This site is optimised for modern browsers. For the best experience, please use Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Microsoft Edge.

Drug trialled in Cornwall contributes to approval of another treatment for most aggressive form of breast cancer

cornwall cancer drug web img v1 0

A cancer trial which ran at Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust has led to the approval of pembrolizumab, also known as Keytruda, in combination with chemotherapy for the treatment of patients with the most aggressive form of breast cancer.

Approval from the Food and Drug Administration was based on KEYNOTE-355, a randomised clinical trial in patients with triple negative breast cancer that has come back (recurrent) or spread to another part of the body (metastatic) who had not undergone chemotherapy on the metastatic area.

Keytruda is a targeted cancer drug (biological therapy) called a monoclonal antibody. It works by stopping the cancer cells from switching off the body’s immune system. This stimulates the immune system to attack the cancer. The drug had already been used to treat certain types of melanoma and lung cancer, but researchers wanted to find out if it could also help people with triple negative breast cancer.

Speaking on World Cancer Day, Duncan Wheatley, Consultant Clinical Oncologist at Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust who led the study locally, and Clinical Lead for Cancer Research at the Clinical Research Network South West Peninsula (CRN SWP), said: “We recruited five patients into this study with the most aggressive form of breast cancer which has a median survival of only 12 months. The addition of immune therapy to the standard chemotherapy significantly improved the outcome of these patients and has now just been approved by the FDA for routine use.

“Some of our patients, who had a poor outlook, are alive and well many years after entering this study. Thank you to all involved in making this happen and most of all to the patients who were willing to try this then unproven treatment at an incredibly difficult point in their lives. Research changes lives.”

Keytruda is not yet available to UK patients and is awaiting NICE approval.