Clinical Trials for Advanced Endometrial Cancer
Endometrial cancer is the most common gynecologic cancer in the U.S. It develops in the endometrium, which is the lining of the uterus, and nearly 60,000 women are diagnosed with it each year.
Endometrial cancer is often successfully treated with surgery. However, when patients are diagnosed with a more advanced stage, or it has recurred or metastasized to other parts of the body, they have a poorer prognosis.
Currently, some women with advanced endometrial cancer may be eligible for one of two worldwide clinical trials being conducted at Holy Name Medical Center and other select sites. Dr. Sharyn Lewin, Medical Director of Gynecologic Oncology at Holy Name, is the principal investigator and her partner, Dr. Maria Schiavone, is sub-investigator of the trials.
Both studies are to determine whether a combination of the drugs Lenvima and Keytruda provides significant improvement over other therapies. One trial compares the dual medications to standard chemotherapy and the other study looks at the drug combination versus the physician's choice of treatment.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) fast-tracked these trials based on a study of 53 patients that showed tumors responded in nearly 40 percent of patients after 24 weeks. After six months or more, 83 percent had positive responses and about 65 patients were still showing significant improvement after a year or longer.
Keytruda is an immunology drug that blocks the ability of cancer cells to hide from the immune system's T-cells, which serve as the body's natural defense against infections and diseases. It has been successful in extending the lives of patients with melanoma, lung cancer and several other types of cancer. It is given intravenously.
Lenvima is a targeted treatment believed to block signals that help blood vessels grow. These blood vessels are essential for the tumor's survival and growth. Lenvima is taken orally.
Patients with advanced endometrial cancer should discuss the possibility of participating in one of these trials with their oncologists. For more information, call Holy Name Clinical Research at 201-541-6312 or go to this endometrial cancer clinical trial.
