Summary
A new immunotherapy drug called pembrolizumab may help people with advanced head and neck cancer live longer without their cancer coming back. In a study with over 350 patients, the treatment doubled the average time patients remained cancer-free, suggesting a significant breakthrough in treating this type of cancer.
Key Facts
- Pembrolizumab is an immunotherapy drug tested on over 350 patients with advanced head and neck cancer.
- The study found that the drug helped patients stay cancer-free for an average of five years, double the 2.5 years seen with standard treatment.
- The drug was given to patients before and after surgery to help the body target and attack any returning cancer cells.
- The trial involved patients from 192 hospitals across 24 countries and was led by Washington University Medical School in St. Louis.
- The trial results are being shared at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting.
- About 12,800 new cases of head and neck cancer are diagnosed each year in the UK.
- Advanced head and neck cancers have been challenging to treat, with more than half of patients not surviving more than five years.
- The results of the study suggest that pembrolizumab may significantly lower the risk of cancer spreading to other parts of the body.
