Keytruda increases bowel cancer survival rates: Study

[Photo by MK DB]

Immune checkpoint inhibitor Keytruda (pembrolizumab) that is administered before resection can increase survival rates by nearly threefold for bowel cancer patients compared to traditional chemotherapy alone, according to a recent study.

The findings suggest that Keytruda not only enhances treatment efficacy when given prior to surgery but could also potentially eliminate tumors without the need for surgery.

This joint research conducted by University College London and the University of Glasgow was presented on Sunday (local time) at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)’s annual meeting. ASCO is the world’s largest cancer conference.

The study involved clinical trials at five hospitals in the United Kingdom, which focused on 32 patients with stage 2 or stage 3 bowel cancer. Bowel cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths, claiming about 900,000 lives annually according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

During the trial, the researchers administered Keytruda to the patients over a nine-week period before surgery, instead of the standard chemotherapy regimen. Keytruda works by activating the body’s immune system to detect and fight cancer cells.