In the Headlines: Centering patients as cancer research infrastructure is dismantled

The Cancer Letter has covered—and will continue to cover—all the ways in which the current administration is fundamentally reshaping cancer research in the U.S. But this week, The Cancer Letter and the podcast focused on a patient story. 

In this episode of In the Headlines, Paul Goldberg, editor and publisher of The Cancer Letter, and Jacquelyn Cobb, associate editor highlight a profound success story of cancer research: Jacquelyn’s recent story, “Kelly Spill opted for dostarlimab trial, avoiding rectal cancer treatment that would leave her infertile. Six years later, she is well—and pregnant with her third child,” against the backdrop of some of the major changes that have taken place in the last week, including NIH eliminating the NCI Board of Scientific Advisors.

“We have heard from President Trump about all of this,” Paul said. “We have heard from Elon Musk, we have heard from cancer center directors, from Republicans and Democrats in Congress. But what we have not heard was how is all of this affecting patients? What's at stake? So, anytime we now can have a patient voice and actually tell a story about how dramatically benefited this person is, then we should put it on the cover. We should blast the trumpets on this one. The American people need to hear that.”

Kelly Spill was diagnosed with stage 3 rectal cancer at age 28, less than a year after she gave birth to her first child. The standard-of-care treatment for locally advanced rectal cancer—chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation—would have left Spill infertile. Having a big family was a high priority for Spill, and she was devastated by the news of her likely infertility as a result of her cancer treatment. 

After six months of treatment with dostarlimab, Spill’s tumor disappeared. She has been cancer-free since August 2020. Also—Spill was able to get pregnant. Twice. She is due with her third child May 14.

Ironically, the researcher who spearheaded the clinical trial that cured Spill—Luis Diaz, head of the Division of Solid Tumor Oncology in Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center’s Department of Medicine—also appeared in another story from last week. 

Last week, The Cancer Letter reported that Diaz was removed from the National Cancer Advisory Board, which advises and assists the NCI director in shaping the direction of the national cancer research program.

“There's nothing more important in science than how you get advice and whom you get the advice from,” Paul said.