Women in the United Kingdom (UK) with advanced or returning endometrial cancer will now have access to a new treatment option that offers the combined benefits of immunotherapy and chemotherapy. The combination therapy has just been approved by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
Endometrial cancer is the most common cancer of the female reproductive system in the UK, with about 9,700 people diagnosed annually. When the disease is advanced or returns after treatment, survival rates and quality of life are low.
The new treatment combines pembrolizumab (brand name: Keytruda) — an immunotherapy that helps the immune system find and destroy cancer cells — with the chemotherapy drugs carboplatin and paclitaxel, which directly damage cancer cells to stop them from growing. Using both approaches together has been shown to improve outcomes for patients.
In clinical trials, people who received pembrolizumab and chemotherapy together had a 26% lower risk of death by 26% compared to those receiving chemotherapy alone. The dual treatment also slowed the cancer’s growth, extending patients’ lives and improving their quality of life.
“For people with advanced endometrial cancer, this innovative combination offers a powerful new treatment option,” said Helen Knight, Director of Medicines Evaluation at NICE. “It marks a major step forward.”
Read more about endometrial cancer treatment and care
The treatment can continue for up to two years, but can be stopped earlier if the cancer worsens or side effects become too difficult, allowing doctors to tailor care to each patient’s needs.
In the UK, the combination therapy will be available immediately through the National Health Service (NHS) Cancer Drugs Fund. The NHS and the manufacturer Merck Sharp & Dohme reached a commercial deal to ensure that the treatment is cost-effective and quickly accessible to patients.
