The NHS is set to introduce a groundbreaking immunotherapy that could potentially provide significant additional time for women battling advanced endometrial cancer.
Compared to standard chemotherapy alone, trials have demonstrated that incorporating dostarlimab (Jemperli) into the treatment regimen can effectively impede the spread of specific forms of endometrial cancer, offering patients the hope of a prolonged quality of life.
Beginning today, the NHS will offer this innovative treatment following approval by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
It is anticipated that approximately 150 to 200 women diagnosed with advanced primary or recurrent endometrial cancer annually will qualify for this therapy.
Professor Peter Clark, NHS England’s Cancer Drugs Fund Lead, explained: “The roll out of this drug as a first-line treatment on the NHS is great news for patients living with this type of womb cancer – this new immunotherapy could offer hundreds of women the hope of precious extra time to live well before their cancer progresses.
“The NHS has fast-tracked this innovative treatment through the Cancer Drugs Fund, and we’re delighted that dostarlimab today becomes the latest in a long list of cutting-edge treatments available on the NHS to help people with cancer live well with a better quality of life.”
Addressing the challenge of endometrial cancer
Endometrial cancer ranks as the fourth most prevalent cancer among women in the UK, with approximately 9,400 new diagnoses annually.
While early detection of endometrial cancer often results in a favourable prognosis, advanced or recurrent cases pose significant challenges with short survival times.
Dostarlimab: Revolutionising womb cancer treatment
Dostarlimab operates as a type of immunotherapy known as a ‘checkpoint inhibitor.’ By binding to a specific protein (PD-L1) on the surface of cancer cells, it aids the body’s immune system in identifying and attacking these malignant cells.
The immunotherapy will be offered to women whose advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer exhibits certain genetic profiles, namely high microsatellite instability (MSI) or mismatch repair deficiency (dMMR), present in approximately a quarter of womb cancers.
Treatment involves intravenous administration every three weeks alongside chemotherapy for six cycles. For patients who respond positively, dostarlimab will be continued every six weeks for up to three years.
Positive trial results
Clinical trials have revealed promising outcomes, indicating that nearly two-thirds (64%) of patients receiving dostarlimab in conjunction with standard chemotherapy experienced no cancer progression after 12 months of treatment.
This is more than double the progression-free rate observed in patients treated solely with chemotherapy (24%).
Dr Chloe Barr, Trustee and Advocacy Lead at Peaches Womb Cancer Trust, said: “This new treatment for primary advanced or recurrent mismatch repair deficient endometrial cancer will provide options for patients currently facing the frightening reality of very few effective anti-cancer treatments.
“Today’s decision is very welcome news, and we hope that this is just the first step towards wider availability of more effective first-line treatment options for those affected by this devastating cancer.
“Peaches Womb Cancer Trust supported the NICE appraisal, and we could not have done so without the contributions of Peaches Patient Voices, a group of people affected by womb cancer whose powerful testimonies and experiences informed our submission to the appraisal process.”
Fast-tracked access through Cancer Drugs Fund
Recognising the potential of this treatment, the NHS has expedited its availability through the Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF).
This initiative ensures faster access for NHS patients while further data is gathered regarding the treatment’s long-term benefits, with the aim of potentially incorporating dostarlimab into routine usage in the future.
