Pembrolizumab and Durvalumab Combinations Improve Survival in Aggressive Cancers

Key Insights

• Pembrolizumab combined with chemotherapy reduces recurrence risk and improves survival in high-risk, early-stage triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).
• The KEYNOTE-522 trial's results have established the pembrolizumab treatment regime as the new standard of care for TNBC patients.
• Durvalumab combined with chemotherapy improves survival in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer, marking a significant advancement.

Researchers from Queen Mary University of London have announced groundbreaking trial results demonstrating improved survival rates in patients with aggressive, hard-to-treat cancers through innovative chemotherapy-immunotherapy drug combinations. The findings, presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology Congress 2024 and published in the New England Journal of Medicine, highlight the efficacy of pembrolizumab in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and durvalumab in muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

KEYNOTE-522 Trial: Pembrolizumab in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Professor Peter Schmid presented results from the Phase III KEYNOTE-522 trial, a study involving 1,174 patients across 21 countries. The trial investigated the use of pembrolizumab, an immunotherapy drug, in combination with chemotherapy for patients with high-risk early-stage TNBC. Results indicated that administering pembrolizumab before and after surgery, alongside chemotherapy, significantly reduces the risk of cancer recurrence and improves overall survival. According to Professor Schmid, "Triple-negative breast cancer has the worst outcomes compared to other types of breast cancer. The results of this trial have found a much-needed new way to treat this aggressive type of breast cancer, and the treatment regime has already become the new standard of care for these patients."

NIAGARA Study: Durvalumab in Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer

Professor Thomas Powles presented findings from the phase three NIAGARA study, which included over 1,000 patients from 22 countries. The study demonstrated that combining durvalumab, an immunotherapy drug, with chemotherapy improves survival in individuals with muscle-invasive bladder cancer. "Treating aggressive bladder cancer before it spreads is perhaps our best chance of a cure," Professor Powles stated. "In NIAGARA, we show for the first time that the addition of immune therapy to chemotherapy increases this cure rate. This is a major step forward for these patients."

These studies mark significant advancements in the treatment of these aggressive cancers, offering new hope and improved outcomes for patients.