According to a story from BioSpace, the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca recently announced that its flagship cancer drug Imfinzi recently earned approval for the treatment of endometrial cancer. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the therapy as part of a combination approach alongside chemotherapy in adults living with primary endometrial cancer that is recurrent or advanced and is mismatch repair deficient.
The approval of Imfinzi, which is classified as a blocker of PD-L1, follows findings from a phase III clinical trial. The trial found that patients who received the combination of Imfinzi alongside paclitaxel/carboplatin chemotherapy saw their risk of death or disease progression go down by 58% in comparison to those who were treated only with chemotherapy.
The approval marks a much-needed advance in the treatment of this uncommon cancer, which has seen relatively few major treatment improvements in recent years. The company also evaluated a combination of Imfinzi alongside Lynparza, a PARP inhibitor, which reduced progression and death risk by 45%. Applications for approval in other regions are under review.
About Endometrial Cancer
Endometrial cancer is a cancer that affects the endometrium, which is the lining of the uterus. It is often most characterized by vaginal bleeding that occurs after menopause has taken place and is therefore not associated with menstruation. Certain genetic disorders can cause endometrial cancer. There are several risk factors, many of which are linked to high levels of estrogen. These include obesity, old age, late menopause, not having children, breast cancer, diabetes, and the breast cancer drug tamoxifen. Symptoms include post-menopausal bleeding, heavy bleeding before menopause, abnormal menstruation, enlarged uterus, lower abdominal pain, pelvic cramps, white or clear vaginal discharge, trouble urinating, pain while urinating, and painful sex. With treatment, which may include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapies, or hormone therapy, the five-year survival rate stands at 80%. To learn more about endometrial cancer, click here.
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Last modified: July 9, 2024
