Groundbreaking New Treatment Option for Advanced Womb Cancer Patients Announced

A groundbreaking new treatment option for approximately 2,100 people with advanced womb cancer is set to be available following the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence's (NICE) recommendation of pembrolizumab (Keytruda) in final draft guidance. This innovative dual approach combines immunotherapy with chemotherapy, harnessing the body's immune system alongside conventional chemotherapy to deliver improved outcomes for those facing this challenging diagnosis.

Key Takeaways:

• The new treatment combination of pembrolizumab with chemotherapy drugs carboplatin and paclitaxel is the first immunotherapy to be combined with chemotherapy as a first-line treatment for primary advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer.
• The treatment is expected to benefit approximately 2,100 people with advanced womb cancer.
• Endometrial cancer is the most common gynaecological cancer in the UK, with around 9,700 people diagnosed each year.
• Advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer severely impacts life expectancy and quality of life, with only 15% of people diagnosed with stage 4 disease surviving for 5 years or more.
• The treatment continues for up to 2 years, or is stopped earlier if the cancer progresses or side effects become unmanageable.
• Clinical trials show that adding pembrolizumab to chemotherapy reduces the risk of death by 26% compared with chemotherapy alone.
• Clinical trials also show that adding pembrolizumab to chemotherapy can slow down cancer progression, offering people valuable additional time with improved quality of life.
• The treatment is available immediately through the Cancer Drugs Fund, following a commercial arrangement between Merck Sharp and Dohme and the NHS.

Statistics:

• 2,100 people with advanced womb cancer are expected to benefit from the new treatment option.
• 9,700 people are diagnosed with endometrial cancer each year in the UK.
• 15% of people diagnosed with stage 4 disease survive for 5 years or more.
• The treatment reduces the risk of death by 26% compared with chemotherapy alone.
• The treatment is available immediately through the Cancer Drugs Fund.

Sources:

• News6, August 2025 - "Groundbreaking new treatment option for advanced womb cancer patients announced"
• National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) - Final draft guidance, August 2025