- The Brazilian soccer legend Pelé passed away on December 29 at the age of 82 from colon cancer.
- Colon cancer is the third most common cancer in the world, affecting almost two million people.
- Here are the US clinical trials that are studying new treatment options for the disease.
The Brazilian soccer legend Edson Arantes do Nascimento, known as Pelé, died of colon cancer on December 29 at the age of 82. He is considered one of the greatest soccer players of all time—he was on the Brazilian national team for three world cup wins, is one of the top goalscorers in history, and he helped popularize the sport in the United States.
Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in the world, according to the World Cancer Research Fund International. In 2020, there were more than 1.9 million cases and 930,000 deaths across the globe. It is expected to become more common by 2040 with a predicted increase to 3.2 million cases and 1.6 million deaths per year, emphasizing the need for good treatment options.
Pelé isn't the only celebrity to have died from colon cancer in recent years — Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman died from the disease in 2020 at the age of 43.
Currently in the United States, there are four phase three clinical trials investigating the efficacy of new treatment options according to a list put together by the National Cancer Institute. Here are the cutting-edge phase three clinical trials for colon cancer, in the order of how recently they began.
One trial is testing the combination of immunotheraphy and chemotherapy
One trial is testing the effects of chemotherapy and a monoclonal antibody, called atezolizumab, in treating a kind of colon cancer that is caused from DNA being unable to repair itself. Atezolizumab, sold under the brand name Tecentriq, is manufactured by Roche's Genentech and is already used to treat several other cancers, including lung, liver, and skin cancer. The trial is investigating whether combining this immunotherapy, which helps the immune system attack cancer cells, and chemotherapy, will yield better results than chemotherapy alone. It began in September of 2017 and is expected to end in April of 2024.
Another trial is studying how vitamin D3 could help supercharge cancer treatments
The SOLARIS trial is comparing what happens when patients are treated with chemotherapy and a monoclonal antibody with what happens when vitamin D3 is added to that treatment option. Vitamin D3 helps the body absorb calcium, which is necessary for healthy bones. Scientists also think it may affect the immune system, and may help treat and prevent some cancer types. The study began in September of 2019 and is expected to end in July of 2024.
This trial is studying four different methods of treatment to see which is the best
A third study is investigating the effects of different treatment options versus "active surveillance," or watching closely but not treating, for patients who have been treated for colon cancer but are at risk of it coming back. If a tumor is not totally killed, it may still be spreading its DNA throughout the body, and patients that test positive for this tumor DNA may be at a higher risk of the tumor coming back. The four groups are treatment with chemotherapy, active surveillance, immunotherapy, and drugs that block cell growth. The trial started in January of 2020 and is expected to end in February of 2023.
The most recent clinical trial is testing a brand new drug
The most recent trial to begin is investigating a brand new drug called XL092 that blocks tumor growth, as well as other important tumor functions, when used in combination with atezolizumab. XL092 is being developed by Exelixis, a Bay Area-based biotech company that developed cancer drugs. The trial will compare this option with just using regorafenib, which is already used in colon cancer treatment. The trial began in September of this year and is expected to end in February of 2026.