Immunotherapy is a treatment that helps your immune system find and attack cancer cells. Some endometrial cancer cells produce proteins that let them "hide" from the immune system. Immunotherapy drugs called immune checkpoint inhibitors block these proteins, allowing immune cells (called T cells) to recognize and destroy Show Full Answer
Immunotherapy is a treatment that helps your immune system find and attack cancer cells. Some endometrial cancer cells produce proteins that let them "hide" from the immune system. Immunotherapy drugs called immune checkpoint inhibitors block these proteins, allowing immune cells (called T cells) to recognize and destroy the cancer. The FDA has approved three immunotherapy drugs for endometrial cancer:
- Pembrolizumab (Keytruda) – blocks proteins that stop immune cells from attacking cancer
- Dostarlimab-gxly (Jemperli) – blocks proteins that allow tumor cells to sneak past the immune system
- Durvalumab (Imfinzi) – targets a related protein to help the immune system recognize cancer cells
These are typically used for advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer, either alone or combined with chemotherapy. Before starting immunotherapy, your oncologist will likely test your tumor for specific biomarkers like dMMR and MSI-H. These genetic markers help determine which treatment may work best for you. People with dMMR tumors tend to respond especially well, though immunotherapy can still be an option without these markers.
As with any treatment, there are potential side effects to be aware of, including weakness, rash, fever, joint pain, and digestive issues. Rarely, more serious reactions can occur. It's always worth having a detailed conversation with your care team about what's right for your specific situation.
June 14
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