Jerry Jones, Cowboys' proprietor, discloses a fourteen-year struggle with a Stage 4 cancer diagnosis.
Dallas Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones Battles Advanced Melanoma with Successful PD-1 Therapy
In a shocking revelation, Jerry Jones, the owner of the Dallas Cowboys, has been diagnosed with advanced melanoma. The diagnosis was made public in a documentary series titled "America's Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys," which is set to debut on Netflix next week.
Jones' fight with cancer has been an "amazing story" for the first-year Cowboys coach, Brian Schottenheimer. Schottenheimer praised Jones for going public with his diagnosis, describing it as a brave move that could help raise awareness about the disease.
Jones was initially diagnosed with skin cancer in June 2010. Over the next 10 years, he underwent two surgeries on his lung and two on his lymph nodes. The skin cancer cells metastasized to other parts of his body, making his case particularly challenging.
However, Jones' resilience shone through when he underwent experimental PD-1 immunotherapy trials. This treatment, combined with surgery, led to his cancer remission. PD-1 therapies have significantly improved survival rates for late-stage melanoma patients, increasing 5-year survival from 35% to 50% by enabling the immune system to better target cancer cells.
PD-1 therapy works by targeting the PD-1 receptor on immune T cells and blocking its interaction with PD-L1/PD-L2 ligands on tumor cells. This release of immune inhibition allows T cells to attack tumors more effectively.
Schottenheimer, who was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2003, also underwent treatment at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He emphasized that cancer does not discriminate and can affect anyone. He credited his successful treatment to his diagnosis and treatment being less severe than Jones' current condition.
Dan Snyder, former owner of the Washington Commanders, helped arrange Schottenheimer's thyroid cancer treatment. Schottenheimer described hearing the word "cancer" as terrifying, but he credited his positive attitude and the support of his family and friends for helping him through his treatment.
Jones, too, credited an experimental trial drug called PD-1 therapy for successfully treating his cancer. He made these statements after practice on Wednesday. Schottenheimer used his last news conference to talk about his own cancer diagnosis, expressing his hope that his story could inspire others facing similar challenges.
In summary, PD-1 therapy in cancer treatment targets the PD-1 receptor on immune T cells, blocks its interaction with PD-L1/PD-L2 ligands on tumor cells, releases immune inhibition, and allows T cells to attack tumors more effectively. This therapy has transformed late-stage melanoma treatment, as demonstrated by Jerry Jones’ successful outcome.
