conventional treatments had motivated this research. We sought to enhance the treatment of early-stage cancer, especially for young adults,” she explained.
“We hope this indicates a more promising future. This could set a new standard for effective systemic therapy,” she said, mentioning other ongoing studies aiming to replicate these results and minimizing the need for surgery or radiation.
Spill encouraged fellow young adults diagnosed with rectal cancer to inquire about clinical trials, particularly as treatment advances toward less invasive options.
“Many view clinical trials as a last resort, but that perception needs to change. You never know what might work for you,” Spill emphasized.
“Colorectal cancer is on the rise for both young men and women. And fertility issues can affect men as well, not just women,” she remarked. “Getting diagnosed at a young age with an illness typically thought to only affect older individuals is terrifying.”
Signs of colorectal cancer can include altered bowel habits, rectal bleeding, abdominal pain, fatigue, and weight loss.
However, Spill warned that such symptoms might often be dismissed or confused with other health issues in young adults. Her own symptoms of constipation, blood in her stool, and abdominal pain had initially been attributed to postpartum issues rather than serious concerns.
“One day, I actually checked, and I was alarmed to find blood—in a way that was clearly not normal,” Spill recalled of that moment.
After experiencing significant blood loss again, she took photos to show her primary care doctor, who then ordered a colonoscopy—this ultimately led to her cancer diagnosis.
“Self-advocacy is key,” Spill stated. “Had I not persisted, I don’t know where I would be, especially as a new mom.”
Reflecting on her younger self, who broke down before the doctor mentioning her wedding fears, she has a message: “Breathe deeply and trust the timing.”
