All 32 Patients Cancer-Free in Groundbreaking UK Bowel Cancer Immunotherapy Trial
Every single patient in a pioneering UK bowel cancer trial remains cancer-free nearly three years after treatment, in what researchers are calling a groundbreaking result that could transform care for thousands of patients diagnosed with a specific type of bowel cancer each year.
The NEOPRISM-CRC Trial
The NEOPRISM-CRC study, led by Dr Kai-Keen Shiu, enrolled 32 patients with stage two or three bowel cancer who had a particular genetic profile known as MMR deficient or MSI-high. These patients received the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab before surgery, and nearly three years later, all 32 remain cancer-free.
The results are remarkable not only for the 100% cancer-free rate but also because the treatment replaces debilitating post-operative chemotherapy, which can cause significant side effects and impact quality of life. Approximately 3,000 cases of this specific type of bowel cancer are diagnosed in the UK each year.
What This Means for Patients
For patients with MMR deficient bowel cancer, the NEOPRISM-CRC results offer the prospect of a treatment pathway that is both more effective and less burdensome than conventional chemotherapy. The immunotherapy approach harnesses the body's own immune system to target and destroy cancer cells, with the pre-surgical treatment appearing to eliminate the disease before it can spread.
Researchers emphasise that the results, while extraordinary, are based on a relatively small trial and will need to be confirmed in larger studies before the approach becomes standard care. However, the early findings have generated significant excitement in the oncology community.
NHS Bowel Cancer Screening
The trial results come as the NHS reports that its bowel cancer screening programme has detected tens of thousands of cancers, with almost 7 million people undergoing screening in 2024/25, compared to 4.7 million in 2014/15. The NHS is urging more people to get tested, particularly those aged 50 to 74 who are eligible for the home testing kit.
What's Next
The NEOPRISM-CRC team is planning larger trials to confirm the results and explore whether the approach can be extended to other types of bowel cancer. If confirmed, the treatment could become a standard option for patients with MMR deficient bowel cancer within the next few years.
