A recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Colorado Cancer Center suggests that combining pembrolizumab with lenvatinib may offer a new treatment strategy for patients with progressive thyroid cancer that is unresponsive to radioactive iodine therapy. The findings, published in Clinical Cancer Research, highlight the potential of this combination to extend the time patients live without disease progression.
The multi-center trial, led by Dr. Bryan Haugen, involved the addition of pembrolizumab, an immunotherapy drug targeting checkpoint inhibition, to lenvatinib, a multikinase inhibitor that disrupts tumor blood supply. This combination was evaluated for its efficacy in patients with thyroid cancer that had progressed despite standard treatment.
The results of the 18-month trial indicated that the addition of pembrolizumab to lenvatinib prolonged the period without relapse in these patients. While specific data on progression-free survival and overall survival were not detailed in the provided source, the study's conclusion points towards a clinically meaningful benefit. The combination aims to tackle the disease through multiple mechanisms: lenvatinib targets tumor vasculature, while pembrolizumab boosts the immune system's ability to fight cancer cells.
"This research may provide new treatment options for patients with thyroid cancer that doesn’t respond to radioactive iodine treatment," said Dr. Haugen, emphasizing the importance of exploring novel therapeutic approaches for this subset of patients. Further research is needed to fully elucidate the long-term benefits and potential side effects of this combination therapy.
