There's genuinely exciting progress happening in endometrial cancer treatment right now. In 2024, the FDA approved several new options, giving people with advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer more choices than ever before.
Here's a summary of the newer treatments available:
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors (Immunotherapy) Show Full Answer
There's genuinely exciting progress happening in endometrial cancer treatment right now. In 2024, the FDA approved several new options, giving people with advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer more choices than ever before.
Here's a summary of the newer treatments available:
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors (Immunotherapy)
These drugs help your immune system recognize and attack cancer cells that would otherwise hide from it. FDA-approved options include:
- Dostarlimab-gxly (Jemperli)
- Durvalumab (Imfinzi)
- Pembrolizumab (Keytruda)
These are usually given by IV every 3β6 weeks and are often combined with chemotherapy. Some work best if your cancer has specific biomarkers, so additional testing may be needed. Targeted Therapies
These drugs zero in on specific proteins in cancer cells, leaving healthy cells mostly unharmed β a big advantage over traditional chemotherapy. Current options include:
- Lenvatinib (Lenvima) β blocks proteins that help tumors grow and form new blood vessels; often paired with pembrolizumab
- Bevacizumab (Avastin) β also cuts off a tumor's blood supply to slow growth
- mTOR inhibitors like everolimus (Afinitor) and temsirolimus (Torisel) β block proteins that help cancer cells grow, usually combined with hormone therapy or chemotherapy Hormone Therapy
If your cancer tests positive for estrogen or progesterone receptors, hormone therapy may be recommended. Common options include:
- Progestins like medroxyprogesterone (Provera) or megestrol acetate (Megace ES)
- Estrogen-blocking drugs like letrozole (Femara), anastrozole (Arimidex), or exemestane (Aromasin)
Side effects can mirror menopause symptoms, such as hot flashes, weight gain, and vaginal dryness.
Talking with your oncologist about biomarker testing is a great first step β it can help identify which of these newer treatments may work best for your specific cancer.
April 27