A Year in Review: Advances in Cervical Cancer Research

In 2023, there were many breakthroughs in the field of cervical cancer research. SCRI gynecologic cancer expert Noelle Cloven , MD, shares the research that she found to be most exciting this year and why these advancements are so important.

Developments in Cervical Cancer Research

Keynote 826 was a study of pembrolizumab combined with standard systemic therapy in patients with recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer, and updated data were presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting in 2023.?The significant and meaningful benefit in survival was confirmed and supports this treatment as the standard of care for this group of patients.

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Later in the year at the ESMO - European Society for Medical Oncology 2023, initial results from Keynote A18 were presented.?This trial combined pembrolizumab with chemoradiation in patients with locally advanced newly diagnosed cervical cancer.?The results showed a statistically?significant benefit in progression free survival compared to chemoradiation alone.

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Also at ESMO 2023, the InnovaTV study showed a 30% reduction in risk of death using tisotumab vedotin, an antibody drug conjugate, versus investigator selected chemotherapy in patients receiving second or third line chemotherapy.

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The Importance of The Research

Cervical cancer remains one of the deadliest cancers worldwide despite the decreasing incidence of cervical cancer in developing countries.?Even in the United States, cervical cancer continues to affect women of all ages, race, and socioeconomic status. Prior to recent developments, the survival for women with recurrent or metastatic disease was poor.

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Due to the success of clinical trials, the standard of care for cervical cancer has been transformed. With the addition of immunotherapy and tisotunab vedotin, there are now options for treatment to improve survival and quality of life in these patients.?

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The addition of immunotherapy to front line chemoradiation treatment (Keynote A18) improved survival in newly diagnosed high-risk patients and was just recently approved by the FDA.?This is the first trial to show improved outcomes for this patient population in more than 20 years.

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The Impact of The Research

The recent FDA approval of immunotherapy with frontline chemoradiation treatment for patients with high-risk cervical cancer will give increased chance of cure and eventually fewer patients with recurrent disease.?For patients who recur or are diagnosed with metastatic disease, there are now effective treatment options to chemotherapy.?The survival for these patients has tripled in the last 20 years and research advancements are happening more rapidly than ever. There are more trials under development investigating maintenance therapy and other targeted therapy.

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There is hope for the future. Through education, awareness, and clinical trials, we can end cervical cancer.

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