- Philip Salem, 82, developed a cancer treatment called ICtriplex, which combines immunotherapy, chemotherapy and targeted therapy.
- He said the method led to complete remission in 50% of patients, compared to less than 30% with conventional treatments.
Cancer patients come from all over the world to our Houston oncologists who have developed a cutting-edge treatment that achieves complete remission in 50% of patients.
Philip Salem, 82, developed a breakthrough cancer treatment called ICtriplex by combining immunotherapy, chemotherapy and targeted therapy at Salem Tumor Center.
“I’ve been in cancer medicine for 55 years. What we’re seeing now as a result of ICTriplex is something I’ve never seen before,” Salem told ABC7.
The 82-year-old oncologist, who is at the forefront of cancer research, published his findings in June 2022 in the Journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
The compelling results of his research attracted desperate patients from all over the world, who traveled thousands of miles to Houston, Texas, in search of hope and the possibilities offered by this breakthrough treatment.
Bianca Grado, a patient who traveled to Houston from Italy, said she first learned about Dr. Salem about a year ago when her cancer had progressed and spread.
“I started treatment in Italy, but unfortunately the results were not good and the disease was constantly progressing.”
Salem said Grado, who has been battling the difficult disease for three years, is now in complete remission.
“When I first came here, I was in a lot of pain, but within the first month, the pain was already gone,” said Petra, a cancer patient who called the treatment a miracle.
He said Salem’s oncology center is the only one that uses a combination of immunotherapy, chemotherapy and targeted therapy in the management of advanced cancers.
“When we take patients who are told by major cancer centers to go home and die, we have a complete remission rate of 50 to 60 percent.”
“Zero percent versus 50 percent, it’s an easy choice,” said cancer patient Marco Pragman.
Salem’s research on ICTriplex was published in the Journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, one of the most influential journals in the field.
He studied 41 patients with multiple types of cancer, including lung, pancreatic, colorectal, and breast, all at advanced stages.
The overall remission rate, which takes into account patients with both partial and complete remissions, was an impressive 90%.
In contrast, traditional treatments typically have remission rates of less than 30%, he said.
He told the Houston Chronicle in 2022: “And surprisingly, this combination turned out to be very effective in a wide range of cancer diagnoses.” He is not limited to one diagnosis or one tumor. ”
This breakthrough treatment is more effective for patients with lung and pancreatic cancer, with a complete response rate of 70 percent.
Professor Salem said: “We recommend this treatment as a first-line, first-line treatment because it was so effective for the lungs and pancreas.”
Patients are grateful to Salem and recognize him as a beacon of hope in the fight against what is considered humanity’s most difficult disease.
Ellie Moore was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer 10 years ago and has been in remission since 2019.
“I knew I had to fight as hard as I could. Dr. Salem assured me that we would not give up,” she said.
“Since I live in Houston, I was able to leave the office for treatment and return to work the same day,” she added.
“I love Dr. Salem. He’s my hero,” Grado said with great joy.