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Combining immunotherapy with chemotherapy regimens may not just destroy cancer cells but also strengthen a patient's immune system, resulting in longer progression-free survival.

Adding Immunotherapy to Chemotherapy May Boost PFS in Cancer Patients

Studies point to progression-free survival and clinically meaningful changes in the standard of care for patients with endometrial cancer 

Society of Gynecologic Oncology
Published:Mar 30, 2023
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TAMPA, FL — Results of two clinical trials, presented recently at the Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO) 2023 Annual Meeting on Women’s Cancer, showcased adding immunotherapy to standard chemotherapy resulted in significantly longer progression-free survival (PFS) among patients with advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer (EC).

The first trial presented—NRG Oncology NRG-GY018 (NCT03914612)—was led by Ramez N. Eskander, MD, of the University of California San Diego, CA, while the second trial presented—ENGOT-EN6-NSGO/GOG-3031/RUBY (NCT03981796)—was led by Mansoor Mirza, MD, of the Finsen Centre at Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen. Both were Phase 3, randomized, blinded studies.

In the GY018 trial, 816 patients with stage III or IVA, IVB, or recurrent EC were randomized one-to-one to receive either immunotherapy pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy or placebo plus chemotherapy across six cycles, followed by up to 14 cycles of maintenance pembrolizumab or placebo. 

Of significance, patients in the mismatch repair-proficient EC cohort who received immunotherapy and chemotherapy experienced PFS for 11.7 months versus 8.7 months among those receiving chemotherapy alone, with managed adverse effects.

In the RUBY trial, 494 eligible patients had first recurrent or primary advanced stage III or IV EC and were randomized one-to-one to receive either immunotherapy dostarlimab plus chemotherapy, then monotherapy or placebo plus chemotherapy, then monotherapy. 

Among 245 patients, who received both immunotherapy and chemotherapy, there were statistically significant and clinically meaningful PFS benefits across all populations compared with the 249 patients treated with chemotherapy alone. 

An early trend toward improved overall survival was observed in all populations as well.

“Patients with advanced stage or recurrent endometrial cancer, the most common type of gynecologic cancer in the US, face a poor prognosis with limited treatment options,” said Eskander. “This is particularly notable in patients who progress after platinum-based adjuvant therapy with disease not amenable to curative surgery or radiation. In the GY018 study, we saw clinically meaningful improvement in PFS in both study populations—an encouraging new finding. Future analysis will examine overall survival and quality-of-life outcomes.”

- This press release is supported by the Society of Gynecologic Oncology