US medical scientists have obtained surprising results by applying the experimental drug 'Dosterlimab' to 18 rectal cancer patients.

12 patients took the drug for at least six months. Then the cancer disappeared from the body of each of them. The rest of the patients who have not finished their 6-month dose of medicine are also on the way to shrinking the cancer to obliteration.

Citing experts, the New York Times says that Dosterlimab is a laboratory-produced drug that acts as an alternative antibody in the human body. The 18 rectal cancer patients who participated in the clinical trial were given the same drug.

Dosterlimab works by "unmasking" cancer cells, which in turn helps the immune system identify and destroy them.

Researchers initially thought that patients would still need conventional treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy and radiation after using the drug. But now they no longer need these treatments. Through endoscopy, PET scans and MRI scans, they found that 18 patients were completely cured of cancer.

Patients were re-examined 25 months after the end of the clinical trial. Even then, no discomfort or cancer cells were found in their body.

New York's Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center doctor Dr. Lewis A. Diaz J. Said, "This is the first such incident in the history of cancer."

Dr. Mustafa Aziz Sumon, the Clinical Head of JBFH Cancer Centre, opined about this drug and trial, "The positive results have only been seen in 12 patients and all of whom had tumors with genetic mutations called MMRd, seen in a subset of approximately 5–10 % of rectal cancer patients.  Immunotherapy is promising but unfortunately it fits only for 5 to 10 %. Still it is very early to comment that immunotherapy can cure. "