Anti-PD1 Therapy Duration for Endometrial Cancer

(ASCEND-EC-DCT Trial)

This trial tests the optimal duration of maintenance immunotherapy for individuals with advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer. It compares one year versus two years of treatment using drugs like pembrolizumab or dostarlimab, which enhance the immune system's ability to fight cancer cells. The goal is to determine if one year of treatment is as effective as two years, potentially reducing side effects and costs. Individuals who have completed a standard round of chemoimmunotherapy for advanced endometrial cancer and are ready for maintenance treatment may be suitable candidates for this trial. As a Phase 3 trial, this study represents the final step before FDA approval, offering participants a chance to contribute to significant research that could shape future treatment standards.

The trial does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications, but you cannot receive additional anti-cancer agents other than the ones specified in the trial.

Studies have shown that both dostarlimab and pembrolizumab are generally well-tolerated treatments for patients with endometrial cancer. Research indicates that most side effects of dostarlimab are mild, with fewer than 10% of patients experiencing severe side effects. Similarly, pembrolizumab, often used with lenvatinib, significantly reduced the risk of death in patients, with manageable side effects.

Unlike the standard chemotherapy options for endometrial cancer, like carboplatin and paclitaxel, the treatments being studied, dostarlimab and pembrolizumab, are part of a newer class of drugs called anti-PD1 therapies. These drugs work by targeting the PD-1 protein on immune cells, effectively unleashing the body's own immune system to attack cancer cells more effectively. Researchers are excited about these treatments because they have the potential to offer longer-lasting control of the disease with potentially fewer side effects compared to traditional chemotherapy. Additionally, this trial is exploring the optimal duration of treatment, which could lead to more personalized and effective care strategies.

This trial will compare the duration of anti-PD1 maintenance therapy using pembrolizumab or dostarlimab for endometrial cancer. Studies have shown that pembrolizumab and dostarlimab effectively treat endometrial cancer. These drugs help the immune system fight cancer by blocking a protein that usually prevents it from attacking cancer cells. Research indicates that these treatments can significantly extend the time patients live without their cancer worsening and can also improve overall survival for many with advanced or recurrent cancer. Experts agree on using these therapies for endometrial cancer because previous studies have demonstrated meaningful benefits.⁶⁷⁸⁹¹⁰